Soccer Laws of the Game
The game of soccer has 17 basic laws. They are mostly simple. Here's a quick synopsis of each law:
- Field of play: size of field, goals, penalty and goal areas, center circle, corner arc, etc.
- Ball: stipulates the size and construction of the ball.
- Players: notes how many players and substitution procedures.
- Players' Equipment: players are required to have jerseys (all of the same color), shorts, socks, shin guards, and footwear. Local leagues determince specifications of each.
- Referee: outlines duties, powers, and procedures.
- Assistant Referees: outlines duties, powers, and procedures.
- Duration of Match : stipulates length of match, length of half-time, and allowances for time lost (substitutions, injuries, wasting time and other).
- Start and Restart of Play: describes how play should be started and restarted (kick-offs and dropped ball). The team winning the coin toss choses which goal to attack, the other team gets the ball to start the game.
- Ball In and Out of Play: stipulates when the ball is out of play. If the entire ball goes beyond a touchline (sideline) or goal line.
- Method of Scoring: a goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar. The team with the most goals wins.
- Offside: the hardest rule for many. The key points: it's not an offense to be in an offside position in itself. It's only an offense if the player is involved in active player by interfering with play (e.g. touching the ball), interfering with an opponent (getting in their way), or gaining an advantage by being offside. A player is offside if they are in the attacking half of the field and closer to the goal line than two opponents and closer to the goal line than the ball. The offside judgement is retaken every time a teammate touches the ball. Last, there is no offside if a player receives a ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in.
- Fouls and Misconduct: explains what results in a direct free kick, penalty kick, indirect free kick, cautionable offenses (yellow card) and send off offenses (red card). More info on free kicks is listed below.
- Free kicks: list procedures for taking free kicks.
- Penalty Kicks: list procedures for taking free kicks.
- Throw-In: lists procedures for throw-ins.
- Goal Kicks : lists procedures for goal kicks.
- Corner Kicks : lists procedures for corner kicks.
Notes on direct and indirect free kicks:
- The team taking the free kick may take the kick at any time unless:
- They request the other teams players move back to 10 yds from the ball.
- The ref has stopped play for injury or to caution (yellow card) or send off (red card) a player.
- In either of these cases, they must wait for the referee to signal that play has resumed.
- You can tell if a kick or indirect by the position of the referee’s arm. If it’s in the air while the kick is being made, the kick is indirect.
- Besides that, there are 10 fouls that result in direct kicks
- Pushing
- Striking (with arm or hand)
- Kicking
- Tripping
- Tackling
- Jumping (into the opponent)
- Charging (running into the opponent)
- The above calls require careless, reckless or excessive force to be called
- Holding
- Spitting
- Handles ball deliberately (aka handball) – includes keeper handling outside the penalty area
Note: all fouls except handling must be against an opponent for a direct kick (eg. A player punches a teammate. Play is stopped, a red card is given, the player is sent off, but the other team takes an indirect kick since it was not an opposing player).
- Indirect kicks are the result of a smaller set of fouls (many involving the goal keeper)
- Goalie holding the ball for more than 6 seconds
- Goalie handling (picking up) a ball after a teammate passes with their feet (below the knee)
- Goalie handles (picking up) the ball from a teammates throw in
- Goalie releases the ball to play it with his feet and then picks it back up
- Opposing team prevents goalie from releasing the ball (punting, throwing, etc.)
- Dangerous play (high kick, playing ball on the ground, etc.)
- Impeding the progress of an opponent
- If play is stopped to caution or send off a player and foul does not create a direct kick (ie. Dissent, offenses against a teammate, substitution error)
- Offsides
- Second touch on any restart (kick off, goal kick, corner kick, throw-in, penalty kick) except dropped ball
