Indirect vs. Direct Kick
What is the difference between an indirect and a direct kick, and when is an indirect kick awarded over a direct kick?
The big difference between an indirect kick and a direct kick is how you can score a goal off of each.
If your team is awarded an indirect kick after a foul, you cannot kick the ball directly into the goal to score. Someone else on the field (someone on your team or someone on the opposing team) must touch it first. Oftentimes, you will see these set up so that the ball is passed to a teammate before they shoot the ball, to make sure someone on the field touches the ball before taking a shot to score.
If your team is awarded a direct kick after a foul, you can shoot the ball directly at the goal and score. No one else on the field has to touch the ball first.
An indirect free kick is usually given when a goalkeeper commits a foul in their own penalty area:
- Touching the ball with their hands after they have released possession but before another player has touched it (for example, putting the ball on the ground, kicking it, then picking it back up)
- Touching the ball with their hands after it has been deliberately or purposefully kicked to them by a teammate
- Touching the ball with their hands directly off of a throw-in by a teammate
An indirect free kick is also given if an opposing player:
- Plays in a “dangerous manner” – this is up to the referee’s discretion – a dangerous play is determined when something a player does endangers another player with a possible injury. For example, if you fall to the ground but keep trying to kick the ball, it is considered a “dangerous play,” or if you kick at a ball very high in the air, you could possibly kick your opponent in the face. This is also considered “dangerous play.”
- Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball
- Impedes the progress of an opponent – you must try to get the ball, you cannot block an opponent from running into space or running past you with the ball (like you can do in basketball)
- Commits any offense that stops play that does not warrant a direct free kick – if a player is called offsides for example, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXXrj0Kp7M Video explaining an indirect free kick and how the referee will signal for an indirect free kick. At the end of the video, the girl appears to score, but the goal is disallowed because it did not touch anyone else before going into the goal.
A direct free kick is given if an opposing player commits any of the fouls listed on the Foul vs. Card page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DGkERbik0o Video showing Marta of Brazil scoring off of a direct free kick. No one else touches the ball but it is still a goal this time because it is a direct free kick and no one else has to touch the ball. You can also see that the referee keeps his arm/hand down, which is the signal for a direct kick.
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