At what point is the ball in play on a kickoff?

The moment the ball is kicked and moves forward marks when the ball is officially in play during a kickoff. According to the Laws of the Game, the ball must be kicked forward and must move out of the center circle for the kickoff to be deemed legal. This action signifies the start of play, allowing both teams to engage in the game.

Other options do not accurately reflect the rules for a kickoff. For example, simply having players in position does not initiate play. Additionally, the ball only needs to be touched once to be in play, not twice. The timing of the clock starting is separate from the kickoff and does not affect when the ball is in play; the clock runs continuously in most game situations, starting with the kickoff.