🔄 RESTARTS: THROW-INS & GOAL KICKS
PAGE 1 OF 5 - BALL OUT OF PLAY
OUT OF BOUNDS
WHEN THE BALL LEAVES THE PITCH
Football only flows while the ball stays inside the white lines. The moment the whole ball crosses a boundary, play stops and a special restart begins. There are two types of boundary: the touchlines (the long sidelines) and the goal lines (the short ends behind each goal). Which line the ball crosses, and who touched it last, decides whether you get a throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick. Restarts happen dozens of times per match, so knowing the rules helps you follow the rhythm of the game instead of wondering why play suddenly paused.
⚡ DID YOU KNOW?
The whole ball must fully cross the line to be out. If even a tiny sliver of the ball is still touching the white paint, play continues. That is why TV replays zoom in so close on tight calls.
OUT!
TOUCHLINE
📏 Ball crosses the sideline
🤾 Throw-in restarts play
🤾 Throw-in restarts play
GOAL LINE
🥅 Ball crosses the end line
🚩 Goal kick or corner kick
🚩 Goal kick or corner kick
PAGE 2 OF 5 - THROW-INS
SIDELINE RESTART
HOW TO TAKE A THROW-IN
When the ball crosses the touchline, the team that did NOT touch it last gets a throw-in. The taker stands on or behind the line, holds the ball with both hands behind their head, and throws it back over their head into the field. Both feet must stay on the ground. You cannot lift a foot or drag it along the line. The throw goes to a teammate, and play continues from that spot. Throw-ins look simple, but a long, accurate throw can be a secret weapon near the opponent's box. Some World Cup teams train specialist throwers who can launch the ball like a missile into the penalty area.
⚡ LAST TOUCH RULE
The throw-in always goes to the team that did not touch the ball last before it went out. If a blue player kicks it out, red throws it back in. The referee and assistant watch every touch to decide.
THROW!
BOTH FEET DOWN
👟 Both feet on the ground
📍 On or behind the touchline
📍 On or behind the touchline
ILLEGAL THROW
🚫 Lifted foot = foul throw
🔄 Other team gets the throw
🔄 Other team gets the throw
LONG THROW
💪 Powerful throw into the box
🎯 Teammates jump to head it
🎯 Teammates jump to head it
PAGE 3 OF 5 - GOAL KICKS
LAST TOUCH
⚔️ Attacker touched it last
🥅 Goal kick for the defence
🥅 Goal kick for the defence
FROM THE BOX
🧤 Goalkeeper places the ball
🚀 Long kick up the pitch
🚀 Long kick up the pitch
DEFENCE RESTARTS
WHEN A GOAL KICK IS GIVEN
A goal kick happens when the ball goes out over the goal line (but not into the net) and an attacking player touched it last. The defending team restarts from inside their own goal area, the small box around the goal. Usually the goalkeeper takes it, placing the ball anywhere inside that box and kicking it long upfield. Opponents must stay outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. Goal kicks let a team under pressure breathe and reset their shape. Watch World Cup matches and count how many goal kicks happen in the first ten minutes when both teams are still feeling each other out.
⚡ NOT A CORNER
Goal kick and corner kick both happen at the ends of the pitch, but for opposite reasons. Goal kick: attacker touched it last. Corner kick: defender touched it last. The last touch rule is the key.
GOAL KICK!
PAGE 4 OF 5 - CORNERS AND KICK-OFFS
CORNER FLAG DRAMA
CORNERS ARE GOLDEN CHANCES
A corner kick is awarded when the ball goes out over the goal line off a defending player. The attacking team places the ball in the small arc at the corner flag and usually crosses it into the crowded penalty area. Headers, scrambles, and last-ditch clearances make corners some of the most exciting restarts in football. Many World Cup goals come directly from corners or the chaos that follows. Defenders often assign their tallest players to mark the biggest threats, while attackers pack the box hoping for a free header. One swing of the foot from the corner arc can change the scoreboard in seconds.
⚡ SHORT CORNER
Teams do not always cross from the corner. Sometimes they play a short pass to a nearby teammate to pull defenders out of position. Clever restart tactics can catch the other team sleeping.
CORNER!
CROSS IN
🌀 Ball swung into the box
🎯 Attackers attack the header
🎯 Attackers attack the header
DEFENCE LAST
🛡️ Defender touched it last
🚩 Corner for the attackers
🚩 Corner for the attackers
KICK-OFF
⚽ Ball on the center spot
🏁 Starts each half of play
🏁 Starts each half of play
PAGE 5 OF 5 - KICK-OFFS AND RECAP
CENTER CIRCLE
KICK-OFFS START EVERYTHING
Every match, every half, and every goal begins with a kick-off from the center spot. The team that kicks off passes the ball forward to a teammate, and the game is live. After a goal, the team that conceded kicks off to restart play. At the World Cup opening ceremony, billions of viewers watch that first kick-off roll the tournament into action. Kick-offs must go forward, and all players except the kicker must be in their own half until the ball moves. Restarts are not boring pauses. They are chances to launch attacks, waste time, or steal possession if the other team is not ready.
⚡ AFTER A GOAL
The team that just conceded always takes the kick-off. They bring the ball back to the center circle while the scoring team celebrates. Play resumes the moment the ball rolls forward.
KICK-OFF!
POST-GOAL
🎉 Scorer celebrates
⚽ Other team kicks off from center
⚽ Other team kicks off from center
REMEMBER
📋 KEY FACTS
Ball out on the sideline means throw-in for the other team. Out over the goal line off an attacker means goal kick. Out off a defender means corner kick. Kick-offs start halves and restart play after goals. Always ask: who touched it last, and which line did it cross?
🤾 Throw-in at the sideline
🥅 Goal kick off the attack
🚩 Corner off the defence
🥅 Goal kick off the attack
🚩 Corner off the defence
🧠 QUIZ TIME!
RESTARTS: THROW-INS & GOAL KICKS · 5 QUESTIONS
QUESTION 01
When the ball crosses the touchline (sideline), what restart is given?
QUESTION 02
What must a player do with their feet during a legal throw-in?
QUESTION 03
When is a goal kick awarded?
QUESTION 04
When is a corner kick awarded?
QUESTION 05
When does a kick-off happen?
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