Corner Kick & Goal Kick

A corner kick restarts play when the ball wholly crosses the goal line, last touched by the defending team, and no goal is scored. Awarded to the attacking team.

A goal kick restarts play when the ball wholly crosses the goal line off an attacker, with no goal. Awarded to the defending team.

The corner arc is a 1-metre-radius quarter-circle at each corner of the pitch, where the ball is placed for a corner kick.

An 'Olympic goal' is one scored directly from a corner kick — named after Cesáreo Onzari's 1924 goal for Argentina against Uruguay (who had just won the 1924 Olympics).

The goal area is the inner 5.5m × 18.32m box (6×20 yards) directly in front of the goal. Goal kicks are taken from anywhere inside it.

The penalty area is the 16.5m × 40.32m (18 × 44 yards) box around each goal. Goalkeepers can handle inside it; penalty kicks go to the opposing team for direct fouls inside it.

Any player from the attacking team can take the corner — including the goalkeeper if they wish to come up.

Any player can take the goal kick — though it's almost always the goalkeeper because the ball is on the goal area.

An inswinger curves in toward the goal as it travels, making it harder for the goalkeeper to claim cleanly.

A short corner passes to a nearby teammate rather than crossing straight into the box, opening up a different attacking angle.

Each corner arc is a quarter-circle of 1m (1 yard) radius.

Opponents must stand at least 9.15 metres from the ball at a corner kick, the same distance as at a free kick.

Opposing players must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. They cannot enter to challenge until then.

The goal kick can be taken from anywhere within the goal area — typically the goalkeeper places it where convenient.

Since 2019, a goal kick is in play the moment it is kicked and clearly moves — it no longer needs to leave the penalty area first.

The kicker cannot play the ball again until another player has touched it. Doing so = indirect free kick to opponents.

Direct goals from a corner kick were not allowed until 1924, over 50 years after the corner kick itself was introduced.

The corner kick was added to the Laws in 1872, replacing the earlier rule of awarding a goal kick or kick-out.

Only a player from the attacking team takes the corner. Opposing players must stay 9.15m back.

Any team-mate can take the goal kick. Most often the goalkeeper does, but it's not required.

Which team last touched the ball before it crossed the goal line decides between a corner kick and a goal kick.

The assistant referee on that side signals the restart by pointing — toward the corner arc for a corner kick, or to the goal area for a goal kick.

A goalkeeper is free to take a corner kick like any other player, with a teammate covering the goal until they return.

At corner kicks, defenders position themselves how they wish — but at least 9.15m from the corner arc until the ball is in play.

The kicker places the ball anywhere inside the corner arc before taking the kick.

The kicker places the ball anywhere within the goal area. The ball must be stationary.

The corner kick is taken from the corner arc on the side where the ball crossed the goal line.

The ball must be stationary at the kick. If it rolls before kicking, the referee orders a replacement on the arc.

Ball retrieval is done by anyone — typically ball boys/girls. The kicker then takes the kick.

Any player delaying a restart can be cautioned for unsporting behaviour / delaying the restart.

Direct goals from corners (Olympic goals) have been allowed since 1924. The corner is treated as a direct kick.

A goal kick can score directly into the opponents' goal (rare, due to distance and aerodynamics). However, an own goal kicked directly = corner kick to opponents.

Receiving the ball directly from a corner kick is exempt from offside.

Receiving the ball directly from a goal kick is exempt from offside.

The corner flag is a fixed part of the field and must never be moved to take the kick.

Since 2019, a teammate may receive the ball even while it is still inside the penalty area, once it is kicked and clearly moves.

Opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the goal kick has actually been taken and the ball is in play.

Directly into your own goal from a corner kick = goal kick to the opposing team. You can't score against yourself directly.

Directly into your own goal from a goal kick = corner kick to opposing team.

Short corners are a tactical option — passing to a nearby teammate. The ball is in play, and play continues normally.

The ball must be kicked and clearly move at a corner. If not, it's retaken from the corner arc.

The ball must be kicked and clearly move at a goal kick. If not, retake.

Second touch by the kicker = indirect free kick to the opposing team.

Goalkeeper second touch = indirect free kick to opposing team.

Like a direct free kick, an own goal cannot be scored straight from a corner kick — it becomes a goal kick for the opponents.

A goal kick taken from outside the goal area is invalid and must be retaken from the correct spot.

If an opponent enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, the goal kick is simply retaken.

As at free kicks, the kicker can take advantage. Cynical encroachment may be cautioned.

Holding inside the penalty area = direct free kick offence inside the area = penalty kick.

The corner flag must be in place. The kick cannot proceed without it (or with it deliberately moved).

The corner kick (1872) long predates both its direct-goal allowance (1924) and the modern goal kick reform (2019).

Direct goals from a corner kick, nicknamed 'Olympic goals', were first allowed in 1924.

