A free kick is one of the methods used in football to invoke a play restart. This is a form of a reward that is given to the team who did not break the rules of the game.
There are two kinds of free kicks and these are direct and indirect. The direct one is awarded to the team who had experienced the results of a serious violation made by the opposing team. An example of these includes handball. Direct free kicks also allow direct scoring for an attacking team. Furthermore, these kicks cannot be awarded along the penalty area of the offending team.
An indirect free kick on the other hand is awarded for offenses that are considered less serious. It may be awarded for an offense committed in any area of the field.
Free Kick Rules
There are certain rules that need to be taken when a free kick is called. These involve signal, location, and kick.The signal refers to the referee’s movement when a free kick is called. For an indirect free kick, a referee will raise his or her arm above his or her head in a vertical position. If it is a direct free kick, then the referee will extend his or her arm in a horizontal position.
As a general rule, a free kick is taken right on the point or place where the violation or offense had occurred. This rule however comes with exceptions. First, it can be taken from any part within the goal area if the violation was done within the same area of the team that gets the award. Next is that a kick can be taken at the point nearest the goal line area if an indirect free kick is given in lieu of a violation that happens within the goal area of the offending team.
Furthermore, free kicks can be taken along the boundary line that is nearest to where the violation has happened if the violation happened outside of the playfield. Last but not least is when a free kick is given for certain technical offenses. The location in this instance would be where the ball is located when the play was stopped.
In addition to signal and location, the kick also comes with its own rules that allow for the proper implementation of a free kick. Before a player kicks, the ball needs to be on the ground and not moving. Also, players of the opposing team must be at least 9.15 meters away from the ball. An exception to this rule is when the opposing players are within their own goal line. If the violation happens within the kicking team’s penalty, players from the opposing team should be standing outside this penalty area.
Attacking players must also remember that they should be at least be standing a meter away from the players who are forming a wall of defense until the ball is in play.