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There are two distinct types of free kick in the game of soccer. The indirect kick is a free kick awarded for minor penalties and offenses. In an indirect kick, a teammate must make legal contact with the ball after the kicking player hits it before a goal can be scored. The other kind of free kick is a direct kick, which is awarded for serious penalties or infractions. In a direct kick, the player can kick the ball directly into the goal to score without anyone else touching the ball. Choose your strategy based on your skills as a kicker and the opposing team's defensive position on the field.

Method 1 of 2:
Taking an Indirect Free KickDownload Article

  1. 1
    Get an indirect kick when the opponent commits a minor foul. If an opposing team's player touched the ball with their hands or their goalkeeper performed an illegal play, your team may be awarded an indirect kick. On an indirect kick, you are not allowed to score without having a teammate make legal contact with the ball first.[1]
    • If you're not sure whether you're allowed to score or not, look at the referee. On an indirect kick, the referee will hold one arm up in the air while you're getting ready and kicking. On a direct kick, they won't hold any arms up.[2]
  2. 2
    Place the ball in the area where the referee points. Free kicks are awarded at the point where the foul was made. The referee will either place the ball for you, or point in the general area that they want you to kick from. If the referee points where they want you to kick, drop the ball in the general area where they've pointed. If they place it themselves, don't move the ball after they've put it down.[3]
    • If a foul was made in the goal box, the referee will place the ball outside of the box for you.
  3. 3
    Take a few steps back and study your defenders and teammates. Take 2-3 steps away from the ball and take a deep breath. Look at the wall of defenders and identify where your teammates are setting up. Keep an eye out for subtle gestures they may be making to show you where to kick the ball in order to set them up.[4]
    • The opposing team will set up a wall to block most of the goal from vision, at least most of the time. The number of defenders they leave in the middle of the goal area or on the sides of the field will help you determine where to aim.

    Tip: If you take too many steps back, you're going to make it easier for your opponents to identify where you're trying to kick the ball, since they'll have more time to track your movement.

  4. 4
    Kick a back-post chip by popping the ball in the air close to the goal. On your approach to the ball, slow down a little bit. Kick the ball from the bottom with a bent knee and arc the ball upwards towards the side of the opposing goal where you have the most teammates. Aim over the wall of defenders by arcing the ball high so that a teammate close to the goal can jump up and score on a header.[5]
    • The closer you can get to the ball to the goal, the better. If your teammate is closer to the goal, they have a bigger target.
    • If you don't have an advantage at either side, kick the ball towards your tallest teammate.
    • This is the best general strategy if your team is capable of hitting headers and you have moderate ball control.
  5. 5
    Pass the ball to a player on the wing as they're running towards the goal. If the wall of defenders is pretty solid and your team is quick, wait for a teammate on the wing to make a break for the goal and lead them with a firm pass. Don't kick the ball so hard that they can't catch it in stride, but kick it firmly enough that they won't have to slow down while running. Let your teammate catch your pass to take a shot at an angle to score.[6]
    • The wing refers to the area of the play field on either side of the goal.
    • This option is easier to execute if you're kicking from the center of the field.
    • This is the best strategy if your opponents have sent most of their players to the wall and you have some fast teammates on the wings.
  6. 6
    Opt for an over-the-wall chip shot if the defenders leave the center open. If the wall of defenders is well-positioned and the wings are covered, chip the ball over the center of the wall to give teammates in the center an opportunity to score. Slow down on your approach and try to arc the ball right behind the wall of defenders to let a teammate take a header, pass to a teammate on the wing, or try a power shot themselves.[7]
    • This option usually results in a little more chaos as both sides converge on the center, but your team will have the advantage since the wall of defenders will have to turn around and find the ball.
    • This is the best strategy if your opponents leave the middle of the goal area open directly behind the wall and the opposing team is pretty good on defense.
  7. 7
    Use the split stance strategy to trick your opponents. To perform a split stance kick, 2 players set up on your left and right side, 6–10 feet (1.8–3.0 m) from where you're kicking from. Each player prepares to take a pass and try a power shot towards the opposite corner of the net. As you approach, wind up like you're kicking a power shot and watch how the defense reacts. At the last second, slowly pass the ball to whichever teammate you think has the clearest line on the goal to kick a power shot.[8]
    • For example, 2 players set up on your left and right. Approach the kick like you're going to slam the ball hard. As the defense reacts, if the players on your right side move to the center to defend the power shot, pass the ball safely to the teammate on the right to kick the ball in.
    • This is an optimal strategy if your opponents are slow to respond to passes.
  8. 8
    Perform a simple pass if you're really far from the goal. If you're out so far out that it'll be really difficult to accurately chip or pass the ball, just make a simple pass to the nearest teammate to restart regular play. Go back to your set offensive scheme after sliding the ball safely over to a teammate.[9]
    • If the opposing team isn't bothering to set up a wall of defenders, this is a good sign that they don't think you're close enough to set a teammate up.
    • This is the best general strategy if you're far away from the goal and you're already winning. There's no need to make a risky play that could turn the ball over to the other team if you're in control of the game.

