The Start and Restart of Play

Restart principles

A kick-off starts each half of normal and extra time and follows each goal. Other restarts are free kicks, penalties, throw-ins, goal kicks and corners. Use a dropped ball when the referee stops play without another required restart. An offence while the ball is already out of play does not change the restart.

1. Kick-off: choice and procedure

The coin-toss winner chooses either the first-half attacking end or the kick-off; the opponents get the other choice. The team choosing the first-half end kicks off the second half. Teams change ends then. After a goal, the conceding team kicks off.

The ball is stationary on the centre mark. Everyone except the kicker is in their own half; opponents remain at least 9.15 m (10 yd) away until the ball is in play. Following the referee’s signal, the ball becomes live when kicked and clearly moving.

A direct goal against the opponents is valid. A kick-off directly into the kicker’s own goal gives the opponents a corner.

1. Kick-off offences

If the kicker touches the ball again before another player, award an indirect free kick, or a direct free kick for a handball offence. Retake the kick-off for other procedural offences.

2. Dropped ball: recipient and location

If the ball was inside a penalty area when play stopped, drop it to the defending goalkeeper inside that area. Outside the area, drop it to one player of the team that clearly would have kept or gained possession, including through the subsequent restart if the ball would have gone out. If this cannot be determined, use the team that last touched it.

Drop at the ball’s position when play stopped, except that contact with an official or outside agent means using the contact/interference position. Every other player on either team stays at least 4 m (4.5 yd) away until the ball touches the ground and becomes live.

2. Dropped ball offences and goals

Drop again if the ball touches a player before the ground, or leaves the pitch after hitting the ground without touching anyone.

A goal requires the ball to touch at least two players. If it enters the opponents’ goal without doing so, award a goal kick; if it enters the receiving team’s own goal, award a corner.