Question Number: 12777

Law 16 - Goal Kick 5/11/2006

RE: school Under 14

Ally of San B, CA U.S. asks...

I am center defensive attacker/sweeper...my coach keeps yelling at me and telling me I give the other team too much room during a goal kick.He tells me too back up and our keeper cant kick it that far and then we have to chase it... Which leads me to my question...like a throw-in I thought goal kicks had no offsides...Cant the other team not just go past the 18 yard line?? Please explain to me the official rule of offsides on a goal kick or if there is even an off sides on a goal kick??

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If a ball is received directly from a goal kick there can be no offside, same as on a throw-in, or a corner kick. On the taking of a goal kick, all the opponents must be out of the penalty area and the ball is not in play until it leaves the penalty area. Hope this helps.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

You are right that you cannot be offside directly from a goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

As a defender you must know this: the attackers have to wait for the football to leave the penalty area into the outfield before it may be played by either side. You have to be ready to prevent your opponents from scoring against you as soon as the ball is in play. I used to stay close to the attacker nearest and if he was going to have any chance of scoring I got to the ball BEFORE it left the penalty area. This forced it to be taken again and innocent ole me usually got away with it. ONCE!!!

Doing something like this is likely to incur the wrath of any knowledgeable referee. The average ref, no sweat -- he might even allow play to continue; incorrectly.

We play to the field condition, do we not? If the referee is not up to speed on the Laws of the Game and we are... watch out though

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Ally,

You are correct on two counts .

(1)There is no offside on a goal kick or throw -in or a corner kick. These three restarts are exempt from initiating offside position on the initial kick or throw of the ball into play!

(2)NO attacker can EVER be inside the defending 18 yard penalty area on a GOAL KICK. In fact NO attacker can EVER be inside the defending penalty area on ANY defending free kick restart out! AND once the kick is taken no attacker can enter that penalty area until the ball is completely outside the penalty area.

The main condition on the goal kick (or any INDFK OR DFK in favour of the defending team within the penalty area is the ball must completely leave the penalty area boundry lines to be in PLAY by either team! THe defenders cannot play the ball until the ball leaves the area after being kicked same as the attackers.

HOWEVER, the defenders ARE allowed ANYWHERE inside the penalty area including the 6 goal area during the kick. In my opinion this is a better tactical position to intercept any poorly hit ball from your keeper or who ever takes your kick, because you will always be able to take the goalside (be between the attacker and the defending goal) position from the attacker to reach the ball first. Mind you , if I could just teach you the concept of SPAM
SPACE, PACE, ANGLES, MOVMENT.

Offside in my opinion is a simple concept made difficult primarily because we over think it. Chuck Fleischer our resident offside guru has a great article on the site that puts the offside as a question and answer format. FIFA has a wonderful interactive site on offside that I suggest you review. WE have many offside responses to questions within our data base. If you take some time to pull up the offside article and read through some of the questions it could help clarify the murkiness of the muddied offside waters.

ONe point I like to make is with my coaching hat on for a minute. Players generally are distracted or annoyed at yelling by coaches. I understand the need to relay vital information but the commands must be CRITICALLY POSITIVE, crisp, clear, to the point and appropriate to content and timing. I like the fact in youth we have unlimited subs because we can sub a player, talk to that player explain something eye to eye and then place them back into the game. This is a good teaching method for something that a quick command can not just fix! If you as a coach are relaying a story of recrimination and what is wrong your player is likely to to be stopped, only partially listening to you and no longer focused on playing or having FUN!
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14140