For those families new to
soccer, and those who still feel new regarding the rules, the following
"Simplified Rules of Soccer" should be a handy guide through the many years
of soccer enjoyment ahead. The information is drawn from publications of the
United States Soccer Federation (USSF). In soccer, by-the-way, they are not
called rules, but laws.
LAW #1 THE FIELD OF PLAY
The soccer field (commonly known as the “pitch”) should always be
rectangular with a maximum length of 130 yards and a minimum length of 100
yards. The width should be a maximum of 100 yards and a minimum of 50 yards.
The field must be longer than it is wide. With the proportions correct,
junior fields can be smaller depending on the age level. The longer boundary
lines are called touch lines, and the shorter boundary lines are called goal
lines. A goal is centered on each goal line.
LAW #2 THE BALL
The ball must be round with a circumference of 27"-28" for regulation adult
play. The weight should be 14-16 oz. This is a "Size 5" ball. For medium
sized children size 4 is often used (age 7-12). The circumference is 25"-26"
and the weight is 12-14 oz. For very small children a size 3 ball is often
used (ages 4-7). The circumference is 23"-25" and the weight is 10-12 oz.
LAW #3 NUMBER OF PLAYERS
In a regulation match, each side is composed of 11 players, with the number
of subs to be no more than 3 for competitive matches, or the number agreed
to for a “friendly” match. Younger youth levels often use fewer players
(U-7, U-8 = 7 vs 7: U-9, U-10 = 8 vs 8). A player who has been replaced
cannot come back into the match. The number of substitutions can be modified
for youth play at U16 and below. The substitution part of the law is widely
ignored in the U.S. anyway. A complete roster of players and subs must be
presented to the referee before the game starts (player passes are sometimes
used instead). The referee must be notified and must indicate his permission
to enter before a substitution can step onto the pitch. Players must leave
the field before the substitute can enter. Any player sent off (red carded)
may not be replaced and the team must play short for the remainder of the
match.
LAW #4 PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT
The usual uniform of the soccer player is a jersey, shorts, calf socks, shin
guards and shoes. Nothing potentially injurious to another player may be
worn. All jewelry is considered dangerous. Referees do not have any leeway
on jewelry below the highest level of professional play. No jewelry should
be allowed, period, in any youth or amateur play. Cleats are normally
rubber, plastic, aluminum or leather. The goalkeeper must wear a different
color than the other members of the team. Shin guards must give a reasonable
degree of protection.
LAW #5 THE REFEREE
The referee is in charge of all game activity and is to make sure each team
abides by the Laws of the Game. He is to stop, suspend, or terminate a match
as appropriate. His decisions are final. It is the referee's responsibility
to keep the game clock, and enforce proper game conduct by players,
substitutes and team officials. He can send off players or others who commit
an act of misconduct. His authority extends from the time he arrives in the
area of the field to the time he leaves the area. Cards can only be shown to
players and substitutes, and only during the match. Other cautions and send
offs are done without showing a card, but count the same is if a card had
been shown.
LAW #6 ASSISTANT REFEREES
There are usually two Assistant Referees (ARs), one for each touch line.
Their main responsibility is to assist the referee by indicating ball out of
bounds, offside, corner kicks, and goal kicks; and to assist in enforcing
the laws by indicating fouls the referee cannot see. ARs assist the referee
by indicating their opinion, but the decision is still the referee’s, if he
saw the event or incident. ARs do not have whistles and cannot stop play.
When no registered referees are available for this function, club linesmen
are used. The referee can only use club linesmen for out of bounds
indications.
LAW #7 GAME DURATION
U8 games have four 10 minute quarters. U10 games have 25 minute halves, U12
games 30 minute halves, U14 games 35 minute halves, U16 games 40 minute
halves, and all higher level games 45 minute halves. The referee is to add
time for time wasting, injuries, substitutions, and any other cause.
LAW #8 START OF PLAY
To start play there is a kick off. This happens at the start of the game,
halftime and after a goal has been scored. A player standing near the
halfway line kicks the ball to a fellow player. Opposing players must stay
outside the center circle until the ball has been kicked. After the ball is
touched and moves forward the game is officially started. The kicker may not
touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player.
LAW #9 BALL IN AND OUT PLAY
After the whole ball completely crosses the touch line or goal line, either
on the ground or in the air, it is out of play. Any ball striking a referee,
goal post, or corner post and remaining on the field is in play. The line
itself is in bounds, and the ball is out of play (or a goal is scored) only
when all of the ball is completely past the outer edge of the line. If any
part of the ball is still touching any part of the line (extended from the
ground up into the sky), it is still in play.
LAW #10 GOAL SCORING
A goal is scored when the whole ball completely crosses the goal line,
between the goal posts and under the cross bar. The winner of the game is
determined by the most goals scored.
LAW #11 OFFSIDE
A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents' goal
line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent (counting the
keeper, if he is one of the two defenders closest to the goal line). A
player is not offside when in his own half of the field of play. It is not
an offense to be in an offside position. The referee is to call an offside
infraction only if, in his judgement, the player in an offside position when
the ball is played or touched by a teammate interferes with play, interferes
with another player, or gains an advantage by being in that position. There
is no offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from a goal
kick, a throw-in or a corner kick. When offside is called, the defending
team is awarded an indirect free kick from where the infringement occurred.
