<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 or from the first touch following a properly taken dropped - ball . </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 (or goes out of play before it leaves 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 after leaving the penalty area, a corner kick is awarded . </Li> <Li> A player may not be penalised for offside directly from a goal kick . </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 (or goes out of play before it leaves the penalty area) the kick is retaken . </Li>

When do you get a goal kick in soccer