A kick-off is the method of starting and, in some cases, restarting play in a game of association football. The rules concerning the kick-off are part of Law 8 of the Laws of the Game. [1]
A kick-off is the method of starting and, in some cases, restarting play in a game of association football. The rules concerning the kick-off are part of Law 8 of the Laws of the Game. [1]
A kick-off is used to start each half of play, and each period of extra time where applicable. The team that wins the pre-game coin toss may choose either
The kick-off to start the second half is taken by team which did not take the initial kick-off. If extra time is played, another coin-toss is used at the beginning of this period.
A kick-off is also used to restart play after a goal is scored, and is taken by the team that conceded the goal.
The ball must be stationary and on the centre spot. All players, except for the kicker, must be in their own half of the field of play, and all opposing players must remain at least 10 yards (9.15 m) from the ball (a distance marked on the pitch by the centre circle), until the ball is in play.
Once the referee has given the signal for the kick-off, the ball is kicked in any direction. The ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves. The player taking the kick-off may not touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player. A goal may be scored directly from a kick-off against the opposing team. [2]
If the kick-off is taken with a moving ball, or from the wrong place, it is retaken. A retake is also required if a player other than the kicker is in the opponents' half, or an opponent is less than 10 yards from the centre spot. A player who excessively delays the restart of play is cautioned. [3]
It is an offence for the kicker to touch the ball a second time before another player has touched it; this is punishable by an indirect free kick to the opposing team from where the offence occurred, unless the second touch was also a more serious handling offence, in which case it is punishable by a direct free kick.
One of the few things known about the rules of English traditional football is the means by which the matches were started: it appears to have been the custom in several places for the game to start with the ball being "thrown up" in the middle of the field of play by a neutral official. The players would then contest for possession of the ball as it descended. [4] [5] [6] The rules of Surrey Football Club, published in 1849, likewise specify that the game is started by the ball being "tossed up in the centre of the ground". [7]
A game played on Christmas Day 1841 began with the ball placed in the middle of the field of play. A pistol was fired to signal the beginning of the match, after which each team attempted to "get[] the first kick". [8]
The oldest published laws of football (Rugby School, 1845) specify that the game is to be started with a "kick off" from the middle of the field of play, which must be a place-kick. [9] Most codes of laws from this era provide for a similar "kick off" from the centre of the ground; these include the Cambridge rules of 1856, [10] the Sheffield rules of 1858, [11] and the 1858 rules of Harrow football. [12] One exception is the laws for the Eton field game (1862), which specify instead a "bully" in the middle of the field (similar to a scrummage in rugby union). [13]
The novel Tom Brown's School Days (published in 1857 but based on the author's experiences at Rugby School from 1834 to 1842) gives a detailed description of the kick-off: [14]
[H]as'nt old Brooke won the toss, with his lucky halfpenny, and got choice of goals, and kick-off? The new ball you may see lie there quite by itself, in the middle, pointing towards the school or island goal; in another minute it will be well on its way there [...] [O]ld Brooke takes a half-a-dozen quick steps, and away goes the ball spinning towards the School goal; seventy yards before it touches ground, and at no point above twelve or fifteen feet high, a model kick-off; and the School-house cheer and rush on; the ball is returned, and they meet it and drive it back amongst the masses of the School already in motion.
