The coin-toss winner chooses either which goal to attack in the first half or to take the kick-off; the other team gets the other. At every kick-off the ball must be stationary on the centre mark, opponents at least 9.15 m away, and a goal may be scored directly against the opponents.
What the coin toss decides
The referee tosses the coin, and the toss settles between two separate choices. The team that wins it picks one of them: the goal to attack in the first half, or the kick-off. Their opponents then receive whichever option was not taken.
The second half follows from that first decision. The team that chose which goal to attack in the first half takes the kick-off for the second half, and the teams change ends for that half.
Who takes the kick-off
Here is who takes the kick-off at the start of each half of the match and after a goal.
| The kick-off | Taken by |
|---|---|
| Start of the first half | Whichever team ended up with the kick-off after the coin toss |
| Start of the second half | The team that chose which goal to attack in the first half |
| After a goal | The opponents of the team that scored |
Conditions for every kick-off
Each kick-off has the same required setup. The ball must be stationary on the centre mark, and the referee gives a signal for the kick-off to be taken. Every player apart from the taker must be in their own half.
The opposing team must stay at least 9.15 m from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves.
Goal outcomes and sanctions
A goal may be scored directly against the opponents. If the ball goes directly into the kicker's own goal, the opponents are awarded a corner kick.
If the taker touches the ball again before it has touched another player, the restart is an indirect free kick, or a direct free kick for a handball offence. Any other kick-off procedure offence leads to the kick-off being retaken. If an opponent enters the kicking team's half before the ball is in play and the kick-off goes directly into the offending team's goal, the referee plays advantage and awards the goal.
FAQ
What does the team that wins the coin toss choose?
It chooses one of two things: which goal to attack in the first half, or the kick-off. The other team then gets the remaining choice.
Who kicks off the second half?
The second-half kick-off is taken by the team that chose which goal to attack in the first half. The teams also change ends for the second half.
Do players have to stay in their own half at a kick-off?
Yes, every player except the taker must be in their own half. That requirement stands alongside the separate distance rule for the opposing team.
Can you score directly from a kick-off?
Yes, a goal may be scored directly against the opponents from a kick-off. A ball that goes directly into the kicker's own goal does not count as a goal and gives the opponents a corner kick instead.