Fishing line won't stay on reel?

Im trying to line a new open face fishing reel and the line wont stay on. It stays on but when i let a little bit of the tension out of it, it will just explode with fishing line all over. I did read that you have to make sure that the line coming off the spool is going the same direction as goin on? Ive tryed both directions and it doesnt seem to work. Any ideas? Thanks.