The passage above suggests that the winner of the toss, in the Rugby game, was awarded both kick-off and choice of goals. This was also the case in the Cambridge Rules of 1863, [15] while in the Melbourne FC Rules of 1859 and 1860 the winner of the toss chose goals, with the loser taking the kick-off. [16]
The original FA laws of 1863 specify that "[t]he winner of the toss shall have the choice of goals. The game shall be commenced by a place kick from the centre of the ground by the side losing the toss, the other side shall not approach within 10 yards of the ball until it is kicked off". A "place kick" is further defined as "a kick at the ball while on the ground, in any position in which the kicker may choose to place it". The kick-off, which required the ball to be on the ground, was thus distinguished from the free kick, which could be taken "in such manner as the kicker may think fit", language which was interpreted as permitting a kick from hand (a drop-kick or a punt). [17] [18]
Another law states that "[a]fter a goal is won the losing side shall kick off and the goals shall be changed." [19]
The original laws of 1863 specified that the initial kick-off should be taken by the side losing the toss. In 1873, the team winning the toss was given the option of whether to choose ends or to take the initial kick-off. [20] In 1997, the law was changed back, so that the initial kick-off was once again taken by the team losing the toss. [21] The law was changed once again so beginning on 1 June 2019, the side winning the toss once again has the choice between kicking-off and choosing ends. The justification for this rule-change was that "[r]ecent law changes have made the kick-off more dynamic (e.g. a goal can be scored directly from the kick-off) so captains winning the toss often ask to take the kick-off." [22]
The original laws of 1863 made no provision for half-time. In 1870, based on a proposal by Wanderers F.C., a change of ends was introduced at half-time, but only if no goals had been scored in the first half; the law did not specify the means by which play should be started in the second half. [23] In 1874, a change in the laws proposed by Harrow Chequers specified that a kick-off should occur at the start of the second half, provided no goal had been scored up to that point; this kick-off was taken by same side as originally kicked off the game. [24] In 1875 a further change proposed by Queen's Park F.C. was accepted; there is always a break and change of ends at half-time, and the kick-off for the second half is taken by the opposite team to that which kicked off the first half. [25]
The original laws of 1863 placed no restriction (other than offside) on the players' position during the kick-off, except that opponents could not approach within 10 yards of the ball. In 1874, a new restriction was added that all players had to be in their own half of the field. [26] In 2017, the law was altered to allow the kicker to be in the opponents' half. [27]
As a result of the International Football Conference of December 1882, it was decided that the kick-off had to be kicked forwards. This change was implemented in the Laws of the Game in 1883. [28] This restriction was removed in 2016. [29]
In 1905, it was specified that the ball "must make a complete circuit or travel the distance of its circumference" before being in play. [30] In 1997, this requirement was eliminated: the ball became in play as soon as it was kicked and moved. [31] In 2016, it was specified that the ball must "clearly" move. [32]
In 1875, it was forbidden for the player taking the kick-off to play the ball again until it had been kicked by another player. [33]
In 1875, it was forbidden to score a goal directly from the kick-off. [33] This restriction was reversed in 1997, when it was permitted once again to score a goal directly from the kick-off. [34] In 2016, at the same time the backwards kick-off was legalized, the possibility of scoring an own goal directly from the kick-off (an extremely unlikely situation) was removed, with a corner kick being awarded to the opponents instead. [35]
In 1891, internal pitch-markings were introduced. These included a "suitable mark" at the centre of the pitch and a "circle of radius 10 yards" (now known as the "centre circle") to mark the area within which opponents were forbidden. [36]
In 1882, an indirect free kick was awarded to the opposition when the player taking the kick-off touched the ball a second time before it had touched another player. [37] In 1887, an indirect free kick was also awarded for any other infringement of the laws; [38] in 1903 this was changed to a retake. [39]
| Date | Awarded at beginning of match | Awarded after goal scored | Awarded at start of second half | Opponents may approach within 10 yards | Players may be in opponents' half | Ball may be kicked backwards | Attacking goal may be scored | Own goal may be scored | Kicker may play ball again before it is touched by another player | Remedy for infringement other than double touch | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863 | Yes; to the side losing the toss | Yes; to the side conceding the goal | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | None specified | 1863 |
| 1873 | Yes; the side winning the toss may choose to take the kickoff or to have choice of goals | 1873 | |||||||||
| 1874 | Only if no goals were scored in the first half; awarded to the same team as kicked off the match | No | 1874 | ||||||||
| 1875 | Yes; to the opposite side to that which kicked off the match | No | No | No; no remedy specified for infringement | 1875 | ||||||
| 1882 | No; infringement results in indirect free kick | 1882 | |||||||||
| 1883 | No | 1883 | |||||||||
| 1887 | Indirect free kick | 1887 | |||||||||
| 1903 | Retake | 1903 | |||||||||
| 1997 | Yes; to the side losing the toss | Yes | Yes | 1997 | |||||||
| 2016 | Yes | No | 2016 | ||||||||
| 2017 | Kicker only | 2017 | |||||||||
| 2019 | Yes; the side winning the toss may choose to take the kickoff or to have choice of goals | 2019 |
A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football. It involves a player intentionally dropping the ball onto the ground and then kicking it either 'as it rises from the first bounce' (rugby) or 'as, or immediately after, it touches the ground'.
Offside is one of the laws in association football, codified in Law 11 of the Laws of the Game. The law states that a player is in an offside position if any of their body parts are in the opponents' half of the pitch, and closer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.
