What is the procedure for a quick free kick?

For a quick free kick, the ball must be stationary before the free kick is taken. This requirement is grounded in the Laws of the Game, which state that the ball must be at a complete stop for a free kick to be executed properly. If the ball is not stationary, the kick would be considered illegal, and the kick could be retaken.

A quick free kick allows the attacking team to take advantage of the element of surprise, so once the player has placed the ball, they can take the kick promptly without delay. This means that while the opposing team must be positioned correctly – typically at least ten yards away for regular free kicks – the most critical requirement is that the ball is not moving when the kick is taken.

In contrast, while the defending team must generally be five yards away, this is not a condition that affects whether the kick can be taken quickly but rather how the kick is executed in relation to the defending players. Additionally, players do not need to wait for the referee's whistle to take a quick free kick as long as the conditions about the stationary ball are met, which marks a significant difference from other types of free kicks or set pieces that require the referee’s signal to proceed.