Question Number: 27810

Law 16 - Goal Kick 9/24/2013

RE: rec Under 9

Jennifer Gaston of Tularosa, New Mexico Otero asks...

How far away does the defender need to be on a goal kick?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jennifer
Not sure what your question relates to. On a goal kick the ball must exit the penalty area for it to be in play. If the ball is touched before it exits the penalty area it is retaken.
Also defenders (any number) are allowed inside the penalty area at a goal kick with all attackers to be outside the area. However as stated above the ball cannot be touched after the kick until its exits the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I'm assuming you mean the opponents of the kicker when you refer to defenders - not the position they play on the field. (Coach's adage: 'When we have the ball we are all attackers; when they have the ball we are all defenders.')

The opponents must be outside the penalty area and they must stay out until the ball is in play (when the ball leaves the penalty area). So on a full-sized field, they must be at least 12 yards from the site of the kick.

Teammates of the kicker may be inside the penalty area, but they cannot touch the ball until it exits the penalty area into the rest of the field.