Soccer Law 13: Free Kicks

A free kick is a method of resuming play in various forms of football, including:

• Football (soccer)
  • Indirect free kick
  • Direct free kick
  • Penalty kick

Indirect Free Kick

An indirect free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football (soccer). Unlike a direct free kick, a goal may not be scored directly from the kick. The law was derived from the Sheffield Rules that stated that no goal could be scored from a free kick. This law was absorbed into the Laws of the Game in 1877 and later adapted to allow direct free kicks as a result of dangerous play.

Award

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team when a player commits a foul other than a penal foul (e.g. dangerous play) or infringes certain technical requirements of the laws (e.g. touching the ball a second time following a restart). An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team when play is stopped to caution or send-off a player when no specific foul has occurred (e.g. when play is stopped to caution a player for dissenting the decision of the referee). The most common cause is the offside offense.

Unlike a direct free kick, an offence punishable by an indirect free kick does not result in a penalty kick when it occurs in the penalty area, rather it continues to be taken as an indirect free kick.

Procedure

The kick is taken from where the foul occurred, unless that was within a goal area. An indirect free kick within the kicking team's goal area may be taken from anywhere within the goal area. An indirect free kick within the opposing team's goal area is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line (i.e. at least 6 yards from the goal line).

The ball must be stationary prior to being kicked. Opponents must remain 10 yards (9.15m) from the ball (and also outside of the penalty area if the kick is taken from within the kicking team's penalty area) until the ball is in play. An exception to this is that opponents may be within 10 yards of the ball provided they are standing on their goal line between the goal posts.

The ball becomes in play as soon as it is kicked and moves, unless the kick was taken from within the kicking team's penalty area, in which case it is in play once it has passed directly beyond the penalty area.

A goal may not be scored directly from an indirect free kick, rather it must be touched by a second player before a goal can be scored. If the ball goes in goal directly from an indirect free kick, a goal kick is awarded to the defending team. If the ball goes in own goal from an indirect free kick, a corner kick is awarded.

The referee signals that a free kick is indirect by raising one arm until the ball has been touched a second time or has gone out of play.

Infringements

Opposing players must retire the required distance as stated above. Failure to do so may constitute misconduct and be punished by a caution (yellow card).

It is an offence for the kicker to touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player; this is punishable by an indirect free kick to the defending team from where the offence occurred, unless the second touch was also a more serious handling offence, in which case it is punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick, as appropriate.

Direct Free Kick

A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football (soccer) following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.

Award

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team when a player commits a penal foul, for example pushing or tripping an opponent. However, if the offence was committed within the fouling team's penalty area, the kick becomes a penalty kick.

Procedure

The kick is taken from where the foul occurred, unless that was within the fouled team's goal area, in which case it may be taken from anywhere within the goal area. The ball should be stationary prior to being kicked. Opponents must remain 10 yards (9.15 m) from the ball (and also outside of the penalty area if the kick is taken from within the penalty area) until the ball is in play.

The ball becomes in play as soon as it is kicked and moves, unless the kick was taken from within the kicking team's penalty area, in which case it is in play once it has passed directly beyond the penalty area.

A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick, but only against the opposing side (i.e. an own goal may not be scored). However, should the ball directly land in the own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team. A player may be penalised for an offside offence direct from a direct free kick.

Infringement

Opposing players must retire the required distance as stated above. Failure to do so may constitute misconduct and be punished by a caution (yellow card).

It is an offence for the kicker to touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player; this is punishable by an indirect free kick to the defending team from where the offence occurred, unless the second touch was also a more serious handling offence, in which case it is punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick, as appropriate.

Strategy

Most teams have one or two designated free kick takers, depending on the distance from goal and the side of the field the free kick is to be taken from. The strategy may be to score a goal directly from the free kick, or to use the free kick as the beginning of a set play leading towards a goal scoring opportunity.

Often the defending side erects a "wall" of players standing side-by-side as a barrier to the shot. A kicker who has the skill to curl the ball around the wall is at a distinct advantage.

Source: Wikipedia