Soccer Law 16: The Goal Kick

A goal kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football (soccer).

Award

A goal kick is awarded to the defending team when the ball leaves the field of play by wholly crossing the goal line (either on the ground or in the air) without a goal having been scored, having been last touched by an attacking player.

Procedure

The ball is initially placed anywhere within the defending goal area. All opposing players must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

The ball becomes in play as soon as it is kicked and leaves the penalty area.

A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing side (i.e. an own goal may not be scored). A player may not be penalised for being in an offside position direct from a goal kick.

Infringements

Opposing players must retire the required distance as stated above. Failure to do so may constitute misconduct and be punished by a caution (yellow card). Furthermore, if an opposing player enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, the goal kick may retaken subject to Law 5.

If a defending player other than the kicker touches the ball after it is kicked but before it is in play (i.e. if the whole of the ball has not left the penalty area), the goal kick is retaken. However, it is an offence for the kicker to touch the ball a second time once the ball is in play (i.e. when it has left the penalty area), until it has been touched by another player; this is punishable by an indirect free kick to the defending team from where the offence occurred, unless the second touch was also a more serious handling offence, in which case it is punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick, as appropriate.

Source: Wikipedia