Goal Kick
A football (soccer) restart taken from the goal area after the attacking team last touched the ball over the goal line.
Definition
A goal kick is awarded when the whole ball crosses the goal line outside the goal, having last been touched by an attacker. It is taken from anywhere inside the goal area, and under current Laws the ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves — it no longer has to leave the penalty area first, so teams may take short goal kicks to a nearby teammate.
Allowing the ball to be received inside the penalty area encouraged more teams to 'build out from the back' rather than simply launch the ball upfield. A goal cannot be scored by the kicking team against its own goal directly from a goal kick, and opponents must stay outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
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Rules
- Backcourt violationA basketball rule breach for returning the ball into a team's own defensive half after it has crossed into the attacking half.
- Throw-inThe method of restarting football when the ball fully crosses a side line, taken by throwing it back into play.
- Direct and indirect free kicksThe two types of free kick awarded in football to restart play after a foul or other stoppage.
- OffsideA rule that prevents an attacker from gaining an advantage by being positioned too close to the opponents' goal ahead of the ball and the last defenders.
- Out of boundsThe rule that a ball or player leaving the marked playing area is out of play and possession is decided at the boundary.
Tactics
- High pressA football tactic where a team hunts the ball high up the pitch to win it back close to the opponent’s goal.
- Offside trapA defensive football tactic where the back line steps up together to leave an attacker offside.
- Wing playAttacking down the flanks and crossing the ball into the box to stretch the defence and create chances.
- Set-piece playRehearsed routines from a dead-ball situation such as a corner, free kick or throw-in used to create chances.
- Counter-attackWinning the ball and moving forward at speed to attack before the opponent can reorganise their defence.
Officiating
- Out-of-Bounds CallAn official's ruling that the ball or a player in possession has left the legal playing area, stopping play and handing a restart or possession to the opponent.
- Line JudgeA boundary-line official who calls whether the ball or player is in or out and flags foot faults, working under the head referee across many sports.
- AdvantageIn many sports, officials let play continue after a foul when stopping would help the offender, so the fouled team keeps the advantage it has gained.
Positions
- GoalkeeperThe goalkeeper is the last line of defence in football and the only player allowed to handle the ball inside their own penalty area.
- Centre-backA centre-back is a central defender in football whose main job is to stop opposing attackers and clear the ball from dangerous areas.
- HookerThe hooker is a front-row forward in rugby who wins the ball in the scrum and typically throws the ball into the line-out.
- PivotThe pivot is a handball attacker who plays close to the opposition defence, setting screens and looking for chances near the goal area.
- Wing attackThe wing attack is a netball playmaker who feeds the ball into the shooting circle, moving through the centre and attacking thirds but not entering the goal circle.
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- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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