| The goal kick in soccer is one method of restarting | | | | judge a far-side call than the referee. The complete |
| play after the whole of the ball has crossed the | | | | opposite can be true as well. It must be noted that |
| entire width of the goal line. The ball crossing the line | | | | the referee can overrule his assistant, although this |
| can occur either in the air or on the ground. This is a | | | | invariably appears to be a breakdown in |
| bit tricky, because there is a misconception that part | | | | communication and teamwork. Officials should |
| of the ball must actually touch the line. One way of | | | | maintain eye contact and have a clear code that |
| perceiving this is that the ball is out of play when it | | | | dictates what will be done if the referee, assistant |
| cannot cast a shadow on the line if a light is shone | | | | referee or both are in doubt. |
| straight over it. | | | | Signalling |
| For the goal kick the following criteria should be met: | | | | The assistant referee would normally run towards |
| 1) The ball must last be touched by an attacker | | | | the goal area, stop, face the field and then extend |
| 2) The crossing of the goal line must not result in a | | | | his flag (with the hand closer to the goal-line) straight |
| goal | | | | in front of him, until it is parallel to the ground. Most |
| 3) The nearest point of the ball must be completely | | | | good assistant referees get as close to the goal area |
| outside of the entire width of the goal line on the | | | | as possible before signalling. This is to avoid |
| ground or in the air. | | | | ambiguity, since the second signal for a centre-field |
| If a defender plays the ball last, the decision should | | | | offside offence appears the same (on completion) as |
| be a corner kick. It should be noted that the | | | | the signal for a goal kick. The referee just points to |
| attacker does not have to kick the ball out by a | | | | the goal with his arm parallel to the ground from |
| controlled or deliberate play for the goal kick to be | | | | wherever he is on the field. |
| awarded. The defender can willfully play the ball off | | | | Procedure |
| of the attacker or the ball can deflect (even with the | | | | The goal kick can be taken from any point within the |
| slightest of touches) off of the attacker. | | | | goal area or on the boundary line (once part of the |
| The ball not being counted as a goal is an important | | | | ball is over it). The ball can be kicked by any member |
| criteria. It may seem like stating the obvious, but | | | | of the defending team. Usually the goalkeeper or a |
| there is a case where the ball crossing the goal line | | | | defender takes the goal kick. The ball is in play only |
| between the uprights and under the crossbar results | | | | when it leaves the penalty area entirely. This |
| in a goal kick (a throw-in directly into goal by an | | | | provision ensures that an own goal cannot be scored |
| opponent). Also, the soccer goal is not required to | | | | from the goal kick. |
| have a net. In that case, differentiating between a | | | | Infringements |
| goal kick and goal can be tricky. | | | | The goal kick is retaken if any player from either side |
| Officiating | | | | plays or touches the ball before it leaves the penalty |
| The referee and assistant referee share the | | | | area. The goal kick is also retaken if an opponent |
| responsibility for determining if a goal kick should be | | | | enters the penalty area before the ball is in play. |
| awarded. Typically, the referee is responsible for the | | | | If the taker of a goal kick plays the ball a second |
| side further away from the assistant. The assistant is | | | | time after it leaves the penalty area and before it |
| responsible for ball-out-of-play decision on the goal | | | | touches another player, an indirect free kick should |
| line closest to him. Based on teamwork, this | | | | be awarded in favour of the attacking team. If the |
| arrangement could be altered or modified. | | | | said player handles the ball, then a direct free kick |
| Sometimes the assistant is in a better position to | | | | should be awarded. |