What Are Goal Kicks in Football?
A goal kick is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line (but not into the goal) after last touching a player from the attacking team.
The defending team then takes a goal kick from within their penalty area to restart play.
Example:
- Chelsea attacks Liverpool and shoots wide.
- The ball goes out past the goal line without a deflection.
- Liverpool takes a goal kick.
This is what betting markets call “team goal kicks.”
What Is “Team Goal Kicks” Betting?
This market allows you to bet on how many goal kicks a specific team will take during a match (or a period of a match).
It’s similar to corners or shots markets but focuses on goal kicks.
You’ll usually see markets like:
- Over/Under a number of goal kicks for a team
- Exact number of goal kicks for a team
- Which team will have more goal kicks
Example Market
Let’s say Manchester City play Tottenham.
Bookmaker offers:
- Manchester City goal kicks Over/Under 5.5
- Tottenham goal kicks Over/Under 8.5
- Most goal kicks: Man City vs Tottenham
If you bet:
- Man City Over 5.5 goal kicks = You win if City take 6 or more goal kicks in the match.
- Tottenham Under 8.5 goal kicks = You win if Spurs take 8 or fewer goal kicks.
- Most goal kicks – Tottenham = You win if Tottenham take more than City.
How to Analyse Team Goal Kicks
Goal kicks tend to happen for teams who:
- Face many shots/off-target shots (defensive sides get more goal kicks).
- Use a deep defensive block, forcing opponents to shoot from distance.
- Have a weak attack but strong defence (they defend more, so more goal kicks).
On the flip side:
- Dominant attacking teams often have fewer goal kicks, because they’re attacking and not defending much.
Example:
- Burnley vs Manchester City
- Burnley likely to have more goal kicks (City constantly attacking, Burnley defending).
- City likely to have fewer goal kicks (they dominate possession).
Example Bet Calculation
Match: Chelsea vs Sheffield United
- Chelsea Over 4.5 Goal Kicks (Odds 1.80)
- Sheffield United Over 6.5 Goal Kicks (Odds 1.95)
If Chelsea takes 6 goal kicks, your bet wins.
If Sheffield takes 7 goal kicks, your bet wins.
Betting Tips
Check Team Styles – Defensive/underdog teams usually rack up more goal kicks.
Check Opponent Shot Volume – Teams who shoot a lot (but off-target) cause more goal kicks.
Check Match Context – If a team is leading, they may sit deeper, producing more goal kicks.
Weather & Pitch Conditions – Poor conditions can lead to more misplaced shots = more goal kicks.
Historical Data – Look at previous head-to-heads; patterns often repeat.
Quick Tip Table:
| Situation | Likely Outcome (Goal Kicks) |
|---|---|
| Big team vs small team | Small team = more goal kicks |
| Open, end-to-end game | Both teams high goal kicks |
| Dominant possession team | Fewer goal kicks for them |
Would you like me to also show you player-related markets (like goalkeeper goal kicks) or keep it only team-based? (Some sportsbooks now offer those too.)