Direct free kick

A direct free kick

A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football (soccer) following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.

Award

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team when a player commits a penal foul, for example pushing or tripping an opponent. However, if the offence was committed within the fouling team's penalty area, the kick becomes a penalty kick.

Procedure

Often several players will line up for a free kick, so as to mask their intentions to the defending team.

The kick is taken from where the foul occurred, unless that was within the fouled team's goal area, in which case it may be taken from anywhere within the goal area. The ball should be stationary prior to being kicked. Opponents must remain 10 yards (9.15 m) from the ball (and also outside of the penalty area if the kick is taken from within the penalty area) until the ball is in play.

The ball becomes in play as soon as it is kicked and moves, unless the kick was taken from within the kicking team's penalty area, in which case it is in play once it has passed directly beyond the penalty area.

A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick, but only against the opposing side (i.e. an own goal may not be scored). However, should the ball directly land in the own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team. A player may be penalised for an offside offence direct from a direct free kick.

Scoring opportunities

The player who may take the free kick directly may either blast the ball as hard as he can, usually with the laces of the boot. This method is used by John Arne Riise, Frank Lampard, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Some players try to curl the ball around the keeper, with the inside of the boot. Free kick specialists like David Beckham, Juninho Pernambucano, Andrea Pirlo, Shunsuke Nakamura and Ronaldinho, employ this method, which can be very effective. Curling the ball is a hard skill to learn but when executed, can be the most effective way of scoring in a match. Free kick takers may also attempt to cross the ball to their centre backs or strikers in order to get a header on goal, especially if the position of the free kick is close to the wings.

Infringements

Opposing players must retire the required distance as stated above. Failure to do so may constitute misconduct and be punished by a caution (yellow card).

It is an offence for the kicker to touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player; this is punishable by an indirect free kick to the defending team from where the offence occurred, unless the second touch was also a more serious handling offence, in which case it is punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick, as appropriate.

Strategy

Most teams have one or two designated free kick takers, depending on the distance from goal and the side of the field the free kick is to be taken from. The strategy may be to score a goal directly from the free kick, or to use the free kick as the beginning of a set play leading towards a goal scoring opportunity.

Often the defending side erects a "wall" of players standing side-by-side as a barrier to the shot. A kicker who has the skill to curl the ball around the wall is at a distinct advantage.

In some cases, two or more players will stand behind the ball, in order to mislead the opposition. The true kicker would only become obvious once the run-up had began (or once the ball was in the air in the case of a dummy). An example of this is the free-kick strategy of Manchester United - in that case, it is usually Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs who are standing behind the ball.

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