Futsal is a football-based sport played on a hardcourt like a basketball court, smaller than a football pitch, and mainly indoors. It has similarities to five-a-side football and indoor football.
A penalty kick is a method of restarting play in association football, in which a player is allowed to take a single shot at the goal while it is defended only by the opposing team's goalkeeper. It is awarded when an offence punishable by a direct free kick is committed by a player in their own penalty area. The shot is taken from the penalty spot, which is 11 metres from the goal line and centered between the touch lines.
The Laws of the Game are the codified rules of association football. The laws mention the number of players a team should have, the game length, the size of the field and ball, the type and nature of fouls that referees may penalise, the offside law, and many other laws that define the sport. During a match, it is the task of the referee to interpret and enforce the Laws of the Game.
A corner kick, commonly known as a corner, is the method of restarting play in a game of association football when the ball goes out of play over the goal line, without a goal being scored and having last been touched by a member of the defending team. The kick is taken from the corner of the field of play nearest to the place where the ball crossed the goal line.
Harrow football is a code of football played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more bases (goals) than their opponent. Harrow Football is played predominantly with the feet, but players may use any part of their body including, in certain circumstances, their hands and arms to propel the ball. The leather ball is shaped like a giant pork pie, about 18 inches in diameter and 12 inches (300 mm) deep. It tends to soak up mud and water and become extremely heavy. It is believed to be ancestral to other football codes including Association football and possibly Australian rules football.
American and Canadian football are gridiron codes of football that are very similar; both have their origins partly in rugby football, but some key differences exist between the two codes.
Gameplay in American football consists of a series of downs, individual plays of short duration, outside of which the ball is or is not in play. These can be plays from scrimmage – passes, runs, punts or field goal attempts – or free kicks such as kickoffs and fair catch kicks. Substitutions can be made between downs, which allows for a great deal of specialization as coaches choose the players best suited for each particular situation. During a play, each team should have no more than 11 players on the field, and each of them has specific tasks assigned for that specific play.
A goal kick is a method of restarting the play in a game of association football. Its procedure is dictated by Law 16 of the Laws of the Game.
A throw-in is a method of restarting play in a game of association football when the whole of ball passes over the touchline. It is governed by Law 15 of the Laws of the Game. In Scotland it is known as a shy.
A dropped-ball is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It is used when play has been stopped due to reasons other than normal gameplay, fouls, or misconduct. The situations requiring a dropped-ball restart are outlined in Law 8 and Law 9 of the Laws of the Game; Law 8 also contains the dropped-ball procedure.
The Sheffield Rules was a code of football devised and played in the English city of Sheffield between 1858 and 1877. The rules were initially created and revised by Sheffield Football Club, with responsibility for the laws passing to the Sheffield Football Association upon that body's creation in 1867. The rules spread beyond the city boundaries to other clubs and associations in the north and midlands of England, making them one of the most popular forms of football during the 1860s and 1870s.
Like most forms of modern football, rugby league football is played outdoors on a rectangular grass field with goals at each end that are attacked and defended by two opposing teams. The rules of rugby league have changed significantly over the decades since rugby football split into the league and union codes. This article details the modern form of the game and how it is generally played today, although rules do vary slightly between specific competitions.
The laws of Australian rules football were first defined by the Melbourne Football Club in 1859 and have been amended over the years as Australian rules football evolved into its modern form. The Australian Football Council (AFC), was formed in 1905 and became responsible for the laws, although individual leagues retained a wide discretion to vary them. Following the restructure of the Victorian Football League's competition as a national competition and the League's renaming to be the Australian Football League (AFL), since 1994, the rules for the game have been maintained by the AFL through its Commission and its Competition Committee.
Rugby union is a contact sport that consists of two teams of fifteen players. The objective is to obtain more points than the opposition through scoring tries or kicking goals over eighty minutes of playing time. The play is started with one team drop-kicking the ball from the halfway line towards the opposition. The rugby ball can be moved up the field by either carrying it or kicking it. However, when passing the ball it can only be thrown laterally or backward. The opposition can stop players moving up the field by tackling them. Only players carrying the ball can be tackled and once a tackle is completed the opposition can compete for the ball. Play continues until a try is scored, the ball crosses the side line or dead-ball line, or an infringement occurs. After a team scores points, the non-scoring team restarts the game at the halfway with a drop kick toward the opposition. The team with the most points at the end wins the game.
