There are many things to learn while trying to know soccer more as a participant or a random fan. As someone who played the game up to a certain level in college, a corner kick is one of those distinguished elements of the sport.
The corner kick stands tall among other set-piece plays that can dramatically change the course of a game. It is closer to the goal, so it is a threat and weapon for some teams who have mastered the art.
Moving further, we’ll examine the rules and differences between corner kicks and goal kicks. I’ll try to help you understand why corner kicks are a key component of the game.
What is a Corner Kick in Soccer?
As the name suggests, a corner kick is one taken from one of the corners of a soccer pitch. It is as simple as that.
However, you need to know that corner kicks are not just taken at will or at random—a turn of events that must happen before a corner can be awarded.
You would get a corner kick if the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line without a goal being scored and is last touched by a player from the opposing team.
In addition, the corner kick is taken from the corner of the field closest to where the ball went out.
However, there are times that the ball will go over the crossbar due to the goalkeeper’s save or a defensive clearance. In such scenarios, where the corner kick to be taken is usually decided by the center referee.
What is the Difference Between a Corner Kick and a Goal Kick?
Now that we have already established the meaning of a corner kick, let’s go ahead and define a goal kick before stating the difference(s) between the two.
A goal kick, just like the kick from the corner, is a kick awarded by the center referee or his assistants when the ball goes out of play behind the goalpost without any interference from the opposing team.
Corner Kick:
- Usually awarded to the attacking team.
- This can only be given when the ball is last touched by a defending player before crossing the goal line.
- Always has to be taken from the corner arc.
Goal Kick:
- Awarded to the defending team.
- Can only happen when the ball is last touched by an attacking player before crossing the goal line.
- The kick can be taken from anywhere within the goal area (six-yard box).
- In the past, the ball must leave the penalty area before being touched by another player. However, that rule has changed over the years, and goalkeepers, as well as players, can now touch the ball from inside their box.
From the explanations made above, the only obvious difference lies in who last touched the ball and where the kick is being taken from.
With corner kicks, the idea is to create scoring opportunities, while goal kicks help you restart play and clear the ball from the defensive area.
Can You Kick a Corner Kick Directly into the Goal?
Yes, you can score directly from a corner kick, and this type of goal is widely known as an “Olympico” goal.
It is a difficult skill to pull off because it requires enough precision and curve to bend it into the net, bypassing defenders and the goalkeeper.
I tried this several times while playing football casually, but I never managed to pull it off. Some professional players have done that, though.
Some of the players who have done this successfully include Ronaldinho, who did it in his native Brazil for Flamengo.
More recently, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos scored one against Valencia, while Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz, who has scored some Olympico goals in his career, scored against Arsenal in the Premier League at the Emirates in 2023. In the MLS, David Beckham also pulled it off for LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire back in 2012.
Why Do Soccer Players Raise Their Hands Before a Corner Kick?
You must be wondering why players often do this before taking a corner kick. Is it a ritual of some sort? Well, not exactly.
When Soccer players raise their hands before kicking a corner kick, it is usually a form of communication between the taker and the teammates in the box.
In essence, raising a hand is a non-verbal communication that teammates use to coordinate corner strategy during a corner kick or mostly set pieces.
Current soccer players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, to mention a few, are fond of raising their hands before taking a corner.
I also used it during my playing days and for me, it was simply a way to tell my teammates the kind of delivery I was going to make. It can be a high cross, a low drive, or a near-post delivery.
Final Thoughts
Corner kicks are bound to happen in games and it is one of the ways a goal can be scored if it is utilized the right way.
Sean Dyche’s Everton and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are two of the most deadly teams in the Premier League who have mastered the art of corner kicks and use it to their advantage. When you watch any of their games, you can also learn a few things about corner kicks from them.
If you’re at this point of the article, you probably now know the importance of corner kicks and how they can affect a game.
