Question Number: 27042

Law 16 - Goal Kick 11/27/2012

RE: Rec, competitive Under 15

Rajan of Van Nuys, Ca. USA asks...

When the ball is placed for a goal kick, I understand that the keeper or player that takes the kick cannot pick up the ball and move it to a different location in the goal area.

Can the ball be moved with their foot to a different spot in the goal area?

If the ball must be kicked from where it was placed and the kicker decides to move it either by picking it up or pushing it with their foot, what call or action should the referee take?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rajan
Under the FIFA Laws of the Game there is no restriction on the goalkeeper picking the ball up and moving it to another location or repositioning the ball in the goal area provided the action has not delayed the restart of play. Many times the goalkeeper will replace the ball to a more favorable position beside where the ball was 1st spotted if it moves say into a divot. Moving it completely to the opposite side of the goal area would be unusual and it would be viewed unfavourably by the referee either with an admonishment or if the referee believes that the GK's action was done to delay the restart then the player is cautioned and the goalkick is taken correctly.
In NFHS games under Rule 16 once the ball is spotted the ball cannot be moved by either the hand or foot. To do so could result in a caution. The restart of a goal kick does not change.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

There's no specific law preventing this, but generally if a player is seeking to reposition the ball in a completely different part of the goal area after setting it down then this can be seen as delaying the restart of play (it's unnecessary). As such, the player could be cautioned - though I'd typically expect the referee to try and manage it first through whistle/voice (depending on the match and how much timewasting has occurred, of course).

If it's just an adjustment then this is less of an issue - unless, of course, the referee thinks the kicker is still taking too long.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The issue for the referee is time wasting. The referee should not allow a team to waste time on a goal kick by moving the ball to another location. Warn or caution for delaying the restart of play when appropriate.

But, there are lots of times when the players are fine with moving or repositioning the ball on a goal kick. When it is not a tactic to waste time, the referee can simply use voice and presence to keep the match moving along.

High school (NFHS) by rule says that the ball may not be moved after it is placed for a goal kick. But, since the penalty is to take the goal kick, the practical effect should be the same as under TLOG.