Freistößen

Freistößen are free kicks in association football, awarded after a foul or other infringement by the defending team. They restart play from the spot of the foul and come in two main varieties: direct and indirect. A direct freistoß may result in a goal without another player touching the ball; an indirect freistoß requires the ball to touch another player before a goal can count. The ball must be stationary when the kick is taken, and opponents must stand at least 9.15 meters from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves.

Direct freistoßen are typically used to attempt a goal or to create a dangerous scoring opportunity directly from the restart. Techniques include powerful drives, curved shots around the wall, chips over the wall, or deceptive placements. The defending team may form a wall and position players to block or distract the kicker, while the goalkeeper prepares for the shot or a possible rebound.

Indirect freistoßen are awarded for non-penalty offenses such as certain technical fouls or the ball being back-passed to the goalkeeper. In this case, the ball must touch another player before a goal can count, and the kicker cannot score directly from the kick. The referee signals an indirect free kick by raising one arm until the ball is touched by another player or goes out of play.

Freistößen play a central role in German football strategy, with teams frequently practicing set-piece routines to exploit defensive organization and create scoring opportunities. Prominent freistoßen specialists are known for precision, control, and variety in execution.