In 1924, Cesáreo Onzari (Argentina) scored directly from a corner against newly-crowned Olympic champions Uruguay. The term 'gol olímpico' (Olympic goal) stuck.

IFAB dropped the requirement for the ball to leave the penalty area in 2019, changing how teams build attacks from goal kicks.

Pre-2019, the ball had to wholly leave the penalty area before a teammate could touch it. The 2019 change removed this.

Cesáreo Onzari, of Argentina, scored the first famous direct corner goal — against the Olympic-champion Uruguay in 1924, giving the term 'Olympic goal' its origin.

In 1872, the corner kick was introduced — distinct from the goal kick. Before then, when the ball went over the goal line, the team that touched it last simply gave possession.

The 2019 rule change enabled 'building from the back' tactics — short passes between defenders inside the area at goal kicks. Manchester City and Liverpool exploited this.

The corner arc has been defined since the corner kick's introduction. The 1m radius is a long-standing rule.

The rule that the corner kick is determined by which team last touched the ball before it went over the goal line has been in place since 1872.

A corner kick is not in play until the ball clearly moves out of the corner arc — if it doesn't, the kick is retaken.

Once the ball is in play, the back-pass rule applies. Defender deliberately kicking to GK = back-pass = indirect free kick if GK handles.

Offside is exempt for the corner kick. But on the subsequent ball touch, normal offside rules apply.

The kicker can be near the flag. The flag itself cannot be moved or used as an aid.

An opponent inside the penalty area when a goal kick is taken forces a retake, since they must be outside until the ball is in play.

Once the ball is kicked and clearly moves, it's in play. Striking a teammate inside the area is just normal play.

Wrong corner = retake from the correct arc on the side where the ball went out.

If a player handles the ball before the kick is taken, it's a direct free kick. The ball was not yet in play.

The ball is in play once kicked and clearly moved. Rebound off post = normal play.

As long as part of the ball touches or is within the corner arc, the kick is legal — it does not need to be fully inside.

Corner kicks are awarded after the defending team puts the ball over their own goal line. Goal kicks are awarded after the attacking team does so.

Both can score directly. Corner: from corner arc, restart after ball over goal line. Free kick: from spot of offence, restart for fouls.

A defending free kick inside the goal area follows the same rule as a goal kick — taken from anywhere inside, in play once kicked.

The 2019 reform let teams build play from the back immediately, instead of waiting for the ball to clear the penalty area.

Olympic goal = directly from the corner. Other corner goals = teammate touches first (header, second-shot, etc.).

Corner, throw-in, and goal kick are the three restart types where offside cannot be called directly from the restart.

A corner kick's 9.15 m distance matches a free kick's, far larger than a throw-in's more modest 2 m requirement.

Inswinger curves into the goalmouth — easier to head/connect. Outswinger curves away — harder for the goalkeeper but defenders can challenge.

Short corner: tactical pass to nearby teammate. Crossed: traditional delivery into the box for headers and shots.

Goal kicks are usually taken by the goalkeeper (because they're inside the area). Corners involve the goalkeeper defending the goal.

Ball over goal line off defender = corner kick to attacking team.

Ball over goal line off attacker (no goal) = goal kick to defending team.

Direct goal from a corner = Olympic goal. Allowed since 1924.

Once ball is in play (since 2019), back-pass rule applies. Deliberate kick to GK who handles = indirect free kick.

Corner kicks have no offside and no specific area restriction for attackers, so standing in the goal area is fine.

Holding (a direct free kick offence) inside the penalty area = penalty kick.

Since 2019, the ball is in play as soon as it is kicked, so an attacker touching it inside the area is completely legal.

Wait — the corner flag IS part of the field. Ball deflects back to the kicker — kicker's second touch = indirect free kick to opponents (no goal).

A short corner is a fully legal tactic, and any resulting goal counts normally.

For a goal kick to be in play, the ball must be kicked and clearly move. If not, retake.

The corner kick is taken from the corner arc on the side where the ball crossed the goal line.

Goal kicks can be taken from anywhere inside the goal area.

Same as most free kicks — opposing players must be 9.15m from the corner arc until the ball is in play.

Opposing players must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

Direct goals from corners ('Olympic goals') have been legal since 1924. The ball must enter directly from the corner kick.

In 1924, Cesáreo Onzari (Argentina) scored directly from a corner against Olympic-champion Uruguay. The term 'gol olímpico' was born.

The corner kick's history runs from its 1872 introduction, through its 1924 direct-goal allowance, to the unrelated 2019 goal kick reform.

The 2019 reform's core change: the ball is in play the moment it is kicked, with no requirement to leave the penalty area.

The corner arc is a quarter-circle with a 1-metre radius at each corner of the pitch.

Both are exempt from offside (along with throw-ins).