Free kicks may be either direct or indirect, distinguished as follows:
• An attacking goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick, but not from an indirect free kick.
• Direct free kicks are awarded for more serious offences (handball and most types of foul play – see below for a complete list), while indirect free kicks are awarded for less serious offences.
• A direct free kick cannot be awarded in the offending team's penalty area: if a team in its own penalty area commits an offence normally punished by a direct free kick, a penalty kick is awarded instead. An indirect free kick may be awarded for an offence committed anywhere.

The referee signals an indirect free kick by raising the arm vertically above the head; a direct free kick is signaled by extending the arm horizontally. A popular method for identifying the different signals is that, for indirect free kicks, the referee holds his hand above his head, creating the letter "I", for an indirect free kick.
The free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred, with the following exceptions:
• if the offence was within the kicking team's own goal area, the free kick may be taken from anywhere within the goal area.
• if an indirect free kick is awarded for an offence within the offending team's own goal area, the kick is taken from the nearest point on the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line.
• if the offence took place outside the field of play, the free kick is taken from the boundary line nearest to where the offence occurred.
• for certain technical offences (a substitute starts a match without the referee being informed; a player or team official enters the playing area without the referee's permission but without interfering with the game) play is started with an indirect free kick from the place where the ball was when play stopped.
The ball must be stationary and on the ground. Opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yards) from the ball until it is in play, unless they are on their own goal-line between the goal-posts. If the free kick is taken from within the kicking team's penalty area, opponents must be outside the penalty area.

If the defending team forms a "wall" of three or more players, all attacking players must be at least 1 m (1 yard) from the wall until the ball is in play.

The ball becomes in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves. The ball must be kicked (a goalkeeper may not pick up the ball). A free kick can be taken by lifting the ball with a foot or both feet simultaneously. It is legal to feint to take a free kick to confuse opponents. (This distinguishes the free kick from the penalty kick, where feinting is illegal once the run-up has been completed).

A player may be penalised for an offside offence from a free-kick. This distinguishes the free-kick from most other methods of restarting the game, from which it is not possible for a player to commit an offside offence.
A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick against the opposing side. A goal may not be scored directly from an indirect free kick, and an own goal may not be scored directly from any free kick. If the ball goes directly into the opposing t…

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If the ball is moving, or in the wrong place, the kick is retaken. A player who takes a free kick from the wrong position in order to force a retake, or who excessively delays the restart of play, is cautioned.

If an opponent is less than 9.15 m (10 yards) from the spot where the kick is taken, the kick is re-taken unless the kicking team chooses to take a "quick free kick" before opponents have been able to retreat the required distance. An opponent also may be cautioned (yellow card) for failing to retreat 9.15 m (10 yards), or for deliberately preventing a quick free kick from being taken.

If the kicker touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, unless this second touch is an illegal handball offence, in which case a direct free kick or penalty kick is awarded.

If an attacking player stands within 1 m (1 yard) of a "wall" of 3 or more defending players, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.