CAPTAINS

DEFINITION
Each team is led by a captain who usually wears an armband for
identification.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN?
The captains should take responsibility for the behavior of their team-mates,
encouraging them to play fairly and show respect towards the match
officials and their decisions. However, they cannot be shown a red or yellow
card for offences committed by a team-mate.
The captains have no special privileges to protest or argue with the referee
or other match officials.
Both captains take part in the coin toss:
• before kick-off, to determine who kicks off and which goal to attack
• before penalties, to determine who takes the first kick and which goal will
be used

GOAL KICK

DEFINITION
A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball goes out over the goal line
(but not in the goal), on the ground or in the air, and it was last touched
by an attacking team player.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN?

The kick can be taken from anywhere in the goal area.
The ball must be stationary (not moving).
All players of the other team must be outside the penalty area until the ball
is kicked, unless the kick is taken so quickly that they do not have time
to leave the penalty area.
The ball
• is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves
• does not have to leave the penalty area before it can be played by another
player
The kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it.
WHAT HAPPENS IF…
the ball is moving when the goal kick is taken?
The goal kick is retaken.
the ball is not in the goal area when the goal kick is taken?
The goal kick is retaken.
an opponent stays in the penalty area and interferes with the goal kick?
The goal kick is retaken and the player may be shown a yellow card.
an opponent does not have time to leave the penalty area and interferes
with the goal kick?
Play continues, as long as the player did not prevent the kick from being
taken.
the ball goes straight out over the touchline?
A throw-in is awarded to the other team.
the ball goes straight out over the team’s own goal line?
A corner kick is awarded to the other team.
the ball goes straight out over the opponents’ goal line?
A goal kick is awarded to the other team.
the ball goes straight into the kicker’s own goal?
A corner kick is awarded to the other team.
the ball goes straight into the opponents’ goal?
A goal is awarded

THROW-IN

DEFINITION
A throw-in is awarded when the whole of the ball goes out over the touchline,
on the ground or in the air.
A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the last player to touch the ball.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN?

Any player, including a goalkeeper, can take a throw-in.
A substitute who has replaced another player but not yet entered the pitch,
or a player who had left the pitch due to an injury or to change kit, etc.
can take the throw-in, as long as part of one of their feet touches the
touchline before they take the throw-in, as this means they have satisfied
the Law requirement to enter the pitch.
The thrower must:
• take the throw-in from the point on the touchline where the ball went out of
play
• stand and face the pitch
• have part of each foot on or behind the touchline
• throw the ball with both hands
• throw the ball over the top of their head
• not touch the ball again until another player has touched it
The players of the other team must be at least 2 m (2 yds) away from the
point on the touchline where the throw-in is to be taken.
The ball is in play when it enters the pitch.

WHAT HAPPENS IF…

THROW-IN
the ball does not go onto the pitch?
The same team takes the throw-in again (it does not have to be taken by the
same player).
the throw-in is taken from the wrong place?
The other team takes the throw-in.
the thrower lifts one/both feet off the ground?
The other team takes the throw-in.
the thrower has part of one foot/both feet on the pitch?
No offence has been committed, as long as part of each foot is on or behind
the touchline.
THROW-IN
the thrower does not use two hands?
The other team takes the throw-in.
the thrower does not throw the ball over their head?
The other team takes the throw-in.
the thrower touches the ball again before another player has touched it?
An indirect free kick is awarded to the other team. However, if the second
touch is handball, a direct free kick is awarded; if the handball
offence is inside the kicker’s penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded, unless
the thrower was the goalkeeper, in which case an indirect free
kick is awarded.
A yellow card is shown to the offending player if the second touch stopped a
promising attack.
A red card is shown to the offending player if the second touch stopped a
goal or denied the opponents an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
an opponent is not 2 m (2 yds) from the thrower when the throw-in is taken?
An indirect free kick is awarded and a yellow card is shown if this interferes
with the throw-in.
an opponent unfairly distracts the thrower?
An indirect free kick is awarded and a yellow card is shown if this interferes
with the throw-in.
the ball is thrown straight into the other team’s goal?
A goal kick is awarded to the other team.
the ball is thrown straight into thrower’s goal?
A corner kick is awarded to the other team.
the wrong team takes the throw-in?
The throw-in must be retaken by the correct team.
if a player taking a throw-in throws the ball against an opponent but not in a
reckless or excessive force manner to regain possession of the ball?
Play continues as there is no offence.

