What is a goal kick?

A goal kick is a method of restarting play when the ball has crossed the goal line, last touched by a player from the attacking team, without resulting in a goal being scored. This scenario occurs when the attacking team fails to score and the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line, giving the defending team the opportunity to put the ball back into play from within the goal area.

Understanding this context helps clarify why the other options describe different situations. While a free kick awarded inside the penalty area refers to a set piece for fouls committed within that area, it does not pertain to the circumstances involving the ball going out of play. Additionally, a kick taken from the corner area is specifically a corner kick and not related to the dynamics of a goal kick. Finally, the restart of play after a foul can involve various types of free kicks, but they do not specifically relate to the situation where a ball goes out over the goal line.