Question Number: 22891

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/3/2010

RE: Competitive High School

gray of pearl, ms usa asks...

Can a goal be scored on a goal kick if it leaves the box, the wind catches it and the ball goes into your own goal. What if it doesn't leave the box?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

One cannot score an own goal directly from a goal kick.

If the ball never leaves the penalty area, it was not in play. The restart is to retake the goal kick.

If the ball leaves the penalty area and then enters the kicker's own goal directly (without touching another player), the restart is a corner kick.

If the ball goes directly into an opponent's goal, it is a goal.

High school rules are the same as under TLOG.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gray
An own goal cannot be scored directly from any restart. In the case where the ball leaves the PA and it is blown back into the goal it is a corner kick restart to the opponents.
If it does not leave the penalty area the kick is retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Gray (or is it Gary?), this is a favourite trick question in soccer exams. Law 16 says you can score a goal alright but only against the opposing team. Here is a video of goal kick blown back into their own goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqUhmHsG5P0. In this case the ball left the penalty area (PA) and therefore it was in play. It went in the goal and since no own goal can be scored directly from a goal kick, it now became a corner kick.
But if the ball was not put into play properly for example by not leaving the PA or an attacker entering the area before it left the area, it is simply a retake.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. Not if the ball doesn't touch another player. A team cannot directly score on itself at any restart. The ball was properly put in play but since it went directly into the team's own net the restart is a corner kick for the opponents.
2. No. The ball is not in play until it leaves the penalty area. The goal kick must be retaken.
Of course, a goal may be scored directly from a goal kick against the opponents. And, coach, remember there are no boxes on a soccer field. Shoes come in boxes. Soccer fields have areas.