Laws
You guessed it- we need to look at the official soccer rules. Of course the basic idea is that you score in your opposition’s goal and whoever gets the most goals wins. But unfortunately there’s a bit more to it than that.
Now if you were to look at the FIFA Laws of the Game then you would be wading through no less than 136 pages!!
So I’ve summarised these laws in this convenient guide on all the rules of soccer. So get reading and you’ll have a solid understanding of how the game works in no time.
1) The Field of Play
The soccer rules regarding the field of play just give you an introduction to the dimesnions and technicalities of the pitch. So try not to get too concerned with all this- I have included it for your interest but it doesn’t really make a massive difference to your playing of the game. As long as you understand the basics of the pitch, the actual soccer rules of the pitch dimensions are not vital at this stage.
On the whole, the pitch must be rectangular with a width between 45m and 90m and a length between 90m and 120m. But these dimensions are different for international matches in which the width must be between 64m and 75m and the length must be between 100m and 110m.
The playing surface can be natural or artificial, but it does have to have certain markings and lines on it. There are goal lines the width of the pitch at either end, whilst the longer boundaries are touch lines.
The halfway line divides the pitch and the centre spot does what it says on the tin. The centre circle has a radius of 10
yards.The goal area, or the six yard box as it is commonly known, extends 6 yards out into the pitch and its sides are drawn at right angles to the goal line. There is a parallel line connecting these two lines.
A flag post of at least 1.5m is placed in each corner of the pitch. A corner arc is drawn around each flag post with a radius of 1m.
The goals are positioned on the centre of each goal line. The goal consists of two vertical posts joined by a horizontal cross bar with 8 yards between the two vertical posts. The goal posts and the bar must have equal width and depth of no more than 12cm.
2) The Soccer Ball
Now what are the soccer rules surrounding the ball? It has to be spherical and can be made either of leather or of another similar material. That’s probably about it to be honest. (But just in case you’re wondering, it has to be between 410g and 450g in weight and it’s circumference has to be between 68cm and 70cm.)
Keep reading below for yet more delightful soccer rules…
3) The Number of Players
The soccer rules regarding the players say that the number of players on each of the two teams must be a minimum of seven or a maximum of 11- which of course is the number everybody uses. One of these positions is for the goalkeeper, but any outfield player can swap places with them during a stoppage- with the referee’s permission.
Up to three substitutions may be used (though up to seven subs can be on the bench depending on the competition). And of course the subs must get the referee’s signal before they come on.
4) The Players’ Soccer Equipment
Yes! The soccer rules include a strict dress code!
Each player must wear a shirt, shorts, shin pads, socks and footwear (boots).
The goalkeeper has to wear different colours to the rest of the the players. Players cannot wear, however, anything dangerous (e.g. jewellery) or have anything on show that is an expression of religion, politics or advertising.
5) The Referee
Very basically the referee polices the game, enforces the soccer rules and keeps the time. The ref has the right to abandon the match under certain conditions, caution players, send players off and restart the match. But the refs do have their assistant referees to help them at least.
6) The Assistant Referees
The assistant referees have a duty to say when the whole ball has gone out of play and which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick and throw in. They should also make decisions about incidents the referee hasn’t seen and should declare in penalties whether or not the goalkeeper has stepped off his line before the kick was taken.
7) Duration of the Match
Here’s one of the most fundamental of all the soccer rules: the time limit. The game is made up of two halves of 45 minutes, but depending on the competition this could be reduced due to bad light for example. There is a half time interval of no more than 15 minutes. The referee may add stoppage time onto the end of each half due to factors such as injuries and substitutions.
The Start and Restart of Play
Firstly there is a coin toss and the winning side chooses which end they’ll take. They take the kick off in the second half, whilst the side who lost the toss take kick off in the first half.
The kick off is also given to a side every time they let in a goal- and they can score themselves directly from the kick off! During the kick off all players are in their own half and opponents are 10 yards away. Once the ref gives his signal the ball must be kicked forward from the centre spot and the kicker can’t touch it again until someone else has touched it (otherwise they give away an indirect free kick)
If there is a stoppage, drop balls can also happen. These take place at the same place where the stoppage happened.
9) The Ball In and Out of Play
The ball is only out of play when play has been stopped by the referee or when the ball has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line. That’s all there is to it!
10) The Method of Scoring
GOAL!!! This happens when the whole soccer ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the cross bar, as long as no infringements of the laws have been committed. The team who gets the most goals in a match wins!
11) Offside
A player is in an offside position when they are in their opponents half and are nearer to the opponent’s goal line than the ball and the second last opponent. But this is only an offence if they are interfering with play, interfering with an
opponent or are gaining an advantage by being there. This brings an indirect free kick.If the player in question is actually level with the last opponent, then they are not in an offside position. Also, a player can’t be offside from a goal kick, a corner or a throw in.
