# Free Kicks · Football Level 2: Elementary

Football · Level 2: Elementary · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/level-2/free-kicks/)

Free Kicks in Football (Level 2: Elementary) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: definitions; numbers and distances; and more.

Direct vs indirect free kicks; the wall and 1m / 9.15m distances; ceremonial vs quick free kicks; restart locations; double-touch rule; goal directly from a free kick.

## Test 1: Definitions

- A free kick is a restart awarded to a team after an opponent's offence. It can be direct or indirect depending on the offence.
- From a direct free kick, a goal can be scored directly. Most contact fouls and handball result in direct free kicks.
- An indirect free kick must touch another player before a goal can count. The referee signals it by raising one arm above the head.
- A 'wall' is a line of defending players positioned between the kicker and the goal to block a direct shot at a free kick.
- A 'ceremonial' free kick follows this formal sequence: the referee stops play, classifies and signals the offence, sets the wall at 9.15 m, then allows the kick to be taken.
- A 'quick' free kick is taken before the referee begins the ceremonial procedure. Once that procedure has started, the kick can no longer be taken quickly.
- The arm-raised signal is held until the ball touches another player, leaves the field, or it is clear no goal can be scored directly.
- Encroachment is being closer than the required 9.15 m (or 1m from a wall of 3+) to the ball before it is in play. May lead to retake or caution if cynical.
- After taking a free kick, the kicker may not touch the ball again before another player has played it. Doing so results in an indirect free kick to the opponents.
- Feinting during the run-up is part of football. However, feinting AT THE MOMENT of kicking the ball (after run-up complete) is not allowed — it is a yellow card.

## Test 2: Numbers and distances

- Opponents must stand at least 9.15 m (10 yards) from the ball at a free kick, the same distance shown in the diagram between the ball and the wall.
- Since the 2019 rule change, three or more defenders forming a barrier counts as a 'wall' — and attackers must stay 1 m away from it.
- Attackers must stay at least 1 m from a wall of 3+ defenders until the ball is in play. Closer = indirect free kick to defending team.
- A defending team free kick inside their goal area can be taken from anywhere within the goal area (similar to goal kick).
- Attacking team indirect free kicks inside the opposing goal area must be taken from the goal-area line nearest where the offence occurred.
- The ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves. There is no specific distance requirement.
- Since 2019, a defending team's free kick inside its own penalty area no longer needs to leave the area before a teammate can play it — the ball is in play the moment it is kicked and clearly moves.
- There's no maximum on wall size. The 1m attacker-clearance rule applies when there are 3 or more defenders in a wall.
- Since the 2019 Laws update, once a wall has 3 or more defenders, attacking players must additionally stay at least 1 m from it, on top of the usual 9.15 m opponents' distance.
- There's no formal time limit, but a referee can caution for time-wasting if a player takes excessively long to take a free kick.

## Test 3: Roles and procedure

- Direct vs indirect is determined by the type of offence committed (per Law 12) and is signalled by the referee.
- The kicker places the ball at the proper spot. The ball must be stationary before the kick.
- The referee (or an assistant) is the one who paces off and enforces the 9.15 m distance for the wall, after signalling the type of free kick.
- Any player from the kicking team may take the free kick — including the goalkeeper if they wish to come up the field.
- If the referee has started ceremonial procedure (walking off the wall), a quick free kick is no longer permitted.
- Defenders form the wall, but it is the referee who enforces the 9.15 m distance shown in the diagram between the wall and the ball.
- The referee's raised arm tells everyone the kick is indirect — held until the ball is touched, leaves play, or it's clear no goal can be scored directly.
- Any opposing player who fails to retreat the required distance is encroaching and can be cautioned by the referee, though the kicker may also take advantage and play on immediately.
- Free kicks themselves are not reviewable — but events around them (goal, penalty award, red card) fall in VAR's four categories.
- The kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it. Doing so is an indirect free kick to opponents.

## Test 4: Allowed and forbidden

- Quick free kicks are encouraged. They become forbidden only after the referee starts walking off the wall.
- From an indirect free kick, a goal can only count if the ball touches another player before crossing the goal line.
- Standing inside or too close to a wall of 3+ defenders is an infringement that costs the attacking team an indirect free kick.
- There is no restriction on which player takes a free kick — the goalkeeper is as eligible as any outfield player.
- Since 2019, defending free kicks (like goal kicks) can be played to teammates inside the penalty area. Old rule required ball to leave the area first.
- Feinting in the run-up is allowed at free kicks. It's only at the moment of kicking the ball that feinting is restricted (penalty kick rule).
- The ball must be stationary at the point of the kick. A moving ball means the kick is retaken.
- The kicker cannot touch the ball a second time until another player has played it — only after that may they touch it again.
- Failing to respect the required distance — especially cynically — can result in a yellow card under Law 12.
- The referee can retake the kick if encroachment had a meaningful impact — particularly if both teams encroached.

## Test 5: Consequences when things go wrong

- Since 2019, the ball is in play as soon as kicked and clearly moves. Attackers may legally challenge once it is in play.
- An own goal cannot be scored directly from a free kick — it is instead awarded as a corner kick to the opposing team.
- A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick — if the ball goes straight in, the goal is disallowed and a goal kick follows.
- Since 2019, an attacker may not stand closer than 1 m to a wall of 3 or more defenders — doing so gives an indirect free kick to the defending team.
- The kicker can choose to take the kick (advantage) or ask for a retake. The referee may caution the encroacher, especially if cynical.
- Double touch = indirect free kick to opponents from where the second touch occurred.
- Handling after taking the kick (before another player) is a handball offence — direct free kick (or penalty if inside the area).
- Once ceremonial procedure has started, a quick free kick is not allowed. Taking it anyway results in a retake, possibly with a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
- Jumping is allowed (the wall stays at proper distance). Encroaching forward is the offence — that triggers retake/yellow card.
- If the kick is taken from the wrong location, the referee orders a retake from the correct spot.

