The OFFICIAL SOCCER SITE - Law 16

XVI - The Goal Kick

A goal kick is a method of restarting play.

A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team.

A goal kick is awarded when:

the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10

Procedure

the ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team

opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play

the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player

the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area

Infringements/Sanctions

If the ball is not kicked directly into play beyond the penalty area:

the kick is retaken

Goal kick taken by a player other than the goalkeeper If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player:

an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred *(see preface)

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred *(see preface)

a penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the kicker's penalty area

Goal kick taken by the goalkeeper If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player:

an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred* (see preface)

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred outside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred *(see preface)

an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred *(see preface)

For any other infringement of this Law:

the kick is retaken

Laws of the Game

The OFFICIAL SOCCER SITE