by D. Victor

Created on: December 01, 2008

The goal-kick in soccer is one method of restarting play after the whole of the ball has crossed the entire width of the goal line. The ball crossing the line can occur either in the air or on the ground. This is a bit tricky, because there is a misconception that part of the ball must actually touch the line. One way of perceiving this is that the ball is out of play when it cannot cast a shadow on the line if a light is shone straight over it.

For the goal kick the following criteria should be met:

1) The ball must last be touched by an attacker
2) The crossing of the goal line must not result in a goal
3) The nearest point of the ball must be completely outside of the entire width of the goal line on the ground or in the air.

If a defender plays the ball last, the decision should be a corner kick. It should be noted that the attacker does not have to kick the ball out by a controlled or deliberate play for the goal-kick to be awarded. The defender can wilfully play the ball off of the attacker or the ball can deflect (even with the slightest of touches) off of the attacker.

The ball not being counted as a goal is an important criteria. It may seem like stating the obvious, but there is a case where the ball crossing the goal line between the uprights and under the crossbar results in a goal-kick (a throw-in directly into goal by an opponent). Also, the soccer goal is not required to have a net. In that case, differentiating between a goal-kick and goal can be tricky.

Officiating

The referee and assistant referee share the responsibility for determining if a goal-kick should be awarded. Typically, the referee is responsible for the side further away from the assistant. The assistant is responsible for ball-out-of-play decision on the goal line closest to him. Based on teamwork, this arrangement could be altered or modified.

Sometimes the assistant is in a better position to judge a far-side call than the referee. The complete opposite can be true as well. It must be noted that the referee can overrule his assistant, although this invariably appears to be a breakdown in communication and teamwork. Officials should maintain eye contact and have a clear code that dictates what will be done if the referee, assistant referee or both are in doubt.

Signalling

The assistant referee would normally run towards the goal area, stop, face the field and then extend his flag (with the hand closer to the goal-line) straight in front of him, until it is parallel to the ground. Most good assistant referees get as close to the goal area as possible before signalling. This is to avoid ambiguity, since the second signal for a centre-field offside offence appears the same (on completion) as the signal for a goal-kick. The referee just points to the goal with his arm parallel to the ground from wherever he is on the field.

Procedure

The goal kick can be taken from any point within the goal area or on the boundary line (once part of the ball is over it). The ball can be kicked by any member of the defending team. Usually the goalkeeper or a defender takes the goal kick. The ball is in play only when it leaves the penalty area entirely. This provision ensures that an own goal cannot be scored from the goal kick.

Infringements

The goal kick is retaken if any player from either side plays or touches the ball before it leaves the penalty area. The goal kick is also retaken if an opponent enters the penalty area before the ball is in play.

If the taker of a goal-kick plays the ball a second time after it leaves the penalty area and before it touches another player, an indirect free kick should be awarded in favour of the attacking team. If the said player handles the ball, then a direct free kick should be awarded.

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