Throw-ins, free kicks and corners: football's restarts explained

Every time play stops, it has to start again in a specific way. These "restarts" are the punctuation of a football match — here's how each one works.

Throw-in

When the ball fully crosses a touchline (the side of the pitch), the team that didn't touch it last gets a throw-in. The thrower must use both hands, deliver the ball from behind and over the head, and keep both feet on the ground behind the line. You cannot score directly from a throw-in, and there is no offside from one.

Goal kick

When the attacking team puts the ball over the goal line (but not in the net), the defending side gets a goal kick from inside their six-yard box. Under modern rules the ball is in play as soon as it's kicked — it no longer has to leave the penalty area — which lets teams play out from the back.

Corner kick

When the defending team puts the ball over their own goal line, the attackers get a corner, taken from the arc by the corner flag. You can score directly from a corner, and they're a prime source of set-piece goals.

Free kicks: direct vs indirect

A foul is punished with a free kick, and there are two kinds:

• Direct free kick — you can score straight from it. Given for physical fouls and handball.
• Indirect free kick — the ball must touch another player before a goal counts. Given for technical offences like offside, dangerous play or obstruction.

Defenders must retreat 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the ball, forming the famous "wall." Attackers are not allowed to stand right among a defensive wall.

Why restarts matter

Set pieces — corners and free kicks especially — decide a huge share of goals, so teams drill them obsessively. Knowing a direct from an indirect free kick, or why a goal kick can be taken short, makes the flow of a match far easier to follow.

Watch the restarts shape games live in our match centre.

FAQ

Can you score directly from a throw-in?

No. If a throw-in goes straight into the opponents' goal without touching anyone, play restarts with a goal kick; if it goes into the thrower's own goal, the opponents get a corner. A goal only counts if another player touches the ball first.

Can you be offside from a throw-in, corner or goal kick?

No — the offside law specifically exempts all three. A player receiving the ball directly from a throw-in, a corner kick or a goal kick cannot be penalised for offside, no matter where they are standing.

Can you score directly from kick-off?

Yes. Under the current Laws of the Game a goal may be scored directly against the opponents from kick-off, and the ball can be played in any direction. Long-range attempts straight from the restart are rare but perfectly legal.

What is a dropped ball?

It's the restart used when play stops for something neither team caused — an injury, an outside interference, or the referee touching the ball and changing play. Under modern rules it is uncontested: the ball is dropped for the team that last touched it (or for the goalkeeper if play stopped in the penalty area), with everyone else at least 4 metres away.

What happens if a free kick is taken and hits the wall?

Play simply continues — the ball is live once it's kicked and moves. The relevant restriction is on attackers, who must stay at least one metre away from a defensive wall of three or more players; if they encroach into it, the defending team gets an indirect free kick.