A soccer field ("pitch") must be rectangular, with the longer boundaries forming the sides ("touch lines") and the shorter boundaries forming the ends ("goal lines"), with an anchored goal centered on the goal line at each end. These boundary lines should be marked by lines on the ground and a flag in each of the four corners of the field called flagposts.

Field Dimension:

The length of the touch line must be greater than the length of the goal line.

Length: minimum 90 m (100 yds) maximum 120 m (130 yds).

Width: minimum 45 m (50 yds) maximum 90 m (100 yds)

 

International Matches:

Length: minimum 100 m (110 yds) maximum 110 m (120 yds).

Width: minimum 64 m (70 yds) maximum 75 m (80 yds)

 

Field Markings:

• Touch Line –  two longer boundary lines
• Goal Line - two shorter lines
• Halfway line- lines parallel to and midway between the goal lines dividing the field into two even halves
• Center Mark  – is the midpoint of the half way line drawn with a circle of  radius of 9.15 m(10 yards)
• The Goal Area.   The goal area is bounded by two lines drawn at right angles to the goal line, 5.5 m (6 yds) from the inside of each goal post.
• The Penalty Area. A penalty area is bounded by  lines that are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 16.5 m (18 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. 

Within each penalty area, a penalty mark is made 11 m (12 yds) from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15 m from each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.

Flagposts. A non-ponted flagpost that is not be less than 1.5 m (5 ft) high, and a flag is placed at each corner.

The Corner Arc. A quarter circle with a radius of 1 m (1yd) from each corner flagpost is drawn inside the field of play.   

Goals. Goals must be  placed at the center of each goal line. It must be anchored securely to the ground. Goals consist of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flagposts and joined at the top by a horizontal crosbar. Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and depth which do not exceed 12 cm (5ins).

We play small sided soccer (6v6, 7v7, 8v8) with very young players (6-12 years old); what size should our field be?

There is no one answer to this question. Each club, league, team or organization will define the dimensions of the field and the goals, which may vary from field to field even within a given organization.

The field may be smaller, but it must still be rectangular. The size of the goal area and penalty area should be reduced in proportion to the reduction in field size. It is suggested, however, that the center circle and the penalty arc retain their normal diameter of 10 yards. This is in accordance with the rules for free kicks, which stipulate that opponents are to be 10 yards away from the ball when a team is taking a free kick. This includes kick-offs (hence the center circle) and penalty kicks (hence the penalty arc).

The ball must be spherical; made of leather or other suitable material; circumference 27 to 28 inches; weigh 16 oz to 14 oz at the start of the match;  be inflated to between 8.5 and 15.6 lbs per square inch. If the ball become defective during the play, a new one must first be approved by the referee and the match is restarted by a drop ball if it was in play, or by whatever restart would be appropriate if it was out of play.

 

Qualities and Measurements

• Characteristics : spherical  and made of leather or other suitable material
• Circumference : must not be more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 6 8 cm (27 ins)
• Weight : not more than 450 g (16 oz) in weight and not less than 410 g (14 oz) at the start of the match
• Pressure : equal to 0.6 - 1.1 atmosphere (600 - 1100 g/cm2) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in 15.6 lbs/sq in)

Replacement of a Defective Ball

If the ball bursts or becomes defective during the course of a match, the match is either stopped or is restarted by dropping the replacement ball at the place where the first ball became defective

If the ball bursts or becomes defective whilst not in play at a kick-off, goal kick, corner kick, free kick, penalty kick or throw-in: the match is restarted accordingly

The ball may not be changed during the match without the approval of the referee.

We don't have any FIFA approved balls; is it OK to use the  ones we have?

As long as your match is not a "FIFA Competition", you can use any ball which meets the specifications laid out in Law 2 . In the interests of fairness and safety, you should definitely avoid using balls which are noticeably out of round, have missing or defective panels, are too large for your players or are over- or under-inflated, but other than that, you should feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

The main provisions of law 3 are as follows: (a) teams consist of 11 players plus a certain number of substitutes who are named in advance; (b) each team must designate one player as goalkeeper; (c) substitutions may be made only during a stoppage in play and with the permission from the referee.

Players. A match is played by two teams consisting of not more than eleven players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper.

Substitutes. In an officially-FIFA organized competition, maximum of three substitutes is allowed while in national A team matches, up to a maximum of six substitues may be used. In other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be allowed provided that the teams concerned agreed and the referee is informed before the match.

Substitution Procedure

To replace a player by a substitute, the following conditions must be observed:

• Referee must be informed before substitution
• A substitute only enters the field of play after the player being replaced has left and after receiving a signal from the referee. He can only  enter at the field of play at the halfway line and when the match is stopped
• A substitution is completed when a substitute enters the field of play and the player he has replaced ceases to be a player
• A player who has been replaced is no longer allowed to take part in the match
• All substitutes are subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referee, whether called upon to play or not

Changing the Goalkeeper

Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that: the referee is informed before the change is made and the change is made during a stoppage in the match

Infringements/Sanctions

If a substitute enters the field of play without the referee's permission: the play is stopped , the substitute is cautioned and the play is restarted with an indirect free kick at  the place the of the dropped ball when play was stopped

If a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee's permission before the change is made: the play continues and the players concerned are cautioned and shown the yellow card when the ball is next out of play

 I just counted my players and realized we have one too few on the field. Play has already started -- what should I do?

