Eclipse

Knowing the difference between the Direct Free Kick (DFK or "major") and Indirect Free Kick (IFK or "minor") fouls is critical for all referees because the type of foul dictates what the restart is.  Obviously, only direct free kicks are awarded only for DFK or "major" fouls, everything else is an indirect free kick (IFK).  The only exception is a penalty kick is awarded if there is a DFK or "major" foul committed by a defender in his or her penalty area.

There are 10 DFK fouls:

1.  Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent

2. Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent

3. Jumping at an opponent

4. Charging (running into) an opponent unfairly (only shoulder to shoulder contact is fair)

5. Striking an opponent

6. Pushing an opponent

7. Making contact with an opponent before touching the ball when tackling (tackling in soccer is an attempt to steal the ball away from someone)

8. Holding an opponent

9. Spitting at an opponent

10. Handling the ball with your arm or hand

While it may be hard to memorize these, here's an easy way to recognize a DFK foul -- with the exception of handling, all the other major fouls are something one player does phyically to an opponent (kicks, trips, jumps, charges, stikes, pushes, gets them before the ball on a tackle, holds or spits at).

So all you need to do is memorize that handling is the only major foul not involving contact with an opponent.  So when you see a handling violation or a foul involving illegal bodily contact with an opponent, it's going to be a DFK foul (or a penalty kick if done by a defender in his or her penalty area).

Everything else is restarted with an IFK -- offside, the goalie picking the ball up after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate, second touches on free kicks and throw-ins, dangerous plays (dangerous plays means the action was dangerous, but no contact was made.  For example a high kick near the face of an opponent is penalized with an IFK because the player didn't actually make contact with the other player's face -- if he would have, it would be called as the major foul of kicking), etc.