Question Number: 23368

Law 16 - Goal Kick 5/24/2010

RE: competive Under 13

frank of farmingdale, ny USA asks...

On a goal kick. How many on the defense can stay in the goal box?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The team taking the goal kick can have as many players as they like in the penalty area, or in the goal area within the penalty area.

However, the opposing team must not have any players in the penalty area at this time.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Your question is a good example of why we on this site are so picky about terminology. I'm not trying to embarrass or poke fun at you, so please don't be offended. There are no boxes on a soccer field. A soccer field has areas. Shoes come in boxes. If by goal box you mean goal area or even if you really mean penalty area the answer will be the same because the goal area is inside the penalty area. But I'm also unsure about who the 'defense' is in your question. Technically, the team defending the kick is the defense so if you mean the team not taking the kick the answer would be zero and they could not play the ball before it left the penalty area.

If you mean the defense to be the team taking the goal kick the answer is ALL of the players may be inside the penalty area but if any of them touch the ball before it exits the penalty area, the goal kick must be retaken.

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

See Question: 23381