Direct and indirect free kicks

Direct and indirect

• Direct free kick: if the ball goes straight into the opponents' goal, it's a goal.
• Indirect free kick: it's only a goal if the ball touches another player before going in. The referee signals it by raising an arm above the head and keeps it there until the ball touches another player or goes out of play.

An own goal can never be scored directly from a free kick: if the ball goes straight into the kicker's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents. If an indirect free kick goes straight into the opponents' goal, play restarts with a goal kick.

Distances

• Opponents must stay at least 9.15 m from the ball until it is in play.
• When three or more defenders form a wall, attackers must stay at least 1 m from it. Otherwise, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team.
• If the free kick is to the defending team inside its own penalty area, opponents must be outside the area.

When the ball is in play

The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves, including free kicks to the defending team inside its own area. The kicker may not touch it again until another player has touched it: if they do, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opponents (or a direct free kick if the second touch is with the hand).

The quick free kick

The team awarded the free kick may take it quickly even if the opponents aren't at the required distance. If a nearby opponent intercepts the ball at that moment, play continues. What a defender may not do is deliberately prevent the kick from being taken quickly: that is a caution.