A free kick in soccer is given when a player commits a foul or other rule violation, which stops play and lets the other team restart from the spot of the offense.

Main reasons

  • A player trips, pushes, or charges unfairly.
  • A player handles the ball illegally.
  • A player plays in a dangerous way or blocks an opponent improperly.
  • A goalkeeper or another player breaks a rule that stops play.

Two types

  • Direct free kick: you can shoot straight at goal.
  • Indirect free kick: another player has to touch the ball before a goal can count.

Simple example

If a defender trips an attacker outside the penalty area, the attacking team usually gets a direct free kick from that spot.

TL;DR: you get a free kick because the other team broke a rule, and it gives your team a fair restart.