’m the referee in a small-sided game, and I see a defender challenge for the ball in an effort to make the other team lose the ball. The defender tackles for the ball but misses and with her momentum accidently, yet carelessly, trip her opponent. The ball continues to move over the touchline. How do you restart the game?

I will restart play by awarding a DIRECT FREE KICK to the opposing team that had a member tripped.

Please kindly see the attached for a visual representation of a direct free kick.

Explanation:

A direct free kick in football is the free kick which is usually awarded to a team as a consequence of an infringement or foul by a player in the opposing team from which a goal can be scored directly.

In other words, when the umpire (referee) temporarily stops play for some kind of fouls like the one contained in this question, he/she will then award a direct free kick to the team whose player was fouled. This implies that the team that was awarded the free kick, will be made by the referee to restart play from the spot of the infringement using either a short/long pass or even a shot at goal.

A direct free kick is usually awarded to a team if a player in the opposing team commits any of the following offences (fouls):

*** Trips an opposing player

*** Holds an opponent to a certain degree

*** Pushes a player in the opposing team

*** Kicks an opponent

*** malhandles an opposing player.

*** Tackles an opponent but makes contact with his/her legs instead of the ball. etc

Summarily, if I am the referee and a defender challenges for the ball and trips the opponent as a result (whether accidentally or not), I will resume play by awarding a DIRECT FREE KICK to the opposing team that had a member tripped.