Rugby league football has accrued considerable jargon to describe aspects of the game. Many terms originate in the Laws of the Game. Some aspects of the game have more than one term referring to them. Different terms have become popularly used to describe an aspect of the game in different places, with notable differences between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The laws of Rugby Union are defined by World Rugby and dictate how the game should be played. They are enforced by a referee, generally with the help of two assistant referees.
In games of association football, teams compete to score the most goals. A goal is scored when the ball passes completely over a goal line at either end of the field of play between two centrally positioned upright goal posts 24 feet (7.32 m) apart and underneath a horizontal crossbar at a height of 8 feet (2.44 m) — this frame is itself referred to as a goal. Each team aims to score at one end of the pitch, while preventing their opponents from scoring at the other end. Nets are usually attached to the goal frame to catch goalscoring balls, but the ball is not required to touch the net.
A free kick is a method of restarting play in association football. It is awarded after an infringement of the laws by the opposing team.
A kick-off starts both halves of a match, both halves of extra time and restarts play after a goal has been scored. Free kicks (direct or indirect), penalty kicks, throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks are other restarts (see Laws 13–17).
The ball was thrown up between the parties by the Duke of Buccleuch
On beginning a second time, two of the gentlemen of opposite parties met together at the ball with such violence, the one of them had his leg broke, and the other his shoulder dislocated
Through the interference of the authorities at Market Rasen, the annual nuisance of foot-ball playing in the streets of that town on Shrove Tuesday has been discontinued [...] This year, although several groups of men and boys were observed in various parts of the town, no attempt was made to throw up the ball
the ball was placed in the middle of the field, and both parties, at the fire of the pistol, started for the game, the Fearnoughts getting the first kick
At the commencement of the play the ball shall be kicked off from the middle of the ground: after every goal there shall be a kick-off in the same way
Kick off from middle must be a place kick
The Ball must be kicked off from the middle of the ground, halfway between the two Bases
The game lasts an hour, and is commenced by a "bully" in the middle of the field
The choice of goals and kick off shall be determined by tossing
The Captains on each side shall toss for choice of goal; the side losing the toss has the kick-off from the centre point between the Goals
Hay, on the part of Barnes, touched the ball down behind his adversary's goal. Being by the new rules entitled to a free kick from fifteen yards outside the goal line, he punted the ball very neatly between the posts [emphasis added]
The winners of the toss shall have the option of kick off or choice of goals.
A coin is tossed and the team which wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match
In the event, however, of no goal having fallen to either party at the lapse of half the allotted time, ends shall then be changed.
In the event, however, of no goal having fallen to either side at the lapse of half the allotted time, ends shall then be changed. [...] After the change of ends at half-time the same side as originally kicked off shall kick off as provided in the second part of Rule II.
[A]fter the change of ends at half-time the ball shall be kicked off by the opposite side from that which originally did so
nor shall any player on either side pass the centre of the ground in the direction of his opponents' goal until the ball is kicked off.
...all players, except the player taking the kick-off, must be in their own half of the field of play.
The game shall be commenced by a place-kick from the centre of the ground in the direction of the opposite goal-line
When a free kick has been awarded, the kicker's opponents shall not approach within 6 yards of the ball unless they are standing on their own goal-line. The ball must at least be rolled over before it shall be considered played; i.e., it must make a complete circuit or travel the distance of its circumference. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player. The kick-off (except as provided by Law 2), corner-kick, and goal-kick, shall be free kicks within the meaning of this Law. [emphasis added]
In no case shall a goal be scored from any free kick, nor shall the ball be again played by the kicker until it has been played by another player. The kick-off and corner-flag kick shall be free kicks within the meaning of this rule.
A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off
A goal may be scored directly against the opponents from the kick-off
11. In the event of any infringement of Rules 5, 6, 8, or 9, 12, or 14, a free kick shall be forfeited to the opposite side from the spot where the infringement took place.
12. In no case shall a goal be scored from any free kick, nor shall the ball be again played by the kicker until it has been played by another player. The kick-off and corner-flag kick shall be free kicks within the meaning of this rule [emphasis added].
In the event of any infringement of rules 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, a free kick shall be forfeited to the opposite side, from the spot where the infringement took place [emphasis added].
[Law 2] Decision of International Board:-- If this law is not complied with, the kick-off must be taken over again
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