BASIC SOCCER RULES Object Soccer is a ball game played by 2 teams of 11 players each. The object is to get the ball into your opponent’s goal. The winner is the team that scores the most goals by the end of the game. Playing Area The field is rectangular in shape and must be 50-100 yards wide and 100-130 yards long. There is a goal located at each end of the field. Basic Rules of Soccer Equipment You need a soccer ball and a goal to play a game. The age of the players and the level of competition determine what type of soccer ball is used. To find the appropriate size ball for your situation, see soccer ball sizes. The goalkeeper must wear different colors than her teammates to distinguish herself from the other players. Goalies may also wear protective goalie gloves. It is highly recommended that every player wear shin guards to protect their lower legs when they inadvertently get kicked. A pair of soccer cleats with rubber studs are recommended to help players get better traction on the field. Basic Rules of Soccer Officials There is usually a referee who runs up and down the middle of the field and controls the game along with 2 linesmen. The linesmen are positioned on each sideline holding a flag. The referee: keeps the time.  keeps score.  enforces the rules.  stops and starts the game.  cautions or removes players from the game. The linesmen raise their flags to indicate: when the ball is out of play. which team takes the ball on the throw-in, corner kick or goal kick. any infringement of the rules. Duration The game is divided into two 45-minute halves. Teams change ends at the end of the half. The game clock is a running clock, and time doesn’t stop until the end of the half. The referee will add on additional time for time lost due to injuries, time wasting, etc. Time is also added to allow for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of regulation time. Basic Rules of Soccer Starting Play A coin toss determines which team will kick off first and which goal teams will defend. To start the game, the ball is placed in the center of the circle at mid-field and teams are lined up on their respective sides of the field. Only the kicker may be in the center circle for the opening kick, and all other players must remain outside the circle until contact is made with the ball. Once kicked, the ball has to travel at least one full roll, and the kicker can’t touch it again until another player kicks it first. After a goal is scored, the ball is reset in the center circle again for a kick-off by the team that was scored on. The second half begins with the same type of kick-off by the team that did not open the game with the kick. Playing the Ball Except when throwing the ball in from out-of-bounds, no players are allowed to touch the ball with their hands except the goalie. A penalty (free kick) is assessed when a player touches the ball with any part of their hands or arms. Players can use any other part of their body to contact the ball. They may use their feet, head, thigh, chest, or back to stop, control, or pass the ball. Basic Rules of Soccer Scoring A goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the goal line under the crossbar and between the goal posts. A goal is worth 1 point. If the score is tied at the end of the game, the following events may happen: the game is left as a tie. an overtime period is played (usually two halves of 15 minutes each). there is a shoot-off with each team getting to shoot a series of penalty kicks. a coin toss determines the winner. Basic Rules of Soccer Out of Play The ball is out of play when it completely crosses the boundary lines on the field or when the referee has blown his whistle to stop play. It isn't out if it's touching the line. Play is restarted by a throw-in when the ball has crossed the sidelines, and by either a goal kick or a corner kick when it has crossed the goal line. Throw-in - A throw-in is taken along the sideline at the spot where the ball went out of bounds. It is taken by the team not responsible for putting the ball out of play. On a throw-in, the player must: have both hands on the ball. throw the ball from behind and over the head. face the play. keep part of each foot on the ground at the time of release. keep her feet either behind or on the sideline. If any of these rules are broken, the other team is granted the ball at that spot. You can’t score a goal directly from a throw-in, and the player throwing the ball in is not allowed to touch it until another player has touched it. Goal Kick - awarded to the defending team when the offense kicks the ball out of bounds across the goal line (end line.) A goal kick: can be taken by any player, including the goalie. is placed on the upper corner of the goalie box on the side of the goal area where the ball went out. must travel outside of the penalty area. may not be touched by the kicker until another player has touched it. All players must remain outside of the penalty area until the ball is kicked, and a goal can’t be scored directly from a goal kick. Corner Kick - awarded to the offensive team if the ball goes out of bounds across the goal line. It’s taken from the quarter circle with the flag in the corner of the field on the side of the field where the ball went out of bounds. On a corner kick: the corner flag may not be moved. opponents must stay at least 10 yards away until the ball is kicked. a goal can be scored. the kicker may not touch it again until another player has touched it. Free Kick - either a direct or indirect kick taken from the place where an offense occurred. The ball is stationary, and all opponents must be 10 yards from the ball. Direct Free Kick - the kicker can score directly from the kick. Indirect Free Kick - a goal can’t be scored until the ball has been touched by another player. Penalty Kick - a direct free kick that is awarded to the attacking team when an offense occurs by a defender inside his own penalty area. On a penalty kick: the ball is placed on the penalty spot. all players except the goalie must stand outside the penalty area at least 10 yards from the penalty spot. the ball must be kicked forward. the kicker can’t touch the ball again until another player has touched it. the goalie must stand still on the goal line until the ball is kicked. Basic Rules of Soccer Offside An offensive player is offside if, when the ball is played, she is closer to the goal than 2 defensive players and the ball, unless: she is in her own half of the field. an opponent was the last player to touch the ball. she receives the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick, throw-in, or when the referee drops the ball. Basic Rules of Soccer Fouls & Misconduct A direct free kick is awarded if any of the following fouls are committed by a defender in his penalty area: tripping. holding an opponent. touching the ball with a hand or arm. kicking an opponent. jumping at or charging at an opponent in a violent manner. hitting or pushing an opponent. An indirect free kick is awarded for: dangerous play. charging fairly when the ball isn’t within playing distance. intentionally obstructing an opponent without trying to play the ball. charging the goalkeeper. offside. a player touching the ball a second time on a throw-in, kick-off, goal kick, corner kick, or penalty kick before someone else touches it. entering or leaving the game without the referee’s permission. It is okay to charge a goalkeeper if he: is holding the ball. is obstructing an opponent. goes outside of he goal area. Basic Rules of Soccer Cautioning The referee may caution a player if he: enters or leaves the game without the ref’s permission. continually breaks the rules. shows disrespect toward the officials. has unsportsmanlike conduct. Sending Off The referee may send a player off the field for the rest of the game if she: commits acts of violence or serious unsportsmanlike conduct. uses foul or abusive language. continues to break the rules after the official’s cautionary warning. Basic Rules of Soccer Modifications Depending on the number of players, skill level, available equipment, or the size of your playing area, you can modify the basic rules of soccer to fit your needs. Here are some modifications you can make to get a game going: Reduce the size of the field. Adjust the length of the game. Increase or decrease the time according to fitness level of players. Use a softer or lighter ball, like a nerf-type ball or a beach ball. Use a monster-size ball (or a therapy ball, cage ball, etc.) and allow players to use hands or any other part of their body to advance the ball up the field. Reduce or increase the number of players on each team. Don't use goalies. Leave the goals unattended. Play on only half the field with one goal. On each change of possession, the offense takes it back above the penalty area before they can try to score, like in half-court basketball. Use a ball that's a little flat to keep it from rolling so quickly or so far. If you have a lot of players, set up more goals so players have more ways to score, and have a couple balls going at once. Have shooting contests from different areas of the field to see who can score the most goals. Set up targets and try to knock them over with the ball. Set up a game indoors with no out of bounds. The ball can be played off of the walls.