<P> A goal kick is awarded to the defending team when the ball is struck directly into the goal by the attacking team from an indirect free kick . </P> <Ul> <Li> The ball is initially placed anywhere within the defending goal area . All opposing players must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play . The ball must be kicked (a goalkeeper may not pick up the ball). </Li> <Li> The ball becomes in play as soon as it leaves the penalty area--if any player makes contact with the ball before it becomes in play the kick is retaken . If the ball fails to leave the penalty area the kick is retaken . </Li> <Li> A goal can be scored directly from a goal kick against the opposing team . An own goal cannot be scored from a goal kick; in the highly unlikely circumstance that the ball happened to land directly into the kicker's own goal a corner kick would be awarded to the opposing team . </Li> <Li> A player may not be penalised for offside directly from a goal kick . </Li> <Li> Goal kicks are most often taken by goalkeepers, however this is not compulsory under the laws of the game . </Li> </Ul> <Li> The ball is initially placed anywhere within the defending goal area . All opposing players must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play . The ball must be kicked (a goalkeeper may not pick up the ball). </Li> <Li> The ball becomes in play as soon as it leaves the penalty area--if any player makes contact with the ball before it becomes in play the kick is retaken . If the ball fails to leave the penalty area the kick is retaken . </Li>

Where is the ball placed for a goal kick