These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 8 and the rules regarding the start of play and re-starts.
Applies to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side, minis.
Who does what?
A coin is tossed and the team that wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match.
The other team takes the kick-off to start the match.
The team that wins the toss takes the kick-off to start the second half of the match.
In the second half of the match, the teams change ends.
Laws of the kick-off
All players must be in their own half of the field.
The team that is not taking the kick-off must be outside the centre circle, 10 yds from the ball, until it is in play. The team taking kick-off can have any number of players in the centre circle on their side of the half-way line.
The ball is stationary on the centre mark.
Upon the referee’s signal, the first kick must be forward of the half-way line into the opposition’s half.
The kicker cannot touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off.
After a team scores a goal, a kick-off is taken by the other team.
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