DROPPED BALL / BOUNCED BALL

DEFINITION
If the referee stops the game and no foul or other offence has occurred, the
game restarts with a dropped ball.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN?

The referee restarts play with a dropped ball when:
• play stops because of an injury or something serious (bad weather,
spectators on the pitch, a spectator blows a whistle that interferes with the
game, floodlights go out, etc.)
• play is stopped because of interference by an outside agent
• the ball touches the referee (or another match official), stays on the pitch
and:
> goes into the goal
> the team in possession of the ball changes
> a promising attack starts
• the referee blows the whistle by mistake and stops the game
When there is a dropped ball:
• the referee drops the ball
• players from both teams must be at least 4 m (4.5 yds) from the ball, apart
from the player receiving the dropped ball
• the ball is in play when it touches the ground – it must not be touched
before that
• the player receiving the dropped ball can continue playing with it but
cannot score unless it touches at least one other player (from either team)
The ball is dropped for a player of the team that last touched the ball at the
place where it last touched a player, match official or outside agent.
However, the ball is dropped for the goalkeeper (regardless of which team
last touched the ball) if, when the referee stopped play:
• the last touch was in the penalty area or
• the ball was in the penalty area (whether on the ground or in the air)

WHAT HAPPENS IF...

DROPPED BALL / BOUNCED BALL
a player touches the ball before it touches the ground?
The dropped ball is retaken.
a player is less than 4 m (4.5 yds) away?
The dropped ball is retaken and the offending player may be shown a yellow
card.
the ball goes out over the goal line or touchline without touching any player?
The dropped ball is retaken.
the ball goes into the goal of the player who received the dropped ball
without the ball first touching another player?
A corner kick is awarded to the other team.
the ball goes into either goal without touching any player (including the
player the ball is dropped for)?
The dropped ball is retaken.
the ball goes into the opponents’ goal of the player who received the
dropped ball without the ball first touching another player?
A goal kick is awarded to the other team.

CORNER KICK
DEFINITION
A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball goes out over the goal
line (but not in the goal), whether on the ground or in the air, and when
it was last touched by a defending team player.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN?

The corner kick is taken from the corner area on the side of the pitch where
the ball went out of play.
The ball must be:
• stationary (not moving)
• inside the corner area (it can overhang the corner arc)
All opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the corner arc.
The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
The kicker cannot touch the ball again until someone else has touched it.
A goal is scored if the ball goes directly into the opponents’ goal.

WHAT HAPPENS IF…

CORNER KICK
the ball is moving?
The kick is retaken.
the ball is not in the corner area?
The kick is retaken.
an opponent is not 9.15 m (10 yds) away and interferes with the game?
The kick is retaken, and a yellow card is shown to the offending player.
the ball goes straight into the opponents’ goal?
A goal is awarded.
the ball goes straight into the kicker’s goal?
A corner kick is awarded to the other team.
the ball goes straight out over the touchline?
A throw-in is awarded to the other team.
the ball goes straight out over the goal line?
A goal kick is awarded to the other team.
the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player?
An indirect free kick is awarded to the other team (direct free kick if the
kicker commits a handball offence; penalty if the offence is committed
inside the kicker’s penalty area, unless the kicker was the goalkeeper, in
which case an indirect free kick is awarded).
 BALL IN & BALL OUT OF
PLAY

DEFINITION
The ball is out of play when:
• it completely crosses the touchline or goal line, on the ground or in the air
• it touches the referee or another match official, stays on the pitch and a
promising attack, change of possession or goal occurs
• the referee stops play
At all other times, the ball is in play, including if it rebounds off a goalpost,
crossbar or corner flagpost and stays on the pitch.

WHAT HAPPENS IF…

the ball touches the referee or another match official and then goes out of
play?
Play restarts as if the ball had not touched the referee or another match
official, e.g. throw-in, goal kick, etc.
the ball touches the referee or another match official, stays on the pitch and
the team in possession of the ball changes?
Play restarts with a dropped ball (see: Dropped ball).
the ball touches the referee or another match official and goes into the goal?
Play restarts with a dropped ball (see: Dropped ball).
the ball touches the referee or another match official, stays on the pitch and
a promising attack starts?
Play restarts with a dropped ball (see: Dropped ball).
the referee blows the whistle by mistake and stops the game?
Play restarts with a dropped ball (see: Dropped ball).