Question Number: 26378

Law 16 - Goal Kick 5/23/2012

RE: Rec, Select, Rep Adult

Mike of Barrie, Ontario Canada asks...

When a goal kick is award and the goalie is going to kick the ball, can the defending team put a player inside the 18 or 6 yard box and act as a goalie until the kick is done ?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
There is no restriction on the number of defending players that are inside the penalty area at a goal kick. All the attacking players must be outside except on a quick goal kick in which case the referee allows the kick to proceed provided it is not touched inside the area.
So yes that is allowed. The defending player though cannot touch the ball until the ball has left the penalty area.
As a coach though I would contend that it is better to defend on the penalty area line close to the attackers so as to prevent possession in the 1st place.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The defending team may put any number of players inside the penalty area during a goal kick, and any of them may take the kick.

But, there is only one goalkeeper. The other defender may guard the goal area, but may not handle the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 16 says that the opponents must be outside the penalty area at a goal kick. It doesn't say the teammates of the kicker must be.

And there's nothing saying that the goalkeeper has to be the one to take a goal kick. That usually happens at higher levels of play, because it gives one more target player down-field to receive the kick. But it's perfectly fine for the goalkeeper to defend the goal and have one of the other players take the goal kick.