Soccer Rules

Soccer Rules


Field

The Soccer field, this is the surface on which the game is played, it is originally called the field of play but the name that is most used is the football pitch. Take a look at the picture on the "RIGHT", That is how the field is supposed to look like according to FIFA.


The Ball
An official ball has to weigh 14 to 16 ounces and must have a circunference of 27 to 28 inches. The ball should also be inflated from between 8.5 to 15.6 PSI.


Number Of Players

Team start with eleven players, That is 10 players on the field and 1 goalkeeper however, a team can have as few as 7 players. According to FIFA rules they are allowed three subtitutuions. Under FIFA rules if one player leaves the game for a sub, then he or she can not return to the game.


Equipment

The basic equipment for soccer inclueds a shirt (or Jersey), shorts, shin guards, socks, and athletic foot wear (soccer cleats). A player can not wear anythin that a referee thinks its dangerous to play against the opposing players. Goalkeepers have to use colors to distinguish themselves from the rest of the officials and players.

Officials

The main official in the match is the referee . He or she is in control of the match and keeps the players in order and playing by the rules. the referee is the person in the middle of the field and is helped by two assistants. The assistant referee carrys flags and run up and down the sideline following the players. Assistant referees are the ones who decides wich team gets possession of the ball when the ball goes out of the play.

Duration

A regular match lasts 90 minutes (two 45 minute halves) with a halve time no more than 15 minutes. Soccer also include something called "injury time" this time is added by the game officials and the end of a half or match if the officials determine there has been wasted time in injuries, substitutuion, or players arguing with referees. Also if one of the two teams "have to win" no matter what, then the referee gives them 30 additional minutes (two 15 minutes halves) for one of those teams to score and win but if they are still tie then they go to penalties.

Start of play

Before the game starts, the referee flips a coin and the team that wins the flip, decides wich team will attack in the first half of the game.

Methods of Scoring

The team with the most goals at the end of the 90 minutes or overtime is the winner. In order to score, the ball has to completly cross the goal line. To make a goal, players can head, kick, or deflect the ball to the into the net to get a goal but can never use their hands to make a goal.

Throw in

A throw in happens when a player sends the ball out of bound over the sideline. The ball is given to the opposing team. The player may use his or her hands to throw the ball in from out of bound without lifting their feet off the ground.

Offside

Offside happens when the striker is closer to the opposing teams goal than that teams last defender. To make it easier, Try to picture an imaginary line on Team 1's last defender, try to make a line parellel to the goaline if Team 2's srtiker is over this line when his teammate passes the ball, then he is offsides. If Team 2's striker is on the same line as Team 1's last defender (or underneath the line) the he is in a correct possession.

Goal Kick

The goal kick is made when the ball crosses the goal line on either side of the goal. A player on the defending team kicks the ball from any point from the goal area.


Corner Kick

The corner kick is taken when the ball passes over the end line and its last touched by a defensive player. To begin play the ball is placed inside the corner arc near the nearest corner flag.


Misconduct

Misconduct in the game of soccer is not tolerated in any way, and it is the referee's job to keep the match orderly. Illegal actions may lead to a free kick or diciplinary action against the offending player.
Forms of misconduct: Charging, stricking, jumping, or kicking an opponent
Handling the ball
Tackling an opponent without touching the ball first
Dangerous play (such as grabbing a jersey)
Intentional blocking of an opponent
Not letting an opossing goalkeeper from releasing the ball
A goalkeeper's taking more than four steps while holding, throwing, or catching the ball
A goalkeeper touching the ball with his hands when handling a pass from his teammate


Direct Kick


This kick is taken where the offense accured by a member of the team who did not commit the foul. A player may score directly on this kick.


Indirect Kick

The opposite of a direct kick well it has to be an intirect kick. That must first touch another player before a goal can be scored.


Penalty kicks

This kick is done when a foul occurs in the penalty area. The referee places the ball in the penalty spot (that is 12 yard from the goal line) and only the goal keeper is allowed to defend the penalty kick.


Yellow and Red Cards

Players may be given a YELLOW card by the referee when the player displayes unsportsmanlike behavior or is disagreeable with the referee, Repeatedly breaks the rules, Delays the restart of the game, Does not stand the required distance prior to a free or corner kick, and takes or leaves the field without the referee's permission.

More serious violations result in players receiving a RED card. If a player recieves a red card, He or she is expelled from the game and the team must play shorthanded for the remainder of the match. If a player receives two yellow cards during the match, he or she is expelled. They could recieve a red card by: A dangerous foul, violent behavior, offensive language, spitting on an opponent or any other person, diliberately handling the ball, and by commiting an offense punishable by a penalty kick in an effort to deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity.