The award of a direct free kick provides one of the few opportunities during a game when a player can strike a stationary ball at goal. As the term implies, a direct free kick can be scored direct from the initial kick. It does not have to touch another player (other than the initial kicker) before entering the goal. An indirect free kick cannot be scored direct from the initial strike. The ball must travel the distance of its circumference and then be touched by another player other than the initial kicker before crossing the goal line. Defending players must position at least 10 yards from the ball for both direct and indirect free kicks. The award of a direct or indirect free kick depends upon the type of foul. In general, direct free kicks result from more serious offenses.
A player who intentionally commits any of the following violations is penalized by the award of a direct free kick to the opposing team at the spot where the foul occurred:
Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent Tripping an opponent Jumping at an opponent Charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner Charging an opponent from behind unless the opponent is obstructing the player from the ball Striking or attempting to strike an opponent, or spitting at him or her Holding or pushing an opponent Handling the ball (this violation does not apply to the goalkeeper within his or her penalty area) NOTE: If a player on the defending team intentionally commits a direct foul within his or her own penalty area, he or she is penalized by the award of a penalty kick to the opposing team.
The most common fouls resulting in indirect free kicks are: Playing in a manner considered to be dangerous to yourself or another player Charging an opponent with the shoulder when the ball is not within playing distance Intentionally obstructing an opponent when not attempting to play the ball Goalkeeper carries the ball more than four steps without releasing it Goalkeeper engages in tactics that the referee feels are designed to waste time or delay the game Violation of the goalkeeper backpass rule Offside violation Unsporting behavior
