Do you correct children for blocking the restart?

Question

When the ball goes out, some defenders stand right on top of the player restarting because they have realised it makes the dribble-in almost impossible. The adults keep moving them back but nobody seems sure how much space is enough or whether we are over-managing it. What are people doing in practice?

Verified Coach · Accepted Answer

I would create a bit of space for the restart, but I would be careful about inventing an exact distance if your competition guidance does not give one.

The national 3v3 summary says sideline restarts can be passed or dribbled in, and the facilitator is there to support players with the rules. It does not give a defender-distance number on that summary page.

So the practical aim is simple: do not let a defender stand on top of the ball and make the restart impossible.

Ask them to give enough space for the child to restart, then get out of the way.

If your league or County FA has issued a specific distance, use that consistently. I would rather all pitches follow one agreed local rule than four adults invent four different measurements.

Sully · Answer

Thats useful. Our mistake was coaches arguing about an exact distance when none of us could point to where that number had come from.

AfterWorkCoach82 · Answer

We just say 'give them a bit of room'. No measuring. The aim is they can actually restart.

Do you correct children for blocking the restart?

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