The Referees' Report

Laws of the Game

Laws 13-17 (restarting the game)

Law 16 - The Goal Kick

At the taking of a goal kick:

• all opponents must be outside the penalty area
• the ball can be kicked from any point within the goal area
• the ball is not in play until it has been kicked by a member of the defending team directly into play outside the penalty area
• the ball cannot be touched or played a second time by the kicker until it has been touched or played by another player

Did you know?

A player cannot be offside if he receives the ball direct from a goal kick.

A goal cannot be scored direct from a goal kick

When a player who takes a goal kick, touches the ball again before it has left the penalty area, the goal kick must be re taken.

previous: Law 15 next: Law 17