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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2730x1680, 1451 KB) Beschreibung Description: Direkter Freistoß / Direct free kick (Red Bull Salzburg vs. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2730x1680, 1451 KB) Beschreibung Description: Direkter Freistoß / Direct free kick (Red Bull Salzburg vs. ... Soccer redirects here. ... An indirect free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football (soccer). ...

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. The penalty area (colloquiallly also known as the 18-yard box or penalty box), is an area of an association football (soccer) field. ... Players taking up positions prior to a penalty kick; note that the goalkeeper is not yet in the required position A penalty kick is a type of free kick in association football (soccer), taken from twelve yards (eleven metres) out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending...

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 must 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 defending team's penalty area) until the ball is in play. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1512x2268, 1524 KB) Robin van Persie prepares to take a direct free kick against Everton, which resulted in a goal. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1512x2268, 1524 KB) Robin van Persie prepares to take a direct free kick against Everton, which resulted in a goal. ...

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. In association football a corner kick is awarded if the defensive team is the last to touch the ball before it crosses its own goal line (goal line of the end of the field it is defending) outside of the goal itself (whether by kicking or off the hands of... Offside is a rule in association football (soccer) which effectively limits how far forward attacking players may be when involved in play. ...

Scoring opportunities

There are two primary techniques used with direct free kicks. First, the player taking the direct free kick may blast the ball as hard as he can, usually with the laces of the boot. This method is used by Roberto Carlos, Robin Van Persie, and Steven Gerrard. Alternatively, some players try to curl the ball around the keeper, with the inside of the boot. Free kick specialists such as Juninho Pernambucano, David Beckham, and Ronaldinho employ this method. 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. Robin van Persie (born August 6, 1983 in Rotterdam) is a Dutch footballer. ... Steven George Gerrard MBE (IPA: []) (born 30 May 1980, Whiston, Merseyside) is an English football player. ... Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Júnior (born January 30, 1975 in Recife), commonly known as Juninho or Juninho Pernambucano,[1] is a Brazilian football player, who plays as a central midfielder for French club Olympique Lyonnais. ... David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE (born May 2, 1975) is an English footballer born in Leytonstone, London. ... For other persons named Ronaldinho, see Ronaldinho (disambiguation). ...

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). A yellow card is used in many sports as a means of cautioning a player regarding their conduct, or indicating that a player is to receive a certain level of punishment. ...

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. An indirect free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football (soccer). ... Players taking up positions prior to a penalty kick; note that the goalkeeper is not yet in the required position A penalty kick is a type of free kick in association football (soccer), taken from twelve yards (eleven metres) out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending...

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.

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