Throw-in, goal kick and corner: the restart rules, explained
What decides each way of restarting play when the ball goes out, the “foul throw” that catches players out, and the modern goal-kick change.
Which restart, and why
When the ball fully crosses a boundary line, how play restarts depends on where it went out and who touched it last. Over a touchline (the side) it is a throw-in for the team that did not touch it last. Over a goal line (the ends) it is either a corner or a goal kick, depending on which team put it out.
The throw-in and the foul throw
A throw-in has strict form: the thrower must use both hands, deliver the ball from behind and over their head, keep part of both feet on the ground and on or behind the touchline, and face the field. Break any of these and it is a "foul throw" — the throw is handed to the other team. It is one of the few rules whose technique is precisely defined.
Goal kick or corner
When the ball crosses the goal line without a goal, the last touch decides. If an attacker put it out, the defending team gets a goal kick, taken from within the six-yard box. If a defender put it out, the attacking team gets a corner, taken from the arc by the nearest corner flag — a prime chance to deliver the ball into the box.
The modern goal-kick change
A 2019 update changed the goal kick: the ball is now in play the instant it is kicked, and a teammate can receive it inside the penalty area, rather than having to wait until it left the box. It was designed to encourage teams to play out from the back and to speed the restart up — a small rule change with a big tactical effect.