A coin is tossed at the beginning of the game. The visiting team calls the coin. The winner of the coin toss selects the goal they will shoot on in the first half. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match. In the second half, the teams switch the goal they are shooting on and the second half kick-off is taken by the team that did not take the kick-off to start the match.
A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play: at the start of the match; at the second half; at the start of any extra periods; and, after a goal has been scored.
Procedure
All players are in their own half of the field. The opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 10 yards from the ball until it is in play. The ball is stationary on the centre mark. The referee gives a signal. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward. The kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
Infringements/Sanctions
If the kicker touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.
For any other infringement of the kick-off procedure the kick-off is retaken.
A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage which becomes necessary, while the ball is in play, for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game (eg.: player injury, interference on field by spectators).
Procedure
The referee drops the ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.
Infringements/Sanctions
The ball is dropped again if it is touched by a player before it makes contact with the ground; or, if the ball leaves the field of play after it makes contact with the ground, without a player touching it.
A free kick awarded to the defending team inside its own goal area is taken from any point within the goal area. An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponent's goal area is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
A dropped ball to restart the match after play has been temporarily stopped inside the goal area takes place on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play stopped.