Restarts

[Matthew Poulton]

We've been having a discussion within our club about the restarts after goals.

Rule 42.3 states that after a free throw/shot the ball is not in play until the ball has travelled horizontally 1m or has passed to another player. Hence the player may not be tackled until this has happened

Does this apply do a free throw for the restart after a goal. Can you tackle the player with the ball or do you have to wait for the ball to be passed or moved??

My view is once the referee has blown his whistle, the player in possession is fair game and can be tackled (legally).

[clyde]

Yes.

Off the top of my head, this condition for taking a throw applies on everything apart from a Referees Ball (and even then you have to at least make an attempt for the ball before hand tackling).

This rule also includes a Goal Penalty Shot - just in case you happend to be a quick enough sprinter !

[Tom]

The referee blows the whistle to restart play and the player has 5 seconds to throw the ball 1 metre horizontally or pass it to another player. The ball is not in play until it has travelled 1 metre or passed to another player. Therefore a player cannot be tackled until this has happened