Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
goal line \goal line\, n. (Sport) The line bounding the end of a playing field, at or directly in front of the goal[3].
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context soccer hurling Gaelic football English) the boundary of the field that runs along its width at each end, and across the front of the goal. 2 (context American football English) part of a vertical plane separating an end zone from the field of play when the ball is touched or is in player possession. The plane extends beyond the sidelines. A team’s goal line is that which it is defending. 3 (context ice hockey English) the red line that runs across the rink and the front of the goal.
WordNet
n. a line marking each end of the playing field or pitch; where the goals stand
Wikipedia
The goal line is the chalked or painted line dividing the end zone from the field of play in American football and Canadian football. It is the line that must be crossed in order to score a touchdown
If any part of the ball reaches any part of the imaginary vertical plane transected by this line while in-bounds and in possession of a player whose team is striving toward that end of the field, this is considered a touchdown and scores six points for the team whose player has advanced the ball to, or recovered the ball in, this position. This is in contrast with other sports like Association football and ice hockey, which require the puck or ball to pass completely over the goal line to count as a score.
If any member of the offensive team is downed while in possession of the ball behind his own team's goal line, this is called a safety and scores two points for the defensive team.
If, during the course of play, a loose ball travels past the goal line and is recovered within the end zone, then it is a touchdown if recovered by the kicking team, or a touchback if recovered and downed by the receiving team.
In the event of a kick recovered in one's own end zone, the entirety of the ball must pass the goal line in order for the ball to be considered in the field of play, and not a touchback.
The goal line in ice hockey is the far red line at each end of the ice rink. It is used for things such as determining Icing, Goals, and Delay of Game penalties for goalies. In most cases involving the goal line and all the ones listed above, the puck must cross completely over the goal line for anything to occur. If the puck does not cross over the line, an Icing has never occurred, a goal was never scored, and a delay of game infraction has never happened.
In many outdoor ball sports, a goal line is a line which a team attempts to advance the ball or puck towards to score a goal or points. In particular, see:
- Association football pitch for usage of the term in soccer
- Goal line (American football) for usage in American and Canadian football
- Goal line (ice hockey) for usage in ice hockey.
- Goal or try line, in rugby league football
Goal line may also refer to:
- ESPN Goal Line, a college football television show
Usage examples of "goal line".
In both cases a long, difficult pass was successfully intercepted, only for the players in Washington to fumble a few feet from the goal line.
The ball went off Jessup's hand and right to their free safety, 46, who was standing on the goal line.
If he had his quarterback make the attempt, the job would surely be bungled, and the other team would recover the ball quite near the goal line.
With much chatter, grinding skates and scurfed-up patches of ice, they took their places behind their goal line.
All faces were now turned toward this puck, Danlo's and his hallmates', and, behind their own goal line, the tense faces of the Stone Row novices at the field's upper end.
The puck clanged on the post, but fell right on the goal line and dribbled across.
I paced ten yards towards his goal line, explaining that in rugby you can't swear at the referee.
Jogging back toward their own goal line, the three Polaris cadets congratulated each other.
He threw a long, lazy pass that soared over Chet's head toward the Bayport goal line.
He leaped up, wrenched the ball out of the grasp of his opponent, whirled, and scooted across the field, just outside of his own goal line.
For the last thirty yards before he crossed the goal line, he was absolutely alone, running in solitary splendor with all tacklers hopelessly far back.
Then, simply for the joy of it, he ran directly into the clot of players massed at the goal line.
Cozzano, who was a tight end, went out on a screen pass, caught the ball, and found himself out in the open with nothing between him and the goal line except for hard-frozen turf.
But then John Pope took over, and with a series of brilliant plays, carried the ball down the field toward the Benton goal line, where the Clay fullback punched it across.