A free kick is a method of restarting play in soccer after a foul has been committed by a player. The team awarded the free kick can take it from the spot where the foul occurred. There are two types of free kicks: direct and indirect. A direct free kick allows the player to shoot directly at the goal, while an indirect free kick requires the ball to touch another player before a goal can be scored. The referee signals a free kick by blowing the whistle and indicating the type of kick. The opposing team must stand at least 10 yards away from the ball until it is in play. Free kicks are important opportunities for teams to score and can be a crucial part of a match, especially in close games.