Ball in play and restarts: throw-in, goal kick, corner kick and dropped ball

When the ball is out of play

The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the touchline or the goal line, on the ground or in the air, or when the referee stops play. If it touches a match official and, as a result, a team starts a promising attack, the ball goes directly into the goal or possession changes, play is stopped and restarted with a dropped ball.

Throw-in

• Taken with both hands, from behind and over the head, with part of each foot on the touchline or on the ground outside it.
• Opponents must be at least 2 m from the point where it is taken.
• A goal can't be scored directly: if it goes into the opponents' goal, it's a goal kick; if into the thrower's own goal, a corner kick.

Goal kick

• Awarded when the ball crosses the goal line having last touched an attacker, without a goal being scored.
• The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves; it doesn't need to leave the area.
• Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
• A goal can be scored directly, but only against the opponents.

Corner kick

• Awarded when the ball crosses the goal line having last touched a defender, without a goal being scored.
• Opponents must be at least 9.15 m from the corner arc until the ball is in play.
• A goal can be scored directly against the opponents.

Dropped ball

Used when play is stopped without an offence (for example, because of an injury, a defective ball or a spectator entering and interfering). If play was stopped inside the penalty area, or the last touch was inside it, the ball is dropped for the defending team's goalkeeper. Otherwise, it is dropped for a player of the team that last touched the ball, where it was last touched. All other players must be at least 4 m away.