Centre line (football)

In the sport of association football (soccer), the centre line, also known as the halfway line, is a line marked across the pitch midway between the two goal lines. It divides the field into two halves.

Function:

• Kick-off: The centre line is the location from which play is started at the beginning of each half of a match, and after a goal has been scored. The ball must be stationary on the centre mark, and all players must be in their own half of the field before the kick-off is taken.
• Offside: The centre line is relevant to the offside rule. A player cannot be offside in their own half of the field.
• General Play: Players can move freely across the centre line during general play.
• Restart after Goals: Following a goal being scored, play restarts with a kick-off from the centre line.