Soccer kick-off rules for kids
In soccer, a kick-off starts each half and restarts the game after every goal, from the center mark. Every player except the kicker starts in their own half, and the other team stays outside the center circle until the ball 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.
Kick-off: diagram
What the referee looks for
- The ball is still, on the center mark.
- All players except the kicker are in their own half.
- Opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yards) away, which is the center circle.
- The referee has given the signal.
- The kicker does not touch the ball twice before another player touches it.
Rule: Law 8. Read it in the Laws of the Game (The IFAB).
Common mix-ups
“The ball has to go forward.”
It can go in any direction. Most teams pass it back to keep the ball.
“Two players must stand over the ball.”
One kicker is enough. The kicker may even stand in the other half to take it.
“You cannot score from a kick-off.”
You can score directly against the other team. A kick-off that goes straight into your own goal is a corner kick to the other team.
“The team that scored kicks off again.”
After a goal, the kick-off is taken by the other team. For the second half the teams change ends.
In 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 and futsal
| Game | How the rule works |
|---|---|
| 7v7 and 9v9 | The same rule. The center circle is smaller, so check how far back your league asks opponents to stand. |
| 11v11 | Law 8 in full. |
| Futsal | As in soccer, every player except the kicker starts in their own half. |
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 kick-off
Who gets the kick-off in soccer?
The referee tosses a coin. The team that wins chooses which goal to attack or to take the first kick-off. The team that chose a goal to attack takes the kick-off that starts the second half.
Can you score straight from a kick-off?
Yes, the Laws allow a goal to be scored directly from the kick-off against the other team.
Can the kick-off go backward?
Yes. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves, in any direction.
Can you be offside at a kick-off?
Everyone starts in their own half, and a player in their own half cannot be in an offside position. After the kick-off, the normal offside rule applies.
Lessons that go with this rule
- A Formation Gives Us Options (7v7 lesson)Use the jobs of the back line, midfield and forward to find a missing wide or supporting option.
- 3-2-3: Know Your Unit (9v9 lesson)Understand nine players, three outfield units, and cover behind an advancing defender.
- Our Eleven: Shape & Shared Jobs (11v11 lesson)Understand the goalkeeper and each line, then adapt midfield support as a fullback advances.
- Make Room for Your Team (7v7 lesson)Spread into useful space so the player on the ball has another route.
Keep reading
- Museum: The first LawsThe history, in the History Museum (1863)
- Striker in soccerThe player who times runs behind the defense
- Central midfielder in soccerThe link player in the middle of the field
- Soccer formations for kidsWhere each player lines up for the kick-off
- The drop ball in soccer, explained for kidsLaw 8, with a diagram
- The advantage rule in soccer, explained for kidsLaw 5, 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.