Question Number: 26659

Law 17 - Corner Kick 8/21/2012

RE: competitive Adult

lou davis of benton, pa usa asks...

I have had a question asked of me and I was at a loss for the answer. On a corner kick, the defending team must be at least 10 yards from the corner arc. What happens if a teammate of the team that is taking the corner comes close to the arc for a short pass; can the defender also come in to cover the player or does the defender have to stay out the minimum 10 yards no matter how many offensive players are inside the 10 yard marker?
Thanks for the help
Lou

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

HI Lou
The whole 11 attacking players could be within the 10 yards if they chose to do so. The defending team must remain 10 yards away from the ball until it is kicked and put into play. Once it is kicked the defenders may then move to challenge for the ball.
So on a short corner the attacking team will have say two player beside the ball. The defenders must remain back 10 yards until the ball is kicked and moved. Once in play the ball may then be challenged for

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The 10-yard distance is required, irrespective of the location of any of the players on the team taking the kick. This applies to any of the kicking restarts (some of which have additional requirements). For example at an indirect free kick there are often two or more attacking players near the ball, as one will tap it to another. That doesn't give the opponents the right to encroach; neither does it at a corner kick.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

No. Teammates of the kicking team are permitted to be near the ball All defenders must remain at least 10 yards from the corner arc until the ball is put in play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Doesn't matter where ANY of the attacking players are; the defending players must remain 10 yards from the corner arc until the ball is put into play