What happens when the ball goes over the kickboard?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and restarts · 4 of 5When the whole ball goes over a kickboard, the opponents take a kick-in from where it went out, within 1 m of the board; no goal can come direct. A goal clearance is the goalkeeper's throw from the goalkeeper's area. Free kicks need opponents 5 m away; a dropped ball goes to the side that had it. Restarts allow four seconds.
How it works
- Kick-in: ball over the kickboard.
- Kick-in distance: 1 m from the board; defenders 5 m.
- No direct goal: from a kick-in.
- Goal clearance: goalkeeper throws by hand.
- Free kick: opponents 5 m; 1 m from a wall.
- Dropped ball: to the team with possession.
- Others: 6 m away.
- All restarts: four seconds.
The glossary has the kick-in, the goal clearance (blind football), the free kick (blind football), the dropped ball (blind football), the kickboard and the four-second rule.
Tricky cases
A kick-in goes straight into the opponents' goal. Goal?
No. A goal clearance.
A kick-in goes into the kicker's own goal?
A corner kick.
Can attackers wait in the goalkeeper's area at a free kick?
No, not until the ball is in play.
The ball hits the ceiling. Restart?
A kick-in.
Why the rule exists
Restarts near the kickboard give blind players a known reference point. Clear distances keep restarts safe.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kick-in | No direct goal | Law 16 |
| Goal clearance | Thrown | Law 17 |
| Dropped ball | 6 m distance | Law 9 |
From the rule book
IBSA Football Sport Committee, IBSA Blind Football Laws of the Game 2025-2029, Laws 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IBSA Blind Football Laws of the Game 2025-2029.