Question Number: 27179

Law 16 - Goal Kick 2/14/2013

RE: Any Under 15

Rob H of Cincinnati, OH USA asks...

We were having a conversation last night about if you can score directly off of a goal kick or not. At one time I thought that I had read that goak kicks were indirect. However, someone said they were direct. Please let me know which is correct....thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Rob,

This is answered in the Laws Of The Game. If you don't have a copy, then make sure you download it so you can review them any time a question of laws come up.

Law 16 states that a goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team.

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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A goal kick used to be indirect, but that was about 15 years ago.

Now Law 16 says that you can score directly on a goal kick, but you cannot score an own goal on a goal kick.

This also applies to kickoffs and corner kicks.

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Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rob
Older referees will remember when it was not possible to score directly from a goal kick or a kick off.
In the great rewrite of the Laws in 1997 the Laws were change and a goal can now be scored directly from both.
A own goal cannot be scored directly on any restart by the kicking team.

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