Join us on Facebook and keep
up to date with all the news

Law 13 - Free Kicks

Types of free kick Free kicks are either direct or indirect. The direct free kick Ball enters the goal A goal can be scored directly by the player taking the free kick: if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team The indirect free kick Signal The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm above his head. He maintains his arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play. Ball enters the goal A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal: if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team 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 inside the penalty area Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team: all opponents must be at least 10 yards 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 Indirect free kick to the attacking team: all opponents must be at least 10 yards from the ball until it is in play, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves an indirect free kick awarded inside the goal area must be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred Free kick outside the penalty area all opponents must be at least 10 yards 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) Infringements and sanctions 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 Free kick taken by a player other than the goalkeeper If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball again (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick) If, after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick) a penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the kicker’s penalty area Free kick taken by the goalkeeper If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball again (except with his hands), before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick) If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred outside the goalkeeper’s penalty area, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick) an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper’s penalty area, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick)

Interpretations of Law 1

Procedure The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. A free kick can be taken by lifting the ball with a foot or both feet simultaneously. Feinting to take a free kick to confuse opponents is permitted as part of soccer. However, if in the opinion of the referee, the feinting is considered an act of unsporting behavior, the player must be cautioned. If a player, while correctly taking a free kick, intentionally kicks the ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again but neither in a careless nor a reckless manner nor using excessive force, the referee must allow play to continue. An indirect free kick must be retaken if the referee fails to raise his arm to indicate that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal. The initial indirect free kick is not nullified by the referee’s mistake. Distance If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is less than 10 yards from the ball intercepts it, the referee must allow play to continue. If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is near the ball deliberately prevents him taking the kick, the referee must caution the player for delaying the restart of play. If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, one or more opponents remain inside the penalty area because the defender decides to take the kick quickly and the opponents did not have time to leave the penalty area, the referee must allow play to continue.

home | education | reviews | shop | news & events | contact | contests
soccercoaching.org is © by Amsel Media Group Inc.