LAW #12 FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Fouls can only be committed on the field of play (i.e. inside the boundary
lines) and while the ball is in play. There are two categories of foul,
penal and technical. Except for handling, penal fouls can only be committed
against an opponent. Fouls are dealt with by awarding a free kick to the
opposing team. Misconduct can be an included part of some fouls, or can be
unrelated to a foul. Misconduct is dealt with by issuing a caution (yellow
card) or sending the player off (red card).
A. For penal fouls, the referee awards a direct free kick to the other team
from where the infraction occurred:
1. Kicking opponent
2. Tripping opponent
3. Jumping at opponent
4. Charging opponent
5. Striking opponent
6. Pushing opponent
7. Making contact with the opponent before the ball when tackling.
8. Holding opponent
9. Spitting at an opponent
10. Deliberately handling ball (deliberately touching ball with hands or
arms from the shoulder on down)
The first six are to be called only if the referee considers that they were
done carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force. A penalty kick is
awarded if any of these 10 penal fouls are committed in the offending team’s
own penalty area.
B. An indirect free kick shall be awarded when a player commits these
technical fouls. The first three can only be committed against an opponent.
1. Dangerous play adversely effecting opponent’s play
2. Preventing the opposing goalkeeper from releasing the ball
3. Impeding an opponent
4. A goalkeeper taking more than 6 seconds to release the ball while
controlling it with his hands
5. Wasting time
6. A goalkeeper handling a ball that has been intentionally played with a
teammate's foot, or thrown in by a teammate, or that he has controlled with
the hands and returned to or allowed to fall to the ground.
7. Any offense not mentioned above for which play is stopped to caution or
send off (yellow or red card).
C. Cautionable Offenses: A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if
he commits any of the following seven offenses:
1. Is guilty of unsporting behavior
2. Shows dissent by word or action
3. Persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
4. Delays the restart of play
5. Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a kick
off, corner kick or free kick
6. Enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission
7. Deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission
D. Sending-Off Offenses: A player is sent off and shown the red card if he
commits any of the following seven offenses:
1. Is guilty of serious foul play
2. Is guilty of violent conduct
3. Spits at an opponent or any other person
4. Denies an opponent 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)
5. Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards
the player's goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
6. Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures
7. Receives a second caution (yellow card) in the same match
The referee is to refrain from calling fouls that are trifling or doubtful,
or when stopping play for the foul would give an advantage to the offending
team or take one away from the fouled team.
LAW #13 FREE KICKS
The types of free kick awarded by the referee are the:
A. Direct Free Kick - a goal can be scored by kicking the ball directly into
the goal
B. Indirect Free Kick - the ball must touch another player before a goal can
be scored; if the ball goes into the goal without being touched by another
player, it is just out-of-bounds, and the defensive side gets a goal kick.
In either case, the kicker is free to simply pass the ball to a teammate.
When a free kick is taken, the opposing team must stay at least 10 yards
away from the ball until it is kicked. A team cannot score against itself
directly (i.e. without another player besides the original kicker touching
the ball) on any free kick. Any free kick taken from inside the kicker’s own
penalty area cannot be touched by any other player until it has passed
outside the penalty area into the playing field. It is not in play until
that happens. No opposing player can enter the penalty area until the ball
has passed out of it.
LAW #14 PENALTY KICKS
A penalty kick is awarded after a penal foul (law #12, part A) takes place
in the offending team’s penalty area. It is a direct kick taken 12 yards
from the goal line. All players except the goalie and kicker must stay
outside of the penalty area, behind the penalty mark, and at least 10 yards
from the ball until it is kicked. The goalie must stand on the goal line and
may not move forward off of it until the ball is kicked.
LAW #15 THE THROW-IN
When the ball completely crosses the touch line, a throw-in is awarded to
the opponents of the player who last touched the ball, from the point where
the ball crossed the line. The ball must be thrown by both hands from behind
and over the head. At the moment the thrower releases the ball:
A. The thrower must be facing the playing field.
B. Both feet must be outside or on the touch line. Any part of the foot
touching the line makes it legal.
C. Both feet must be touching the ground.
On incorrect throws, a throw in is awarded to the opposite team. The thrower
may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another
player. It is not unusual in youth soccer for the throw to not enter the
field, that is, the ball goes up the touch line and never breaks the plane
of the outside edge of the line. This doesn't count as a throw at all. The
thrower just picks it up and throws again. If the referee believes this is
intentional and to waste time, he may caution the player and must add on
time.
LAW #16 GOAL KICKS
A goal kick is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line but a goal is not
scored, and it was last touched by an attacking player. The ball can be
kicked from anywhere in the goal area. The ball must travel outside the
penalty area into the field of play before it is in play. If it is touched
before it leaves the penalty area, the kick is retaken. The attacking team
must stay out of the penalty area until the ball is in play. Once the ball
is in play, the kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has
been touched by another player.
LAW #17 CORNER KICKS
A corner kick is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line, but a goal is
not scored, and it was last touched by a defensive player. One member of the
attacking team takes the kick on the quarter circle nearest the corner flag
post. The opposing team must remain at least 10 yards from the ball as it is
kicked. A goal may be scored directly from this kick. The kicker may not
touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.
There are many other details the referee must know and apply in making
decisions on the field. Knowing this simplified version of the “Laws of The
Game” won’t enable you to referee, but should make watching the games more
enjoyable.
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