Law 13: Free kicks (part one)

Mini soccer All free kicks are direct and opponents must be 5 yards from the position the infringement took place.

Junior soccer 7-a-side Free kicks are direct or indirect - signalled by the referee. Opponents must be 7 yards away.

Junior soccer 11-a-side Free kicks are direct or indirect - signalled by the referee. Opponents must be 10 yards away.

For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker cannot touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

The direct free kick
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.

The indirect free kick
The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising their arm above their head. They maintain their arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.

A goal can be scored only if the ball touches another player before it enters the goal. Therefore:

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.