A corner kick in soccer (association football) is a method of restarting play awarded to the attacking team when the defending team kicks the ball out of bounds over their own goal line, without a goal being scored.
Here's a breakdown of how corners work:
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The Infraction: A corner kick is awarded when the entire ball crosses the goal line (between the goalposts and under the crossbar) and was last touched by a defender. If an attacker last touched the ball before it went out, a goal kick is awarded to the defending team instead.
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Placement of the Ball: The ball is placed inside the corner arc at the corner nearest to where the ball crossed the goal line.
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Players' Positioning:
- The Kicker: The player taking the corner kick must be from the attacking team.
- Defending Players: Defending players must remain at least 10 yards (9.15 meters) away from the corner arc until the ball is kicked.
- Attacking Players: Attacking players can position themselves anywhere on the field, subject to the offside rule (which doesn't apply until the ball is touched).
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The Kick:
- The ball must be stationary on the corner arc.
- The kicker cannot touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player.
- A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick.
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When Play Resumes: Play resumes immediately after the ball is kicked and clearly moves.
In summary, a corner kick provides the attacking team with a free kick opportunity from the corner of the field, often leading to a potential scoring chance, after the defending team inadvertently plays the ball out over their own goal line.
