Question Number: 25022

Law 17 - Corner Kick 5/28/2011

RE: rec Adult

Prathan of Wilmette, il U.S.A. asks...

Which line are you supposed to place the ball on during a corner kick (the line where the goal is, or the line opposite of the goal)?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hello Prathan. It's alway good to receive questions from parents. Hope you will continue to ask and thank you for visiting our site. Tell the other parents we always welcome any questions from parents. I assume you mean where should the player place the ball at a corner kick? The corner kick may be taken from anywhere within the corner arc. Remember that the boundaries of the arc are considered to be IN the arc so, as long as any part of the ball is touching any part of the boundary lines the ball may be placed there. Of course, that is the outermost legal area the kick may be taken from.

The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. This fact and the above statement lead to two interesting conclusions;
1. Part of the ball may be outside the corner arc and it is still legal to kick from there
2. Since the radius of the arc is 1 meter the ball may be put into play without ever leaving the arc.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The corner kick is taken on the side of the field where (in the referee's opinion) the ball crossed the goal line. The ball may be placed anywhere in a one-yard radius from the corner. A corner arc is marked on the field to show where the ball may be placed.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Prathan
The ball can be placed anywhere inside the corner arc and that includes the line of the arc, the goal line and and the touchline.
For young players it is always a good exercise to get them to position the ball so that they can get a unimpeded run up and kick at the ball.
So for right footed player on the right side of the goals the best position is perhaps close to where the arc touches the touchline. Move that to teh left side and the best position is where the arc touches the goal line. The arc should measure one metre/yard