In short
The answer first
Kick-offs start each half, each half of extra time and restart play after a goal. A dropped ball is used when the referee stops play and no other restart is required. Under the current dropped-ball procedure, the referee often restores the ball to the team that had or clearly would have gained possession rather than creating a contested bounce.
Key takeaways
At a kick-off, everyone except the kicker must be in their own half.
Kick-off opponents stay at least 9.15 metres from the ball until it is in play.
A kick-off can score directly against the opponents.
A dropped ball inside the penalty area goes to the defending goalkeeper.
Outside the penalty area, the referee uses the current possession-based procedure where it can be determined who had or would have gained the ball.
What a kick-off does
The kick-off starts the first and second halves, starts each half of extra time and restarts the match after a goal. The ball is stationary on the centre mark and becomes live when it is kicked and clearly moves.
All players except the kicker remain in their own half until the restart, while opponents keep the required 9.15-metre distance. A kick-off may be played in any direction as long as the ball is kicked and clearly moves.
When a dropped ball is used
A dropped ball is the neutral restart used when the referee stops play and the Laws do not require a free kick, penalty, throw-in, goal kick, corner or kick-off. Examples include some serious injuries, a defective ball and certain types of outside interference.
The modern procedure is designed to restore a fair possession state rather than invite two opponents to physically contest the drop as soon as it touches the ground.
Who receives a dropped ball
If the ball was inside the penalty area when play stopped, it is dropped for the defending goalkeeper. Outside the penalty area, the current Law gives it to a player of the team that had or would have retained or gained possession when the referee can determine that; otherwise it goes to a player of the team that last touched it.
All other players must remain at least four metres away until the ball touches the ground. That first ground contact puts the ball in play.
Goals and dropped balls
A player receiving a dropped ball can dribble and take multiple touches. However, a goal cannot be scored from the dropped-ball sequence unless the ball has touched at least two players before entering the goal.
This prevents a dropped ball from becoming a direct shot at an unprepared goal while still allowing normal play to develop immediately after the restart.
Source check
Sources and further reading
KickVerse uses primary governing-body material where a rule or competition format has an official source. Analysis terms can vary between data providers, so provider-specific definitions are identified rather than presented as universal laws.
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