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Rules - Important Points

Introduction

Important

Points

(Extracted from the official FIFA rules, with commentary by Matt in dark blue.)

The ball is out of play when:

it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line, whether on the ground or in the air; or

play has been stopped by the referee.

The ball is in play at all other times, including the following situations:

it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar or corner flagpost, and remains in the field of play; and

it rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when he is on the field of play

The Method of Scoring

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.

Offside

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

A player is in an offside position if:

he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent

A player is not in an offside position if:

he is in his own half of the field of play,

he is level with the second last opponent,

he is level with the last two opponents.

Offence
A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

interfering with play,

interfering with an opponent,

gaining an advantage by being in that position.

Players, although it looks trivial, offsides is one of the biggest rules in the game. Learn it well and always remember to stay onsides; otherwise the game can become quite frustrating.

No Offence
There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:

a goal kick,

a throw-in,

a corner kick.

This is also important; there is no offsides on any of the three things listed above, so use them to your advantage!

Infringements/Sanctions
For any offside offence, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

Fouls and Misconduct

Direct Free Kick
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

trips or attempts to trip an opponent

jumps at an opponent

charges an opponent

strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

pushes an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offences:

tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball

holds an opponent

spits at an opponent

handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

Players, watch out for these penalties! In my experience, most of the referees in youth soccer have no tolerance for any of these offenses.

A direct free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.

Indirect Free Kick
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offences:

takes more than four steps while controlling the ball with his hands, before releasing it from his possession

touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player

touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate

touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

wastes time

Goalies, although these offenses are important, referees usually do not call the four step possession call unless you take over 10 steps.

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:

plays in a dangerous manner,

impedes the progress of an opponent,

prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands,

commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player.

Players, another thing to watch out for is touching the opposing team's goalie. Once, while I was playing forward, I charged for a loose ball in front of the other team's goal. The goalie caught it; while attempting to avoid him, my thigh barely bumped into his thigh. Thinking quickly (and very dishonestly), the keeper fell to the ground, pretending that I had knocked him over. The referee, seeing only the goalie's performance, promptly gave me a yellow card.

The indirect free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.

Cautionable Offences
A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

is guilty of unsporting behaviour

shows dissent by word or action

persistently infringes the Laws of the Game

delays the restart of play

fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted

with a corner kick or free kick

enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission

deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission

Sometimes it can be difficult, but try to keep your mouth shut on the field (or just don't let the ref hear you) - it will save you the embarassment of a yellow card!

Sending-Off Offences
A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

is guilty of serious foul play

is guilty of violent conduct

spits at an opponent or any other person

denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick

uses offensive, insulting or abusive language

receives a second caution in the same match

A tackle from behind, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Although tackling from behind is considered a red card, most referees usually give you a yellow card first, unless it is a particularly violent tackle.

The Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is awarded against a team which commits one of the ten offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play.

A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each half or at the end of periods of extra time.

The Corner Kick

A corner kick is a method of restarting play.

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.

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