Question Number: 29591

Law 16 - Goal Kick 8/8/2015

RE: Adult

gary brunen of Manchester, United Kingdom asks...

If the ball has gone out for a goal kick so it's a dead ball goal kick taken from the 6 yard line, if he is lucky enough to be able to kick it that far whether wind assisted bounced or just bad keeping by the other keeper, is that still a goal. It's not the same as kicking from his hands as the ball is still in play, and it goes in without the keeper or any other player getting a touch on it which would be the case with a throw in that does need to be touched by someone and can't be scored direct from the throw.
Gary

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gary
This question is asked from time to time most recently # 29574
Law 15 tells us that a goal can be scored directly from a goal kick. An own goal cannot be scored though.
For those interested in the history of the Law, up until the great rewrite of 1997 a goal could not be scored directly from a goal kick or a kick off. That though was all changed in 1997 and it is now possible. I have seen kick off goals being scored. As yet none from a goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Gary,
scoring directly from a goal kick is remotely possible, heck, it is even possible to throw the ball into the other goal if the keeper was strong enough or wind assisted. As you noted you could kick it in on a punt out but cannot directly do so on a throw in nor can you directly score on your self nor of course from any INDFK.
cheers