page_title: Goal kick
section_title: Procedure
hierarchical_section_title: Goal kick / Procedure
caption_attribution_description: English: Diagram of the goal area and penalty area in association football with detailed measurements.
context_page_description: A goal kick, called a goalie kick in some regions, is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. Its procedure is dictated by Law 16 of the Laws of the Game.
context_section_description: The referee signals a goal kick by pointing downwards towards the goal area from which the kick is to be taken.
  The ball must be stationary and on the ground within the kicking team's goal area (also known as the six-yard box). All opposing players must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. The ball must be kicked (a goalkeeper may not pick up the ball).
  The ball becomes in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves.  The player taking the goal kick cannot touch the ball a second time until another player touches the ball.
  A goal can be scored directly from a goal kick against the opposing team. An own goal cannot be scored from a goal kick; in the highly unlikely circumstance that the ball enters the kicker's own goal before being touched by another player, a corner kick is awarded.
  A player may not be penalized for offside directly from a goal kick.
  Goal kicks are most often taken by goalkeepers, but this is not compulsory under the laws of the game.
caption: The goal kick must be taken from the goal area.  Opponents must be outside the penalty area.  Opponents may be in the penalty arc, since it does not form part of the penalty area.
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