Free Kicks:

"Direct or indirect, ref?"

Here's how to tell

 

FIFA Law of the Game XII deals with fouls and misconduct. Fouls and misconduct generally restart with a "free kick"  from a dead (i.e., stationary) ball. Almost all contact fouls (e.g., pushing, kicking, hitting, holding, tripping, spitting, handling the ball, and attempts to do the same) are "penal fouls", which means that they are sufficiently serious to permit goals to be scored directly from the free kicks. Accordingly, these restarts are known as "direct free kicks." A player can place the ball directly into the net on a direct free kick and score a goal. (The term "direct foul" is an inappropriate mixing of the terms.)

 

Some fouls and misconduct are less severe. These include most noncontact situations such as dangerous play, making disallowed pass-backs, being offside, impeding the progress of another player, stepping on or off the field without the referee's permission, and a variety of other miscellaneous actions. In such situations, at least two players (from either team) must touch the ball before a goal can be scored. These restarts are known as "indirect free kicks." The distinction between a direct and an indirect free kick is important, because a ball placed directly into the net (without being touched by or touching a second player) on an indirect free kick will not only NOT be a goal but will result in loss of possession by the attacking team. Therefore, teams often go to great lengths to get the ball touched twice long before the ball even gets close to the goal.

 

There are two ways you (player, coach, or fan) can use to quickly determine  whether the free kick is direct or indirect.

 

(1) For direct free kicks, the referee will blow the whistle but generally won't give any other signal. He/she may quickly signal the direction of the kick. However, the signal for a direct free kick is, well, nothing.

 

For indirect free kicks, the referee will hold his/her hand vertically in the air and will keep it there until two players have touched the ball. This is the same signal that is given for an offside call. The restart for an offside situation is an indirect free kick. It all hangs together pretty well.

 

(2) In the event that the referee doesn't provide the needed visual clues, you can also remember that almost all fouls are penal fouls that restart with a direct free kick. Handling the ball always results in a direct free kick. Pushing always results in a direct free kick. Tripping always results in a direct free kick. Use of profanity always results in a direct free kick, among other sanctions. And, so on.

 

So, if the ball is handled, it's a direct free kick. Take the kick quickly if the opportunity presents itself. If you ask the referee and wait for a response, you give the defense more time to set up, and you may lose a great opportunity to put the ball quickly into the net.

 

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