[ayso45-coaches] From where can a goal kick be taken (all divisions)?

[Beau James]

This clarification is being sent at the request of some AYSO region 45 
staff who have observed inconsistent procedures being enforced by match 
officials.

_*The referee has awarded a goal kick to the defending team.
Where may/must the ball be placed for the GK?*_

The answer is very clear in Law 16:

    /*. The ball is kicked from _any point within the goal area_ by a
    player of the
    defending team*/

In U8 the fields are marked with a single area. The ball may be placed 
anywhere in that single area. In U10 and upper divisions where the 
fields are marked with both a goal area and a penalty area, the ball may 
be placed anywhere in the goal area.

The defender taking the goal kick will typically place the ball on the 
goal area line, to start the ball as far upfield as possible before 
taking the kick.  However, placing the ball there is not a requirement. 
In any case, choosing the spot to place the ball is up to the defenders, 
not the referee team, as long as the location is legal ("anywhere in the 
goal area").

Once the ball has been placed in a legal location for the GK, the 
defender is not permitted to change her mind, pick up the ball, and move 
it to a different spot (such as to the opposite side of the goal area) 
before taking the GK.  Picking the ball up and moving it is considered 
time-wasting that delays the restart of the game.  If this happens, the 
referee should blow the whistle and instruct the player to leave the 
ball where she has placed it (or she has already moved the ball, to 
return it to where she had placed it) and to kick the ball from that spot.

On a Goal Kick restart, the ball is not in play until the ball has left 
the penalty area (the single area, in U8).  If the ball does not leave 
the penalty area (weak kick, wet/heavy ball, long grass, or intercepted 
by another player), then the ball is not in play and the kick must be 
retaken. The kick does not have to be retaken by the same player - and 
in younger division games, where a weak kick is the reason for the ball 
not exiting the penalty area, it is often wise for the rekick to be 
taken by a different (and, one hopes, stronger) player.

Beau

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