Scoring from kickoff

[GersMan]

OK, sorry if this is too common, but been going round and round with some people about whether you can score directly from a kickoff. I was always told that the kickoff was, in effect, indirect, and that someone else had to touch it before a ball crossing the goalline would in fact be, a goal.

Is this right? Is this wrong? Has this rule changed at some point recently? (if so, why?)

Any help from the experts is appreciated.

[IASocFan]

In the past, the kick off was an indirect kick. It was changed 3 to 10 years ago to a direct kick. I don't remember the year, but I remember the change. I don't know why it was changed - only that it was.

[refmike]

The change form IFK to DFK on the kickoff and the goal kick were so the ref would not have to put his arm up. It is unlikely a ball would make it into the net in either event. I do have fun reminding some people on the kick off that a direct goal would count. They never try but they stop and think about it for a moment.

[Gary V]

Goak kicks and kickoffs were made direct in 1997, the same time as the Great Rewrite.

I recall a story about a keeper from Scotland reported on FIFA's site shortly after the Law change was made. He took a goal kick, it bounced in the opposing half, over the head of the other keeper who had been playing out of net, and rolled into the goal. The best part of the story was the keeper's quote. He had recently moved to keeper from midfield; he said he liked the new position better because he scored more.

[david58]

Remember to be ready for anything, friends.

I was AR on a game in an ODP tournament last year, and in a U16 game the midfielder put one in over the head of the keeper, who was at the top of the box.

I was so incredulous at seeing the ball in flight toward goal in a game of that level (kinda used to it at U10), I had to remind myself to get on my horse and get to the goal line. Would like to say I got there in time, but fortunately for me it was a clear goal.

So be ready, anything can happen.

[whistleblowerusa]

The change form IFK to DFK on the kickoff and the goal kick were so the ref would not have to put his arm up.
??? Not so. It was to make the laws more consistant with that type of restart. ie: goal kick corner kick and kick off.
Referees never held thier arm up at a kick off.

[refmike]

??? Not so. It was to make the laws more consistant with that type of restart. ie: goal kick corner kick and kick off.
Referees never held thier arm up at a kick off.

We are really saying the same thing. The change was for consistancy because if they did not make the change then they should have required the indirect signal.

[MassachusettsRef]

We are really saying the same thing. The change was for consistancy because if they did not make the change then they should have required the indirect signal.I think it's a big stretch to say the indirect kick signal should have been required for kickoffs. If that were the case, wouldn't the same signal be required for throw-ins? Or wouldn't we need to make the direct kick signal prior to a drop ball or a corner kick?

Certain restarts--including the kickoff--are understood to either be indirect or direct. The signals required of the referee had nothing to do with this change.