Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Your ball. The full-back who spent all of last season wandering slowly after every throw-in has suddenly found an extra gear.
The five-second countdown at throw-ins and goal kicks is one of the big Law changes for 2026/27. Here's exactly how it works, so you can use it with confidence on Saturday.
What is the five-second countdown?
It's now written into Law 15 (the throw-in) and Law 16 (the goal kick). When a player unfairly delays one of those restarts, the referee can start a visible five-second countdown. If the restart hasn't been taken when the time's up, it goes to the other team.
The IFAB's countdown protocol says the aim is to stop time-wasting and protect the tempo of the match. In plain English: fewer slow walks, more football.
How to run the countdown
- Warn first if you like. The protocol says you may tell the player to hurry up, out loud or with the whistle, before you start.
- Whistle and signal. Blow the whistle and clearly signal with your hand or arm for the restart to be taken.
- Count down with a raised hand. Show the five seconds with a raised hand so everyone can see it. You can count out loud as well where it helps.
The key word is visible. Players, benches and the bloke with the flask on the touchline should all be able to see what's happening.
When should you start it?
It's your call when a restart is being deliberately delayed, and you don't have to wait for the player to have the ball in their hands. The protocol gives examples of delaying tactics, including:
- slowly going to fetch the ball
- taking up the wrong position at a throw-in
- placing the ball in the wrong place at a goal kick
A tip from experience: don't use it as a gotcha in the first minute. Use it when someone's clearly taking the mick, and be consistent for both teams. Mention it to the captains at the coin toss and you'll find you barely need it.
What happens when the time runs out?
The outcomes
- Throw-in not taken: the throw-in goes to the opposing team, from the same spot.
- Goal kick not taken: a corner kick to the opposing team, on the side of the field nearest to where the goal kick was going to be taken.
- Caught mid-action: a player who's already in the middle of throwing or kicking when the count hits zero shouldn't be penalised.
What about cards? The countdown on its own isn't a caution. A yellow only comes in if, after the restart's been given to the other team, the player or a team-mate then excessively delays that restart. Law 17 also confirms the corner: it's one of the ways a corner kick can now be awarded.
Don't forget the goalkeeper's eight seconds
The countdown has a big brother. Under Law 12, a goalkeeper who controls the ball with their hands or arms for more than eight seconds before releasing it gives away a corner kick. The referee visually counts down the last five seconds with a raised hand.
That one came in a season earlier. If you want the full rundown, it's in our 2025/26 Law changes explained post.
What would you give?
- You start the countdown at a throw-in. The player's arms are already coming forward to throw as your count hits zero.
- The keeper's dawdling over a goal kick, ball placed on the right-hand side of the goal area. The countdown runs out.
- The throw-in's been handed to the other team after the countdown. The original thrower then boots the ball twenty yards down the line.
Answers further down. Be honest with yourself.
Key takeaways
- Whistle, signal, then a visible five-second count with a raised hand.
- Throw-in not taken in time = throw-in to the opposition.
- Goal kick not taken in time = corner to the opposition.
- No card for the countdown itself. A yellow only comes for excessive delay after the restart's been switched.
- Small-sided and youth formats can have their own rules, so check your league handbook.
FAQs
What is the five-second rule for throw-ins?
If a player unfairly delays a throw-in, the referee can start a visible five-second countdown. If the throw isn't taken in time, it's awarded to the other team.
What happens if a goal kick isn't taken within five seconds?
Once the referee has started the countdown, a goal kick not taken in time becomes a corner kick to the opposing team.
How long can a goalkeeper hold the ball?
Eight seconds. Hold it with the hands or arms for longer and the opposing team gets a corner kick.
Can you be booked for time-wasting at a throw-in?
Not just for running down the countdown. A caution is for excessively delaying the restart after it's been given to the other team.
The answers
- Let it go. A player who's mid-throw when the count ends shouldn't be penalised.
- Corner kick to the opposition, on the right-hand side, nearest to where the goal kick was going to be taken.
- Now you're into card territory. Excessively delaying the restart after it's been given to the other team is exactly when the caution applies.
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