Question Number: 16512

Law 17 - Corner Kick 8/31/2007

RE: Under 10

David of RPV, CA USA asks...

Can the defense stand inside the goal box during a corner kick or must they wait for the ball to be kicked?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David,
The defenders can stand anywhere inside their 18 yard penalty area at the taking of a corner kick as long as they are at least ten yards from the corner arc. A narrow field of less than 66 yards across might create a bit of an issue if the penalty area field markings are correct in law. arc =1 yard plus 10 yds to the edge of the 18 yard penalty area boundary lines which go to the inside of the goal post. The goal is 8 yards across add 18 for the opposite side of the penalty area then add the ten yards plus the 1 yard arc and we arrive at the 66 yard minimum. In elite matches the field markings have optional hash marks at 11 yards along the goal line out from the touchline to indicate where ten yards is .

Field surface
Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces, according to he rules of the competition.
Dimensions
The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touch line must e greater than the length of the goal line.
Length: minimum 90 m (100 yds)
Maximum 120 m (130 yds)
Width: minimum 45 m (50 yds)
Maximum 90 m (100 yds)
International Matches
Length: minimum 100 m (110 yds)
Maximum 110 m (120 yds)
Width: minimum 64 m (70 yds)
Maximum 75 m (80 yds)

The goal box is not a term we use, the goal area is the 6 yard area within the 18 yard penalty area. In fact I misread your question to infer a goal kick missing the (corner kick) because I was concentrating too hard on the words *goal box*! My colleague pointed out that wasn?t what you were after but I included it anyway since it is something often asked of us!
Defenders can stand anywhere inside their 18 yard penalty area at the taking of
any free kick within their penalty area including the goal area in their favor, they just cannot touch the ball a second time until it clears the 18 yard penalty area boundary lines. On ANY free kick in FAVOR of the defending team taken from inside their own 18 yard penalty area of which the 6 yard goal area is included the ball must leave the confines of the 18 yard penalty area to be legally played by any player. The opponents are prohibited from BEING inside the penalty area as well as being ten yards from the ball. The opponents can not play the ball either until the ball has completely crossed outside the penalty area boundary lines!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

On a corner kick, players from both the attacking and the defending team are allowed to be almost anywhere on the field they want, with the exception of defenders having to be 10 yards from the corner arc. Therefore, the defenders may stand in their own goal area before, after and during the corner kick.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The defense must stand 10 yds away from the arc on a corner kick. They can stand on field anywhere else provided that they are at least 10 yds from the arc.