What is a goal kick in soccer?
A goal kick restarts play when the ball crosses the goal line (but not into the net) after last touching an attacker. The defending team takes it from inside the goal area, and these days players can receive the ball directly inside the penalty box to build an attack.
- 1A goal kick is awarded when the whole ball passes over the goal line, last touched by an attacker, with no goal scored[1]
- 2It is taken by the defending team from anywhere inside the goal area[1]
- 3The ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves — teammates may receive it inside the penalty area[1]
- 4A goal can be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opponents[1]
A goal kick is the mirror image of a corner: same situation, opposite culprit.
When is a goal kick awarded?
When the ball crosses the goal line without going in and an attacker touched it last, the defending team gets a goal kick. If a defender touched it last, it's a corner instead.
Where and how is it taken?
From inside the six-yard goal area, usually by the goalkeeper. The ball is in play the instant it's kicked.
Why do teams pass it short now?
A rule change means a teammate can collect the ball while still inside the penalty box. That's why defenders now calmly pass it short to "play out from the back" and build an attack, rather than just hammering it long.
Think of a goal kick as getting the ball back deep in your own territory after the other side put it out — like starting a drive from your own end. Modern teams often choose to 'play out from the back' with short passes, the soccer equivalent of a methodical opening drive rather than a long bomb.
Key Takeaways
- A goal kick restarts play when the ball crosses the goal line off an attacker, without a goal.
- The defending team takes it from inside the goal area, and players can now receive it inside the box.
- IFAB — Law 16: The Goal Kick(accessed 2026-06-01)
- IFAB — Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play(accessed 2026-06-01)