Eckstoß

Eckstoß is the German term for the corner kick, a standard restart in association football (soccer) awarded to the attacking team when the ball crosses the defending team’s goal line (but does not go into the goal) last touched by a defender. The phrase combines Ecke (corner) and Stoß (kick) and is the common German-language designation for this set piece.

An Eckstoß is taken from the corner area, a quarter-circle region near the corner flag at the intersection of the goal line and touchline. The ball is placed inside this area and must be stationary before the kick. Opposing players must remain at least 9.15 meters (approximately 10 yards) away from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves. The corner kick may be taken in any direction, and a goal may be scored directly from the kick or after touching another player.

If the ball crosses the goal line after last being touched by a defender, an Eckstoß is awarded to the attacking team; if it crosses the goal line after last being touched by an attacker, the defending team receives a goal kick. The Eckstoß is a versatile set piece, frequently used for crosses into the penalty area or for short combinations, and teams may employ a variety of routines, including direct shots or quick passes to exploit defensive arrangements.

Etymologically, Eckstoß is the traditional German term for this restart. In modern usage, the term Cornerkick is also widely understood and used, particularly in multilingual contexts, but Eckstoß remains the standard term in German football discourse.