The free kick is normally classified as either direct (you can score a goal directly) or indirect (one of your teammates need to touch the ball first).

Awarding

So when is your team awarded with a free kick? In most case when an opponent commits a foul, for example pushing or tripping your teammate.

But you could also get a free kick when one of your opponents touches the ball with hands as well .

If your opponent commits this inside the penalty area, then the kick suddenly becomes a penalty kick.

During

During the kick, your opponents must remain 10 yards (about 9.15 m) from the ball.

But as I mentioned earlier, your opponents will try to creep near the ball when referee turns the back on them.

You must therefore tell the referee that you want your opponents 10 yards away from the ball.

With other words, you should be prepared on this trick because it is pretty common.

Scoring

You can’t score an own goal directly from a free kick. However, if the ball lands directly in your own goal, opponents will be rewarded with a corner kick.

It’s also possible that your teammates get penalized for offside. You are neither allowed to touch the ball again (after kicking it) until some of your teammates touches it first.

Tips

• Don’t get angry at referees if they make mistakes during a free kick. Keep in mind that they are also human beings just like you.
• Don’t jump while standing in the wall. This because an opponent may spot this and kick the ball under you.
• If you are a goalie, try to predict where the opponent will likely shot.

Summary

Most of your opponents will have one or two designated free kick takers, one with powerful shoot and one with good accuracy.

In order to score, you don’t need to have a powerful shoot; accuracy is much more important.

Scoring is not about kicking the ball hard as possible, instead you have to be able to combine technique with good accuracy.

Learn more about other soccer rules as well in our main section.