The Direct Free Kick - Continued

Tara Eisenman (G95R) taking the classic direct free kick.

Photo:  David Pang

Law 13 - Free Kicks is the rule in soccer governing how direct and indirect free kicks are taken. Here are the excerpts from Law 13 pertaining to procedures for taking the direct free kick.

To me, Law 13 is a little jumbled up. It doesn't take each type of free kick in turn, spelling out the who, what, where, when, and how of each type. Plus you’d think the Penalty Kick, which seems like a variant of the direct free kick, would be in Law 13. Nope, that’s Law 14.

For me, trying to learn and understand the rules of the game, it’s a little confusing.

So, I've excerpted and rearranged various sections of Law 13 in an attempt to isolate (mostly) the procedural aspects of the direct free kick.

The Direct Free Kick


• if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded. [the classic direct free kick into the goal]

• if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team [never seen this happen, but I suppose it could]

Procedure


For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.


Position of Free Kick

Free Kick Outside the Penalty Area


• all opponents must be at least 10 yds from the ball until it is in play


• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves


• the free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred or from the position of the ball when the infringement occurred (according to the infringement)

Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area

Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team: [this is the direct free kick that typically takes place if the team on offense kicks the ball past the defenders goal line, not scoring a goal, and the ball changes hands]

• all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball


• all opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play


• the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area


• a free kick awarded in the goal area may be taken from any point inside that area


[What’s missing here you ask? Well how about the Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area for the team on OFFENSE? aka the Penalty Kick! That’s a different law. Law 14 to be exact. More later.]


Infringements and Sanctions [in other words, what happens if the direct free kick is taken incorrectly]


If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance:


• the kick is retaken


If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, the ball is not kicked directly out of the penalty area:


• the kick is retaken

More on Laws of the Game

The Direct Free Kick
Hand Ball!
The Field of Play
Sideline Guideline
Hey!  That Player is Offside!!!