## Test 6: History of free-kick rules

- Free kicks (1873), the indirect category (1903), the 9.15 m distance (1913) and the 1 m wall-clearance rule (2019) were introduced in that order.
- The distinction between direct and indirect free kicks was formalised in 1903 by IFAB.
- The 10-yard rule was added in 1913, requiring opponents to retreat that distance at free kicks.
- In 2019, IFAB removed the rule that the ball must leave the penalty area at goal kicks and defending free kicks inside the area.
- The 1m attacker-clearance rule for walls of 3+ defenders was added in 2019.
- The raised-arm signal for an indirect free kick, introduced alongside the category itself, must be held until the ball touches another player, leaves play, or a direct goal is no longer possible.
- The 1863 FA rules did not have free kicks for fouls. They were added a decade later (1873).
- Since indirect free kicks were established, the ball going directly into the kicker's own goal has always resulted in a corner kick to the opposing team, never an own goal.
- The double-touch rule has applied across the Laws of the Game for over a century — it predates IFAB's modern formal codification.
- Wall behaviour — jumping, encroaching, attackers in the wall — has been refined through ongoing IFAB reviews, with major changes in 2019.

## Test 7: Exceptions and edge cases

- A goalkeeper alone is not a 'wall' — the 1 m attacker-clearance rule only applies once 3 or more defenders line up.
- Minor positional errors are usually overlooked. Significant ones lead to a retake.
- A free kick can be played in any direction — including backwards. The ball just needs to be kicked and moved.
- As long as the kick is properly taken, direction is irrelevant.
- The ball must be stationary on the ground. Tees, boots, or other props beneath the ball are not permitted.
- Goalkeepers can take free kicks anywhere on the pitch but cannot handle the ball outside their penalty area.
- An illegally moving wall does not stop play automatically — the kicker may play on, or the referee may intervene with a retake or a caution.
- The referee corrects the error and orders a retake by the team awarded the free kick.
- Forgetting the signal is the referee's error, not the kicker's — the fix is a retake with the signal properly given, not a disallowed goal that stands as a foul on the kicker.
- Play simply waits until a ball is available; once one arrives, the kick is taken normally.

## Test 8: Comparisons

- Unlike a penalty (always 11 m out, only the goalkeeper to beat), a direct free kick can be awarded anywhere the foul occurred — from just outside the box to the far end of the pitch.
- The direct/indirect distinction is purely about whether a goal can count without another touch.
- The fork happens right after the whistle: a quick free kick skips the wall-measuring and signalling that a ceremonial one requires.
- The highlighted zone is the goal area — both a defending team's free kick inside it and a goal kick may be taken from anywhere within this same zone.
- Indirect free kicks inside the area allow the entire defending team to crowd the goal line. Outside the area: standard wall and 9.15m distance rules.
- In football, the defending team can form a wall blocking the kick. In rugby penalties, opponents must retreat 10m and not interfere until the ball is played.
- Free kick: kicker has full freedom. Penalty: forward direction only, no feinting after run-up.
- The 2019 rule prohibiting attackers within 1m of a wall of 3+ is a modern addition. Earlier, attackers could mingle in or jump out of the wall freely.
- Before 2019, ball had to leave the area before another player touched. Since 2019, no such requirement.
- The held raised arm is unique to the indirect free kick — distinguishing it from other referee signals (advantage = both arms forward; goal = pointing).

## Test 9: Mini scenarios

- A defending team's free kick awarded inside their own penalty area is taken from anywhere inside the goal area, not from the exact spot of the foul.
- From a direct free kick, a goal can be scored directly without touching another player.
- From an indirect free kick, the ball must touch another player. Going straight in = goal kick to the defending team.
- If the kicker chooses to take the kick despite encroachment and scores, the goal stands. The kicker took 'advantage'.
- A wall of 5 is well above the 3-defender threshold, so the attacker must stay at least 1 m away — standing right next to it is an infringement.
- Since 2019, defending team free kicks inside the area no longer must leave the area. Play continues normally.
- Touching the ball a second time before anyone else does is a double touch, regardless of why — it costs an indirect free kick to the opponents.
- Quick free kicks are encouraged. Without ceremonial procedure starting, they are legal.
- An indirect free kick can score if the ball touches another player — including the goalkeeper.
- Attacker within 1m of a 3+ wall = indirect free kick to defending team. Goal disallowed.

## Test 10: Mixed review

- The raised arm signal is held until the ball touches another player or it is clear no goal can be scored directly.
- At most free kicks, opponents must be at least 9.15 m away.
- A 'wall' for the purposes of the 1 m attacker-clearance rule requires at least 3 defenders — fewer than that, the rule does not apply.
- The ball is in play once it has been kicked and has clearly moved — there is no minimum distance.
- Ranked by outcome for the kicking team: scoring is best, a retake is neutral, conceding a restart is worse, and an own goal attempt (which becomes a corner, not a goal) is worst.
- An indirect free kick must touch another player to score; if it goes directly in = goal kick.
- After the kick, the kicker cannot play the ball again until another player has touched it.
- The 2019 IFAB rule change allowed defending team free kicks (and goal kicks) inside the area to be played to teammates inside the area.
- The offence itself (per Law 12) determines whether the restart is direct or indirect — it is never the kicker's or the location's choice.
- The 1m clearance rule was added in 2019 to stop attackers disrupting walls.

Sources: 

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