On this page you will find the rules about The Goal Kick. To find other rules of soccer the pull down list located at the top left corner of this page will allow for easy navigating to other soccer rules. If you wish to just download the PDF that contains all the rules, Click here. The rules of the game are subject to change so check with FIFA to ensure these rules are up to date.

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
   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 page 3)
• 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

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
• 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

For any other infringement of this Law:
• the kick is retaken