Can You Be Offside from a Goal Kick?

No. You cannot be offside from a goal kick. Goal kicks are one of three restarts specifically listed in Law 11 as exempt from the offside rule. A player can stand anywhere on the pitch — even on the opposing goalkeeper's goal line — and receive a goal kick without an offside decision.

When did the goal kick offside rule change?

The rule changed in 2019 when IFAB updated Law 11. Before the change, players had to be in their own half to receive a goal kick without being offside — attackers could not station themselves in the opponent's half during a goal kick.

The 2019 amendment removed this restriction entirely. Now players can receive goal kicks from any position on the pitch. The change encouraged more aggressive positioning and allowed teams to build out from the back with wider options.

Does the exemption end once the ball is controlled?

Yes. The exemption covers only the direct receipt of the goal kick. The moment the ball is controlled and play continues normally, the standard offside rule applies again.

In practical terms: if a striker receives a goal kick in an offside position and holds the ball, then plays it to a teammate who sprints forward, that teammate is now subject to the normal offside law. The exemption does not carry forward into subsequent passages of play.

How does this affect defending teams?

Since 2019, defending teams can no longer use the halfway line as a reference point to manage their defensive line during goal kicks. An attacker can stand in the penalty area during a goal kick and legally receive it. Defenders need to track runners actively rather than relying on positional rules.

Read more in the goal kick offside rule in detail, the offside rule, goal kick procedures, or test positions at the offside scenario engine.