Kick Your Way to Victory: 2026 Soccer Rules Practice Exam Extravaganza!

An indirect free kick is awarded for specific violations of the rules of soccer, one of which is when a goalkeeper holds the ball for too long. According to the Laws of the Game, a goalkeeper may hold the ball for a maximum of six seconds after gaining possession. If the goalkeeper exceeds this time limit, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from the location of the infraction.

This situation emphasizes the importance of maintaining the flow of the game and discouraging time-wasting tactics by the goalkeeper. Indirect free kicks also serve as a way to penalize actions that do not involve direct attempts to hinder an opponent's play, which is consistent with the indirect nature of the kick itself, where the ball must be touched by another player before a goal can be scored.

When considering other options, tripping an opponent and handling the ball are both actions deemed serious enough to warrant a direct free kick. Additionally, scoring a goal is not a violation and does not lead to any kind of free kick. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why holding the ball for too long specifically leads to an indirect free kick while other violations prompt different forms of punishment.