Soccer corner kick rules for kids
In soccer, a corner kick is given when the defending team touches the ball last before the whole ball crosses its own goal line and no goal is scored. The attacking team kicks from the corner nearest to where the ball went out, and defenders stay 10 yards from the corner until it is kicked.
Soccer is called football in most of the world. This guide is part of Futbol Island’s free football lessons for kids aged 7 to 12.
Corner kick: diagram
What the referee looks for
- Who touched it last: a defender, so it is a corner and not a goal kick.
- The ball is still, inside the corner area nearest to where it went out.
- Opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yards) from the corner arc until the ball is in play.
- The corner flag stays where it is. It may not be moved.
- Pushing and holding in front of the goal as the kick comes in.
Rule: Law 17. Read it in the Laws of the Game (The IFAB).
Common mix-ups
“You can be offside from a corner.”
Not from the kick itself. Offside can count again on the next pass, for example after a short corner.
“The ball must leave the corner area.”
It is in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves.
“A corner cannot go straight in.”
It can. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick against the other team.
In 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 and futsal
| Game | How the rule works |
|---|---|
| 7v7 and 9v9 | The same rule on a smaller field. The Law says 10 yards; a small-sided league may set a shorter distance in its own rules. |
| 11v11 | Law 17 in full. |
| Futsal | The kick must be taken within four seconds and opponents stand 5 m from the corner arc. If the team takes too long, the other team gets a goal clearance. |
These are the Laws of the Game and typical US youth standards. Your league may differ, so check its rules. Sources: IFAB Laws of the Game (current edition), U.S. Soccer small-sided standards, US Youth Soccer playing rules (December 2025) and the FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26. Checked on November 10, 2026.
Questions about corner kick
Can you score directly from a corner kick?
Yes. Law 17 allows a goal to be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the other team.
Can you be offside from a corner kick?
No. There is no offside when a player receives the ball directly from a corner kick.
What is a short corner?
A corner passed to a teammate close by instead of crossed toward the goal. It pulls a defender out and changes the angle of the next pass.
Why did the referee give a corner when the goalkeeper held the ball?
In the current Laws, a goalkeeper who holds the ball in the hands for more than eight seconds gives away a corner kick. The referee counts down the last five seconds with a raised hand.
Lessons that go with this rule
- Short Corner: Borrow One of Two Outlets (9v9 lesson)When Blue plays a corner short, a spare player helps our defender, so every runner in the middle stays marked.
- Corner: Read the Cutback (Futsal lesson)Choose a corner delivery from the defender’s position, then read the next pressing movement.
- Defend a Corner: Share the Jobs (Futsal lesson)Respond to a short corner without abandoning the central and far-side threats.
- Look Behind the Defenders (11v11 lesson)Find the teammate, then check the route. A cut-back is useful only when that pass is there.
Keep reading
- Winger in soccerThe wide attacker who wins and takes many corners
- Center back in soccerThe defender in the middle of the back line
- Goalkeeper in soccerThe one player who may use their hands
- Handball in soccer, explained for kidsLaw 12, with a diagram
- Soccer fouls and free kicks: direct vs indirectLaws 12 and 13, with a diagram
- All soccer rules for kids16 rules explained for kids, each with a diagram: offside, handball, throw-ins and more
- Soccer terms for kids: an A-Z glossary92 soccer words in plain English, from advantage to yellow card, 18 with a diagram
Futbol Island is a free football (soccer) learning game for kids aged 7 to 12. Every idea on this page is taught on a pitch with moving players, then checked with a quick quiz.