Restarting: Throw-ins, Corners and Goal Kicks

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Soccer is a very dynamic sport. Players are constantly moving and the ball rarely stops. There are no time-outs or commercial breaks.

But play does stop for short moments. When the ball leaves the playing field and when a team scores, play must be restarted.

What Happens When the Ball Leaves the Field (0:53):

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The most basic rule of restarts is about possession.

Whomever touches the ball before it goes out of bounds loses possession. A duty of the assistant referee is to indicate this possession. Once the call is made, the team restarts the match with a throw-in, corner kick or goal kick.

To Review:

  • Whenever the ball leaves the playing field, play must be restarted.
  • If the ball crosses the sideline or "touchline", a throw-in is used to restart the match.
  • If the ball crosses the goal line, it will result in a corner kick or goal kick.
  • If the defense touches the ball before it crosses the goal line, possession goes to the offense and they kick a corner kick.
  • If the offense touches the ball before it crosses the goal line, possession goes to the defense and they kick a goal kick.