MECHANICS AND BASIC RULES IN FOOTBALL
I. A football game starts with a
coin toss. The captain of the
away team calls heads or tails,
and the winning captain gets
to choose whether their team
will take the first kickoff OR
choose which side of the goal they
want to defend first . In the
second half, the kickoff is taken
by the side that did not take it in
the first, and there will be a
change court.
II. Each team consists of 11
soccer players, one of
which is the goalkeeper. A
game is split into two 45-
minute halves, with a
break in between for
halftime. A goal can only be
scored if the entire ball
crosses over the goal line,
between the goal posts, and
under the crossbar. If the ball hits either of the side posts or goes
under the crossbar but doesn’t completely cross the goal line, it is
not a goal.
III. During the kickoff:
1. All players (except the player taking the kickoff) must be in
their half of the field
2. The ball must be stationary on the center spot
3. The kicker taking the kickoff must not touch the ball again
until another player touches it.
4. The opponents of the team taking the kickoff must be at least
9.15 meters (10 yards) away from the ball. (If violated, a
yellow card will be given to the enemy team who violated this rule,
and a retake for kickoff will be rewarded).
5. The ball is considered "in play" when it is kicked and
moves.
IV. Throw-ins
A throw-in is given when:
The whole ball crosses the touchline (sideline), either on
the ground or in the air.
It is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched
the ball.
Correct Technique in Throwing in:
Face the field of play.
Have part of each foot on or
behind the touchline, either on the
line or on the ground outside it.
Use both hands.
Deliver the ball from behind and
over the head in one continuous
motion.
Release the ball from behind and
over the head (no side throws or spin throws).
V. Goal kicks and corner kicks
When the ball goes out of bounds behind the goal line by the
Attacking team, The defending team will be awarded a Goal
Kick. If the ball goes out of bounds on the goal line by the
defending team, the attacking team gets a corner kick.
CORNER KICK GOAL KICK
VI. Direct and indirect kicks:
Players can score on a direct kick
(Major Fouls, Kick off, handball,
corner kick, penalty Kick), which
is a kick that goes directly into
the goal without another player
touching it.
An indirect kick (for minor fouls) is
when another player must touch
the ball before it can go into
the goal and be counted as a
goal.
NOTE: No time limit for possession. There is no time limit on
how long a team can keep the ball and the clock doesn't stop. The
game clock does not stop, even if the ball goes out of bounds or
there is an injury.
VII. Offside rule
The basic idea is that a player cannot be in an advantageous
position when the ball is played to them. Being in an offside
position is not in itself an offense. An offside offense occurs when a
player is in the opponent’s half of the field and closer to
their goal than both the ball and the SECOND-TO-LAST
OPPONENT.
VIII. PENALTIES
Soccer rules regarding fouls and penalties. Penalties are up to the
referee's discretion and can be given for a variety of reasons. The
most common reason is for a player to commit a reckless or violent
act against another player WITHIN THE PENALTY BOX.
1. The penalty spot is 12 yards
from the middle of the goal
line. This is where a player takes
the penalty kick.
2. Penalty taker must kick the ball
in one motion and is not allowed
from doing body feints to fool the
opponent goalkeeper.
3. Goalkeeper must stay within
the goal line until the ball is
kicked.
4. Other players are not allowed to enter the penalty box until the
ball is kicked.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Depending on tournament formats, Penalties
will also be initiated if a football match ends in a draw to
decide the winner of that match. This is common in knockout
rounds of the tournament (Round of 16, Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals
and Championships)
Process:
Each team takes 5 kicks, one at a time, alternating turns.
Only players who were on the field at the end of extra time can
take penalties.
If one team cannot mathematically catch up, the shootout ends
early (e.g., if one team scores 3 and the other has missed 3).
If scores are still tied after 5 kicks each, the shootout goes to
sudden death:
Teams keep taking one kick each
The first team to gain a one-goal advantage after both have
taken the same number of kicks wins.
IX. FOULS
According to the FA, the following actions will result in a
foul and a free kick will be awarded to the opposing team:
Tripping
Pushing
Holding an opponent
Hitting
Kicking
Spitting on an opponent
Tackling from behind
Charging into an opponent
Touching the ball with your hands
(if you aren't the goalkeeper)
Some specific rules apply to the goalkeeper. A goalkeeper
cannot:
Take control of the ball with their hands away from the penalty
spot
Hold the ball for more than 6 seconds
Touch the ball with their hands after a teammate purposefully
kicks it to them
Touch the ball with their hands directly after a throw-in by a
teammate
[Link]
A yellow card is shown to a player as a warning or caution.
Two yellow cards in one game lead to a red card, and the player
must leave the field.
A red card is given to a player who has committed a serious
offense or accumulated two yellow cards. The player must
leave the field and can't be replaced for the rest of the game.
The referee can choose to give a
yellow card to a player for the
following actions:
Excessive fouls
Unsportsmanlike behavior
Dissent by word or action
Delaying the game
Failing to respect the
required distance on a free
kick
Entering or reentering the field
of play without the referee's
permission Leaving the playing
field on purpose without the
referee's approval
Arguing with the referee
The referee also has the
power to give a player a red
card, kicking them out of
the game, for the following
actions:
Serious foul play
Violent conduct
Using offensive, insulting,
or abusive language
Receiving a second
yellow card in one
game