12) Fouls and Misconduct
Now we get to the crux of soccer rules. A direct free kick (or penalty kick if in the penalty area) is given if the ref thinks that the following offences are committed in a careless or reckless way;
- to kick or try to kick an
opponent- to trip or try to trip an
opponent- to jump at an
opponent- to charge at an
opponent- to strike or try to strike an
opponent- to push an
opponentA direct free kick is also given for the following offences;
- to make contact with the player before the ball in a tackle
- to hold an
opponent- to spit at an
opponent- to handle the ball deliberately (except the goalie in the penalty area of course)
An indirect free kick is given if the goalkeeper in his area;
- controlls the ball with is hands for more than 6 seconds
- touches the ball again with his hands once he has released it from his posesssion before it touches another player
- touches the ball with his hands from a deliberate pass back from a team mate
- touches the ball with his hands from a deliberate throw to him from a team mate
An indirect free kick can also be given if a player;
- plays dangerously
- obstructs an
opponent- prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
The ref may give a player a yellow card if;
- he has been unsporting
- he shows dessent by word or action
- he persistently breaks the laws
- he delays the restart of play
- he doesn’t stand back far enough when a throw in, corner or free kick is taken
- he enters the field of play without the ref’s permission
- he exits the field of play deliberately without the ref’s permission
The ref may give a sub a yellow card if;
- he is unsporting
- he shows dissent by word or action
- he delays the restart of play
The ref may send a player off if;
- he is guilty of serious foul play
- he is guilty of violent conduct
- he spits at anyone
- he stops the opposition from scoring by handling the ball
- he denies the opposition a goal scoring opportunity through an offence worthy of a free kick or a penalty
- he uses offensive language or gestures
- he receives two cautions in a match
ANY PLAYER OR SUB WHO IS SENT OFF MUST LEAVE THE VICINITY OF THE PITCH AND TECHNICAL AREA BY THE SIDE OF THE PITCH.
13) Free Kicks
We’ve learnt so far that there are direct and indirect free kicks for different offences. A team can’t score directly from an indirect free kick, but if a direct free kick goes directly into the team’s own goal then a corner kick is awarded to the opposition as opposed to a goal.
When a free kick is taken all opponents have to be 10 yards from the ball. If they are not then the kick is re-taken. If the free kick is inside the penalty area (a penalty) then all opponents must be outside the area (except the goalie).
An indirect free kick is given to the other team if the kicker, having taken the free kick, touches the ball before someone else does (although touching with the hands will of course be a direct free kick with the exception of the goalkeeper inside his own penalty area when there will be an indorect free kick).
14) The Penalty Kick
A penalty kick is given when an offence is committed inside the penalty area which would normally warrant a direct free kick.
The ball is placed on the penalty spot, the kick taker must be identified before it is taken, the goalkeeper must remain on his line until the ball has been kicked and all other players must be on the field of play outside the area and behind the penalty spot such that they are 10 yards away from the ball.
The ball is in play once it is kicked and moved forwards, but the kick taker can’t touch the ball until it has touched another player.
If the kick taker his team mates break these soccer rules and the ball goes in then the penalty is retaken. If the keeper or his team mates break the rules and it goes in then the goal stands, but if he saves it the kick is retaken.
There are further rules as to what happens when there more infringemens even after the kick has been retaken once, but these are very rarely needed.
15) The Throw In
A throw in happens when the whole ball crosses the touchline. It must be taken by a player from the other team to the team which touched the ball last. When it is taken the player must not be on the pitch but he must be facing it and his hands must either be behind or over his head.
The goalkeeper can’t handle the ball inside the penalty area when it has been deliberately thrown back to him. The throw taker can’t touch it again having released it before it is touched by another player. For these offences indirect free kicks are given. Of course any other infringements involving handling result in direct free kicks being awarded.
So those are the specifics of the soccer rules in this area- all you really need to do is throw the ball using the right technique without infringing these laws!
16) The Goalkick
If you’re a goalkeeper this set of soccer rules might be of particular interest to you- so read ahead and wise up on the technicalities of your goal kicks!
A goal kick is taken when the whole ball has crossed the goal line without going in the goal. A goal can be scored from a goal kick, but an own goal cannot.
The ball is kicked from anywhere within the six yard box by a member of the defending team. The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has been touched by someone else and the ball must travel outside the penalty area otherwise the goal kick is retaken.
17) The Corner Kick
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: the soccer rules relating to corners!
A corner kick is awarded to the attacking team if the whole ball crosses the goal line (without going in the goal) having been touched last by a member of the defending team.
The kick is taken from the small arc at the corner of the pitch and the kicker must not touch it again, having taken it, until it has touched someone else. Opponents must stay 10 yards away until the kick is taken.
So there you have it, the official soccer rules all summarised for you. Don’t get to bogged down in all the nitty gritty detail- just as long as you now have a good idea about the aim of the game as well as the basic soccer rules and fouls. But if at any time in the future you feel you need to refresh your memory about the different soccer rules please don’t hesitate to stop by this page again. Just skip to the section you want to know about and top up your knowledge just like that. All these rules are official- just summarised for ease of use!
