Back to About Soccer

Okay, finally i will get to the boring part of soccer, the rules. But remember the sooner you know the rules the sooner you will get to play the amazing game.

The Field

The minimum length of the field is to 120 meter in 11 versus 11.

The field is divided like this.
There is a half line dividing the field in half.
There are touch lines along the field.
There is a goal line Cutting through each goal.
At the center of the field is a circle for kick-offs.
There are two goalie boxes and two penalty arks which is a small circle coming off the goalie box.
In the corner there are corner flags representing the area in which a corner kick is take.

Players

There are 11 players on both teams including the goalie. Note that when kids are at a younger age there will be a smaller field and less amount of players on the field.

Equipment

A jersey that the league provides or sells to you. You may wear stuff under your jersey.

Shorts for,lets just not get into that. Some leagues allow you to wear sweatpants

Socks which need to be over the shin-guards. Most be the same color as your uniform.

Shin-guards which your put on before the socks. These protect your shin or leg.

Cleats/Turf shoes depending on your league. Give better grip then regular shoes. You must have one of these to play.

Goalkeepers have to wear something such as a shirt to distinguish themselves from both teams.

You may not come to a game without any of these.

Beginning Rules

At the beginning of the game there will be a coin toss. Whoever wins the coin toss gets to decide which way they want or if they want to kick- off.

At the second half the team that didn't kick-off kicks- off.

To kick-off hit the ball above the middle line. No one on the other team can go in the circle. However the kicking-off team can.

Throw-Ins

When the ball is hit out of bounds on the sideline the ball goes to the team that didn't touch it last for a throw- in.

To do a throw-in you must stay behind the line and put the ball over your head then throw it in] you may not score on a throw-in unless someone touches it. Your feet must be touching the ground, and it has to go completely behind your head.

Goal-Kicks/ Corner-Kicks

If the ball is hit out of bounds on your end[ not the sideline if it is off you it is a corner for the other team

When the ball is kicked in from the corner if it is off the other team it is a goal kick where the ball is kicked from a spot in the box.

When someone is taking a goal kick you cannot pass it to someone who is in the box.

Fouls

If someone does a foul [covered in the referee's guide coming soon] you get a free kick. your opponent must stand at least ten feet away. There are indirect and direct free kicks. Indirect is when it has to touch someone before it hits the goal, direct it can go in the goal directly.

When someone is fouled in the box it is a PK. A PK is when it is only the goalie and the player that got fouled about ten feet away.


To score the ball has to cross the line if it is on the line or half across the line it doesn't count. Also if the goalie is in the goal holding the ball, but the ball is above the line it is not a goal.

If a player does a really bad foul then he get s a yellow card. If he gets one more of these he is out of the game and no one else can come in for him.

If someone fouls someone really really bad the get a red card and they are out of
the game.

Subbing

In a professional game you can only sub three times,however these rules vary.

Most of the time you can sub as much as you want.

Offside

Offside is when someone is above the last defender[ not counting the goalie] and someone passes to him. This rule is so that no one hangs. If someone dribbles past the last defender and passes you the ball it is offside. Also if you pass it backwards that person is not offside. You not offside if you are not past the last defender before the ball is kicked.

Hand Ball

If the ball touches you arm or hand and it is on purpose or it affects the play a lot then it is a hand ball. The other team is awarded a free kick.

Other Rules

Well thats the rules that i can think of at the top of my head if you have a question about a rule or see one i do not have comment. I will check the comments daily. You may also email me at thecompletesoccerguide@yahoo.com.

Tour

You will learn more rules as you play. I have covered basic ones here. Remember if you have a question about a rule comment or email me. Next you will learn the basic skills needed to play Soccer in the Basics Guide once you master that you can move on to more advanced stuff.