Question Number: 21161

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 4/20/2009

RE: rec Under 7

Rick Sasaki of Arlington, Va USA asks...

I had another team kick a goal on us from the kickoff this past past weekend. I am a new coach. On a kickoff does the ball have to go forward or can it kicked backwards as well?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Has to go forward. The kick-off and the penalty kick are the two restarts that must go forward to be in play. If they don't, we take the kick again.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

From page 27 in the current Laws Of The Game:

Kick-off
A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play:
? at the start of the match
? after a goal has been scored
? at the start of the second half of the match
? at the start of each period of extra time, where applicable
A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off.
Procedure
? all players must be in their own half of the field of play
? the opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 9.15 m
(10 yds) from the ball until it is in play
? the ball must be stationary on the centre mark
? the referee gives a signal
? the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward
? the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another
player

You can download a free copy at ussoccer.com

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Them darn small fields, personally if you are playing reduced sides at u-7 I do not like the fact the ball can be kicked from centre as there in my opinion should not even be keepers at this age where 3 on 3 or versions of it, 4 on 4, 7 on 7 are better for development.
That said unless the league has altered the laws as some u-littles have INDFKs only, my colleagues are correct when they say the ball must FIRST go forward then it can be played backwards except by the kicker and YES a goal can be scored directly from a kick off
Cheers