Law 15 – The Kick-in

A kick-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline on the floor or in the air, or when the ball hits the ceiling while in play.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in:

• If the ball enters the opponents’ goal, a goal clearance is awarded.
• If the ball enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded.

1. Procedure

At the moment of delivering the ball:

• the ball must be stationary on the touchline at the point where it left the pitch or the nearest point to where it touched the ceiling;
• only the kicker may be off the pitch (except as otherwise provided for in the Futsal Laws of the Game – see the section on authorised departure from the pitch within the Interpretation and Recommendations part of the Practical Guidelines for Futsal Referees and Other Match Officials);
• all opponents must stand at least 5m from the point on the touchline where the kick-in is to be taken.

The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.

The ball must be put into play within four seconds of the team being ready to put the ball into play or the referee signalling that the team is ready to put it into play.

If the kick-in is taken and then, after it has been in play, the ball goes off the pitch over either touchline without touching any other player, a kick-in is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the point where the ball went off the pitch.

If a player, while correctly taking a kick-in, deliberately kicks the ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again but not in a careless or reckless manner or using excessive force, the referees allow play to continue.

The kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

2. Offences and sanctions

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded; if the kicker commits a handball offence:

• a direct free kick is awarded;
• a penalty kick is awarded if the offence occurred inside the kicker’s penalty area, unless the kicker was the goalkeeper, in which case an indirect free kick is awarded.

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker leaves the pitch and is replaced by a substitute (in accordance with the substitution procedure) who then touches the ball before it has been touched by another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the ball was touched by the player who has just entered the pitch, unless this was inside the player’s own penalty area. In the latter case, the indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team on the penalty-area line at the point nearest to the place where the offence was committed, following an imaginary line parallel to the touchline (see Law 13).

An opponent who unfairly distracts or impedes the kicker (including moving closer than 5m to the point from where the kick-in is to be taken) is cautioned for unsporting behaviour and, if the kick-in has been taken, an indirect free kick is awarded.

If a team-mate of the kicker is off the pitch when the kick-in is taken, a kick-in is awarded to the opposing team. If this was an attempt to deceive an opponent or take up an advantageous position, the offending player is cautioned.

For any other offence, including if a kick-in is not taken within four seconds, a kick-in is awarded to the opposing team.