They are important right.  Few will, but some do change games.  Roughly half the goals scored in soccer arise either directly or indirectly from set-plays, that is to say from free-kicks, corners and throw-ins.  Concede a free kick at the wrong time and place, and a games result can alter from one or two touches of the ball.  Just ask David Beckham – one kick of the ball and England get to go to the world cup. 

When the ref blows the whistle for a foul or misconduct, it helps the kicker to know if they can shoot straight at goal.

So when is a free-kick direct or indirect?

Here are 10 offences that can lead to a direct free-kick.  When a player:

1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
3. Jumps at an opponent
4. Charges an opponent
5. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
6. Pushes an opponent
7. Makes contact with the opponent before touching the ball when tackling
8. Holds an opponent
9. Spits at an opponent
10. Handles the ball deliberately

If any of these offences are committed by a player inside their own penalty area then it’s a penalty.

For indirect free-kicks, when, in the opinion of the ref, a player:

1. Impedes the progression of an opponent (obstruction)
2. Plays in a dangerous manner
3. Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
4. The most common cause is the offside offence.

Or when a keeper, inside their own penalty area:

1. Holds on to the ball for more than six seconds
2. Handles a back pass
3. Handles the ball after receiving it from a team-mate direct from a throw-in
4.  Touches the ball again with their hands, before it is touched by another player, after releasing it from their possession

Unlike a direct free kick, an offence punishable by an indirect free kick does not result in a penalty kick when it occurs in the penalty area, rather it continues to be taken as an indirect free kick.