Method 2 of 2:
Scoring on a Direct Free KickDownload Article

  1. 1
    Get a direct kick for serious infractions or contact fouls. If the opposing team has contacted you in a dangerous way, prevented your goalkeeper from releasing the ball, or committed a serious penalty that stops the game, you may be awarded a direct kick. On a direct kick, you can score without a teammate touching the ball first.[10]
    • If you're given a direct kick, you should generally try to score. You may not want to risk it if you're in the lead and can run the clock out though. You may also want to pass on the opportunity if you're far away from the goal.
    • If you're too far from the goal to score, just pass the ball to a teammate and restart your regular offense.
  2. 2
    Place the ball where the referee points or where they physically place it. Like an indirect free kick, the ball is spotted at the place of the foul. In most cases, the referee will point with their finger to show you where they want you to kick from. Otherwise, they will physically place the ball for you. If the referee places the ball, don't move it before kicking to avoid a foul. If they pointed with their finger, you can put it anywhere in the general area that they pointed to.[11]
    • If a foul was made in the goal area, the referee will place the ball for you.
  3. 3
    Step back a little bit and survey the field. Take 2-3 steps back and take a calming breath. Study the playfield for a moment and identify where your defenders are setting up. On a direct free kick, you don't need to worry as much about where your teammates are since you're likely going to try and score.[12]
    • Don't take more than 4 steps back away from the ball to take a massive wind up. This only gives the defenders more time to study where you're looking and running as you approach the ball to kick it.
  4. 4
    Kick a power shot towards a high corner if you're close enough and can kick hard. If you're close to the head of the goal area and have a good leg, pick a high corner of the goal. Move fast on your approach and kick the ball as hard as you can at a slightly upward angle towards the selected corner. Aim either slightly over the wall of defenders, or in between 2 defenders to thread the needle. Even if the goalie stops your shot, the ball will bounce away and your team can try to score immediately after.[13]
    • Look for 2 defenders on the wall that look particularly intimidated or nervous. These players may turn away from the ball if you kick it right at them.
    • This is the main strategy if you're in scoring distance and playing on regulation-sized goals where most goalies need to move 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m) to their left or right and jump to block a corner shot.
    • If their goalie seems particularly good at predicting or reading your team's shots, this may not be the best option.
  5. 5
    Spin the ball into a corner if you have space and can control the ball well. If you're close to the goal and are particularly adept at curving the ball, spin it into a corner. On approach, select a corner of the goal to aim for. Then, hit the ball on its side with the side of your foot while dragging it upwards. This will put a spin on the ball that will cause it to curve as it travels through the air. Kick it towards the center with a side spin to send it curving into the right or left-most corner of the net.[14]
    • This requires a lot of control, but if you ever watch professional soccer/football, you'll notice that this is the option that pro players most often select.
    • The side of the ball you kick will spin it in the opposite direction. So if you hit the right side of the ball, it will spin to the left and vice versa.
  6. 6
    Solicit a teammate's assistance to fake the other team out. There are no assigned players to kick a free kick. Since any player on your team can kick it, grab a teammate to come behind the ball with you. Have them run forward like they're going to kick the ball, and start approaching when they're halfway there. Your opponent will kick the grass next to the ball, tricking the other team into thinking that they're hitting it. As they jump, move, or, respond, you catch them off their toes by kicking a power or curved shot 1-2 seconds after.[15]
    • This requires quite a bit of coordination. Try practicing with a friend before employing this in a game.
    • This is the kind of strategy that only works once. Once the opposing team sees you do this, they'll be more prepared the next time 2 players on your team go behind the ball.

    Tip: If you're faking the other team out, stepping further back may actually help. Your teammate needs to telegraph their kick to make the opposing team believe they're kicking it.


Community Q&A

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      • Practice free kicks when you're practicing with your team. Get used to taking kicks near the middle of the goal area, near the top of the line. This is the most common area for free kicks.
      • You aren't always going to be the one kicking. Learn what kind of kicks your teammates like to perform to predict how they're going to kick the ball if you don't have time to talk about it in the middle of a game.
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      wikiHow Staff
      Co-authored by:
      3 votes - 100%
      Co-authors: 3
      Updated: December 19, 2019
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      Categories: Soccer Ball Tricks
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