Free Kick vs Penalty Kick: The Difference

A free kick can be direct or indirect, while a penalty kick allows a direct attempt at goal from the penalty mark. A penalty is normally awarded for a direct free kick offence committed by a player inside their own penalty area while the ball is in play. Our guide to soccer free kicks explains the wider topic. Here, you will learn how to recognise each restart and choose practice that matches what the restart allows.

In my opinion, understanding the restart should come before choosing how much curve to put on the ball. The Giro X's Curl Master One trains the contact and spin control used in free kicks and penalties, giving contact work a place in your preparation. For girls and boys, I recommend beginning with a straightforward question: are you attempting a direct shot, or delivering the ball for another player? The intended delivery should guide the contact you discuss with your coach.

What Makes a Free Kick Different?
When Does an Offence Become a Penalty?
What Should You Practise for Each Kick?
How Does Curl Master One Support Practice?
How Should Canadian Families Plan Their Practice?

What Makes a Free Kick Different?

A direct free kick allows a goal directly against the opposing team, while an indirect free kick requires another player's touch before a goal can count. Permission to score directly changes the taker's options before the approach to the ball begins. A direct free kick can still be passed to a teammate; shooting is a choice. With an indirect free kick, another player's touch is essential before a goal can count. Identify the restart before deciding which delivery to attempt.

I recommend treating free kick practice as a decision followed by a strike, with the intended delivery named before starting. Ask the player to describe the shot or pass, then discuss the contact their coach wants them to repeat. Afterwards, compare the attempted delivery with the original intention. A pass meant for a teammate deserves to be assessed as a pass. In my opinion, discussing the intended delivery makes practice more useful than judging every attempt by how much the ball curves.

When Does an Offence Become a Penalty?

A penalty normally follows a direct free kick offence committed by a player inside their own penalty area while the ball is in play. Certain offences committed outside the field during play can also result in a penalty. An incident inside the penalty area does not automatically produce a penalty: an indirect free kick offence still leads to an indirect free kick. IFAB Laws 12 and 14 explain these distinctions (2026/27 edition, checked 9 November 2026). Ask what happened as well as where the incident occurred.

A penalty allows a direct attempt from the penalty mark, giving penalty practice a different starting point from a free kick elsewhere. I recommend choosing a target before working on the contact your coach identifies, then keeping a consistent preparation routine. A player developing curve for free kicks can give penalty practice a separate purpose. In my opinion, deliberate placement deserves priority over adding visible curve. The player should be able to explain the intended penalty delivery before approaching the ball.

What Should You Practise for Each Kick?

I recommend practising a delivery that the restart permits and your coach has asked you to develop. For a direct free kick, the task could involve contact for a shot with curve. For an indirect free kick, the task could involve delivering a pass for another player. Keep the intended recipient or target clear throughout practice. Girls and boys should have the same opportunity to explore the available deliveries, with the contact instruction matched to the individual player's understanding.

For penalties, I favour keeping the chosen target and contact consistent long enough to discuss the attempts meaningfully with the coach. Free kicks and penalties can share contact work while serving different tactical purposes. Before beginning a separate practice task, ask the player to name the restart and explain what they want the ball to do. The stated intention gives the coach something specific to discuss alongside the attempted strike, without treating every practice attempt as the same kind of shot.

How Does Curl Master One Support Practice?

Curl Master One trains striking contact and spin control used in free kicks and penalties. The device works with a standard ball and provides immediate feedback on striking contact, with no app or subscription. I recommend using Curl Master One alongside coaching, carrying a specific contact instruction into practice between sessions. The coach helps identify the contact to develop, while Curl Master One supports work on the strike. Keep free kick delivery and penalty preparation as distinct purposes for contact practice.

Curl Master One Product Card

Curl Master One spins a standard ball at controlled speeds and has six speed settings. The device is intended for players from around age eight through adulthood, with an adult nearby for players aged eight to twelve. In my opinion, those features make Curl Master One a worthwhile addition for families arranging contact practice between coaching sessions. Get one with a clear practice purpose, then use your coach's instruction to guide the contact you practise for each restart.

How Should Canadian Families Plan Their Practice?

I recommend building contact practice around the player's actual team calendar, whether your family is in Ontario, British Columbia or elsewhere in Canada. Ask the coach which striking contact deserves attention between sessions, then give the chosen practice a place in the week. Keep the plan relevant to both girls' and boys' soccer, with room for each player's commitments. My recommendation is to get Curl Master One for contact work alongside coaching. Begin each practice task by naming the restart and intended delivery, then practise the contact your coach has identified.

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