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Soccer Rules - Free Kick

Youth modifications.
Many rec leagues have initiated a 10 yard rule which does not allow ANY player, even the same team, to be within 10 yards of the ball until kicked. (This is rare.)

Common myth...
Many people say the ball must role one full revelation before an INDIRECT kick becomes a DIRECT kick.
This is not true.
Another player simply must TOUCH the ball and it is now in play and can be kicked directly into goal.  

Free kicks are either direct or indirect.

Ball Enters the Goal
• 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

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

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.

Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area
Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:
• 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
Indirect free kick to the attacking team:
• all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) 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 9.15 m (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)

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, the kick
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, the kick 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

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 football. 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 nullify ed by the referee’s
mistake.

If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who
is less than 9.15 m 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.

Feinting to take a penalty kick to confuse opponents is permitted as
part of football. However, if, in the opinion of the referee, the feinting
is considered an act of unsporting behavior, the player must be
cautioned.

The referee must confirm the following requirements before the penalty
kick is taken:
• the kicker is identified
• the ball is properly placed on the penalty mark
• the goalkeeper is on the goal line between the goal posts and
facing the kicker
• the team-mates of the kicker and the goalkeeper are:
– outside the penalty area
– outside the penalty arc
– behind the ball