Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Set Pieces & Restarts
Goal kick
Meaning in football (soccer), with examples
/ˈɡoʊl kɪk/nounCommon term
In football (soccer), goal kick means: A kick from inside the goal area, given to the defending team when the ball crosses the goal line after last touching an attacker and no goal is scored.
In Turkish: kale vuruşu, aut
How it is used
Usually taken by the goalkeeper. Teams play out from the back or go long from a goal kick. Since 2019, the ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves, even inside the penalty area. There is no offside from a goal kick.
Example sentences
His shot went well wide for a goal kick.
We play short from every goal kick to draw their press.
Common collocations
take a goal kick
short goal kick
long goal kick
award a goal kick
Related terms
corner kickA kick from the corner of the pitch, given to the attacking team when the ball crosses the goal line after last touching a defending player and no goal is scored.
throw-inThe restart when the ball crosses a touchline: a player from the team that did not touch it last throws it in with both hands from behind and over the head.
goalkeeperThe player who defends the goal and is the only one allowed to handle the ball, but only inside their own penalty area.
set pieceA planned move from a restart of play, such as a corner kick, free kick or throw-in, which is usually practised in training.
