Your guide to soccer's basic rules
| Basic Rules Your guide to soccer's basic rules |
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There are 11 players on each team, 10 outfield players and one goalkeeper. Each game is 90 minutes, split into two halves of 45 minutes each. The time is not exact, in order to allow for delays in the flow of the game and to prevent teams from taking advantage of the time. The referee roughly calculates and adjusts for moments that have obviously stopped the game, such as bad injuries, substitutions, and blatant time wasting. This is called 'injury time'or 'stoppage time'. The final whistle is anxiously expected, but there is the possibility that your own rough calculations do not match the referee’s, adding to the drama that there is a still chance of getting a goal in injury time.
Other rules may apply for amateur local teams based on local customs, but the professional men and women’s leagues all adhere to FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations).
The ball can be played by any part of the body except the hands and the arm. Otherwise it is handball and therefore a foul. The goalie is the only player who can use his hands as long as he is in his penalty box. However, if he touches the ball with his hand outside the penalty box, then it is a handball. The basic rule is that every player must play the ball fairly. Only, fairly is not always so clear and creates debates in interpretation. It is an obvious foul if for example a player takes the legs out of a player from the other team but misses the ball. It may not be so obvious when for example two players go for the same ball; one with his head and the other with his foot, and one player ends up with a kick in the head. Was it dangerous for the player to go for a header when the ball is so low, or was it dangerous for trying to kick the ball when it was so high? Other examples of fouls are pulling of shirts, using the arms to push or pull an opponent, tripping, too much dissention, and violent conduct like stamping, punching, head-butting, or spitting.
If the foul is considered severe enough, then the player is cautioned with a yellow card and his name in the ref’s book. This is also referred to as a 'booking'. Two such bad fouls results in a second yellow card, which means a red card and ejection from the game without a substitution. The team who has the player sent off must continue the game with 10 players. A player can get a straight red card for violent conduct or if the foul threatens serious injury. A straight red card can also be given for a foul that purposely prevents an obvious goal.
A foul results in a free kick for the other team. If the foul is in the middle of the field then it is simply an interruption of the flow of the game. Games that are not commanded well by the referee and consist of foul after foul can fall flat of excitement. The other team must be at least 10 yards from the ball at the time of the free kick. If the ball is in a dangerous scoring position, then the free kick allows the attacking team to get organized and work on a play that has been practiced in training. The other team may want to place a wall of bodies 10 yards between the ball and the goal to hopefully block the free kick.
If a foul is committed in the goalkeeper’s penalty box, then a penalty is awarded instead of a free kick. The ball is placed on the penalty spot 12 yards away from the middle of the goal. The goalkeeper must stay on his line. All the other players must be outside the penalty box until the penalty kick is taken. The odds of scoring a penalty are far in favor of the penalty taker, but there is still the tension of missing it or having it saved by the ‘keeper.
Some players attempt to fool the referee by diving and falling to the ground in the hope that the ref awards a penalty or even a free kick. This is illegal and considered a bookable offence, or yellow card. It is considered cheating or unsportsman-like conduct, and therefore a foul. There are a few who consider it a part of the game to con the referee, rather than an example of cheating.
Offside prevents players from camping out near the other team’s goal. There must always be two defending players (usually one of these is the goalie) between the goal and the player who receives the ball. Otherwise the player is called offside and the defending team gets a free kick where the offside occurred. The rule is based on the time the ball is kicked. A player can run past the last defenders and receive the ball if he started in an onside position before the ball was kicked. Sometimes it can be difficult for the linesman (assistant referee) to judge it correctly. A player is not offside at a corner kick, throw-in, goal kick, or if the ball is played to him from a player on the opposing team.
If the ball goes all the way over the touchline or goal-line, the ball is out of play. The touchline is the side of the field. The goal-line is the end of the field. A throw-in is given to the team who did not touch the ball last when it crossed over the touchline. If the defending team last touches the ball before it goes over the goal-line, then the other team gets a corner-kick. If the attacking team last kicks the ball over the goal line, as in a missed shot, then the other team is given a goal-kick where the goalie restarts the game from his own six-yard box.
The goalkeeper can use his hands in his own penalty box, but not if he ventures outside his box. If he does, then the other team is rewarded with a free kick where it happened and the keeper could get sent off if serious enough. The goalie is also not allowed to pick the ball up with his hands if it is intentionally kicked back to him from somebody on his own team, unless it is headed or chested back. Even though it is a foul in the penalty box, in this instance a free kick is given, not a penalty. Goalkeepers must obviously be adept at using their feet as well as at saving shots.
Three substitutions are allowed per team. Once a player is substituted, he cannot come back for that game. Sometimes substitutions are used for tactical changes, other times to replace an injured player. If a player goes off injured after three subs have already been used, then that team must now play with 10 instead of 11 players.