Questions & Comments

Free  Kicks

Most of the soccer rules regarding free kicks in "Soccer Rule Number 8 – The Start and Restart of Play”.

One additional soccer rule worth mentioning is that players from the opposing team must be at least 9.15 meters away from the position where the free kick will be struck

Also, the player that kicks the ball initially on a free kick cannot touch it again until a teammate or opposing player touches it

Direct Free Kick

 A spinning ball can be like a loose cannon which can give the goalie fits. 

A ball  kicked without a spin travels in a relatively straight path. However, spinning can result in a ball curving in an arc, suddenly dipping or both.  It can also change speed.

Spin is determined by the angle of the kicker's foot and its position on the ball at the moment of impact.

Most direct free kicks, even from a distance, appear easy for the goalie to stop. However, the fan is not seeing it from the goalie's perspective. He may be partially screened by the wall and the ball may be dancing or curving. 

The goalie will reposition the defenders in the wall, which acts as a screen, to minimize the openings for the shooter and to insure that he has the best possible visibility.