What is a corner kick?

A corner kick is awarded to the attacking team when a defender was the last player to touch the ball before it went out over the goal line — outside the goalposts. The kicker places the ball inside the corner arc closest to where it went out, then plays it into the field.

The 30-second version

• Ball goes out over the goal line, last touched by a defender → corner.
• Ball goes out over the goal line, last touched by an attacker → goal kick.
• The attacking team gets a kick from the corner arc.
• Defenders must be at least 10 yards from the ball.
• Goal can be scored directly. No offside on the first touch.

When a corner is awarded

Pretty simple: the defending team is the last to play the ball before it crosses fully over their own goal line, outside the goalposts (not into the goal). Examples:

• A defender deflects a shot wide.
• A goalkeeper parries a shot over the bar.
• An attacker shoots, ball deflects off a defender's leg before going out.

If the ball goes off the attacker last, it's a goal kick to the defending team.

How it's taken

1. Ball is placed inside or on the corner arc — the quarter-circle in the corner of the field, 1 yard from the corner flag in each direction.
2. Defenders must stand at least 10 yards from the ball — they typically line up in the box.
3. The kicker plays the ball with one touch.
4. The kicker cannot touch the ball twice in a row.

The corner flag must stay in place — the kicker isn't allowed to remove it for a better swing.

Common corner deliveries

• Driven cross to the front post — fast, low, expecting a flick-on.
• Out-swinging cross — curls away from the goal, drops on attackers running in.
• In-swinging cross — curls toward the goal, dangerous because a slight touch can put it in.
• Short corner — pass to a teammate just outside the arc, then re-cross from a better angle.

Defending the corner

Two main approaches:

• Zonal marking: defenders cover specific areas of the box. The downside: an attacker running into your zone and being unmarked.
• Man-to-man marking: each defender follows a specific attacker. The downside: clever runs and screens.

Most teams use a hybrid: zonal at the near post (where the ball is most dangerous), man-to-man elsewhere.

The goalkeeper usually gets two defenders on the goal line for extra cover.

A simple example

A shot from outside the box deflects off a defender's leg and rolls out over the byline.

Corner. Ball is placed in the right corner arc. Defenders form a screen in the 6-yard box. The attacking team has 3 players in the box, 1 hovering at the edge for a clearance, 1 holding back as cover.

The kicker delivers an out-swinger. An attacker meets it at the near post and heads it into the far corner. Goal.

Common confusion

• "He was clearly offside in the box." — No offside on the first touch from a corner. Once an attacker touches the ball after the corner, offside applies for the next phase.
• "Why didn't they take a short corner there?" — Tactical choice. With a 6'5" centre-back winning everything in the box, an in-swinging cross is more productive.
• "The ball didn't fully cross the line." — If any part of the ball was still on the line, play continues. Modern goal-line cameras settle this easily on TV.

What fans usually get wrong

• A corner is not a "free header" — defenders are 10 yards back, but they sprint into the box the moment the ball is kicked.
• The ball must be inside or on the arc, not just near it. Subtle, but referees sometimes ask the kicker to reposition.
• An "olimpico" — a direct goal from a corner — is rare but completely legal. Olimpico (English: Olympic goal) is named after a 1924 game where Argentina scored one against Uruguay shortly after the Olympic gold medal final.

Official rule basis

Corner kicks are governed by Law 17 of the IFAB Laws of the Game. The 10-yard distance and the prohibition on offside from a corner are also part of Laws 11 and 13.