How do free kicks, penalties, kick-offs and the back-pass rule work?
Rule- England
- England Football
- Mini-soccer
- Under 8
- Under 9
- Under 10
- Under 11
- 5v5 and 7v7
- 2026/27
- Coaches
From the Laws of Mini-Soccer in The FA's Mini-Soccer Handbook (2026/27):
- Free kicks: all free kicks are direct, except for a deliberate header (indirect). Opponents must be 5 yards from the ball.
- Back-pass rule: the goalkeeper can't pick up a ball deliberately kicked to them by a team-mate. The free kick is taken on the penalty area line closest to where it happened.
- Penalty kicks: given for a foul by a defender in their penalty area. Everyone except the kicker and goalkeeper must be outside the penalty area and at least 5 yards from the penalty mark. The ball must be kicked forward.
- Kick-offs: from the centre mark, in any direction, with opponents 5 yards away in their own half. A goal can't be scored directly from a kick-off or a dropped ball.
- Corners: defenders stay 5 yards away until the ball is in play; the taker can't touch it again until another player has.
- Offside: there is no offside in mini-soccer.
Added 21 Oct 2026