Question Number: 28768

Law 16 - Goal Kick 9/22/2014

RE: rec (ymca) Under 11

Eddie Odom of leesburg, ga usa asks...

Red team kicks ball out past blue teams goal. Blue team sets up a goal kick. Can red team attack the ball and kick in a goal once goalkeeper sets ball down for a goalkick? If not how does this work?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Eddie,
NO opponent on ANY restart can play the ball until it is put into play
.
On a goal kick which is awarded when the opposition kicks the ball over the opposing teams goal line just not into the goal!
No opponent is even permitted within the 18 yard penalty area .
The ball MUST leave the penalty area to even be in play for anyone on either team to play it.

Lets say the blue team is taking the goal kick all red players must be outside the penalty area and they CANNOT cut through the penalty area to chase the ball once it is kicked because play is not yet restarted until the ball has actually left the confines of the penalty area. If they do it is a retake and a possible caution for delaying the restart
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Eddie
On any kicked restart by a player an opponent may not interfere with that by coming closer than 10 yards until after the ball is kicked. On a goal kick the opponents must retreat outside the penalty area and no player including the kicking team may touch the ball until it has been kicked beyond the penalty area.