freistoß

Freistoß, in football, is a method of restarting play after a foul or other infringement of the Laws of the Game. There are two main types: direct freistoß, from which a goal may be scored directly, and indirect freistoß, which requires the ball to touch another player before a goal can be scored. Freistoße are awarded by the referee at the spot of the infringement, provided the ball is in play and not out of bounds.

The ball must be stationary at the moment of the kick. Opponents must stay at least 9.15 meters (10 yards) away from the ball until it is in play. A defensive wall may be formed to block the kick, but it must respect the required distance.

A direct freistoß allows a shot on goal without the ball touching another player first. An indirect freistoß requires the ball to touch another player before a goal can be scored. The referee signals an indirect freistoß by raising one arm; for a direct freistoß no such signal is required.

Infringements within the defending team’s penalty area typically result in a penalty kick rather than a freistoß. Referees may also caution or dismiss players for misconduct related to freistoße.

Freistoße are a frequent aspect of the game, shaping set-piece strategy and game tempo.