Tell the player you want to send on to go and wait at the halfway line. Get the attention of the assistant referee on your side of the field, and tell him or her that you want to send on a player to bring your numbers up to full strength. The assistant referee may want to count your players to make sure that you are not sending on one too many, but should then treat your player like a normal substitution, except that s/he will not have to wait for a player to come off before entering the field of play. This is also the procedure to use when an injured player has left the field for treatment and wishes to re-enter the match, although in some cases it may be easier to attract the referee's attention directly (for example, if the player has been taken off near a corner of the field at the end where the assistant referee is on the other side).

Law 4, equipment, is basically divided into two sections: items a player may not use or wear, and equipment which a player must wear. The primary consideration of this law is safety. The Law says a player may not wear anything which may be harmful to himself or another player (and specifically bans all kinds of jewelry). It also specifies that a player must wear a jersey or shirt, shorts, stockings, shinguards and footwear (i.e., shoes). Goalkeepers must wear colors that distinguish them from other players and the officials.

Safety

A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).

 

Basic Equipment

The basic compulsory equipment of a player includes:a jersey or shirt,  shorts,  stockings, shinguards and footwear

Shinguardsare covered entirely by the stockings,  are made of a suitable material and provide a reasonable degree of protection

Goalkeepers  wears colours which distinguish him from the other players, the referee and the assistant referees

Infringements/Sanctions

For any infringement of this Law:

• play need not be stopped
• the player at fault is instructed by the referee to leave the field of play, when the ball next ceases to be in play, to correct his equipment
• any player required to leave the field of play to correct his equipment does not re-enter without the referee's permission and is only allowed to reenter when the ball is out of play
• the referee checks that the player's equipment is correct before allowing him to re-enter the field of play
• A player who has been required to leave the field of play because of an infringement of this Law and who enters (or re-enters) the field of play without the referee's permission is cautioned and shown the yellow card.

Restart of Play.If play is stopped by the referee to administer a caution: the match is restarted by an indirect free kick taken by a player of the opposing side, from the place where the ball was located when the referee stopped the match

The field we are playing on is very hard (or soft), what shoes should the players wear?

Athletic footwear has progressed tremendously in recent times. Soccer shoes, or boots come in a variety of styles that can be used on numerous surfaces: flats, turf shoes, molded cleats or screw-ins. Each shoe permits advantages for various field types. Molded cleats are by far the most popular with younger players. These cleats are sufficient for virtually any ground type.

As players become older they may want to invest in other boot types. On a very hard field, players may opt to wear flats or turf shoes, which will save "wear-and-tear" on the feet and legs. On a very wet field players may opt to wear screw-ins (often called "6-stud cleats"), in which the size of the cleat can be changed.

 

 I heard that the Laws do not actually require players' uniforms to be numbered -- is that right?

Yes. Believe it or not, the FIFA LOTG do not require numbers on jerseys. However, it is unlikely you will ever encounter a referee who will permit play to begin without each player being numbered, or at the very least, some way to identify each individual player. Why? Because if someone misbehaves, the referee must have a way to identify and report this person to the disciplinarians. Presumably, FIFA considers that asking the player for his name is sufficient. In any event, rules about numbering are local rules, and they may differ from league to league and area to area.

The referee has full authority to make all decisions regarding all 17 Laws. On matters of fact, such as whether a goal was scored or a foul was committed, the referee's decisions are final and not subject to appeal. The referee's authority extends to the coaches and other spectators, if needed. The referee also ensures the safety of players, facilitate the smooh flow of game by not calling any trivial foul.

The Authority of the Referee

The referee has the full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game

Powers and Duties of The Referee:

• enforces the Laws of the Game
• controls the match in cooperation with the assistant referees and other officials
• ensures that the ball meets the requirements of Law 2
• ensures that the players' equipment meets the requirements of Law 4
• acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match
• stops, suspends or terminates the match, at his discretion, for any infringements of the Laws or due to any outside interference of any kind
• stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play
• allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in his opinion, only slightly injured
• ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the referee.
• allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time
• punishes the more serious offence when a player commits more than one offence at the same time
• takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences. He is not obliged to take this action immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play
• takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may at his discretion, expel them from the field of play
• acts on the advice of assistant referees regarding incidents which he has not seen
• ensures that no unauthorised persons enter the field of play
• restarts the match after it has been stopped
• provides the appropriate authorities with a match report which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players, and/or team officials and any other incidents which occurred before, during or after the match

Decisions of the Referee

The decisions of the referee are final. The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect and provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.

Why doesn't the referee explain his calls? An American football referee has an extensive repertoire of signals.

Soccer referees use the whistle to stop play, and then an arm signal to indicate how play will restart -- not to explain why it was stopped. For instance, after a goal is scored the referee points to the center circle, because the next play will be a kick-off. If there's a foul, the players involved usually know what happened, and just want to know that a free kick has been awarded. Most referees will explain what the call was if asked, however they are not obliged to. But remember that the referee has a limited vocabulary to explain fouls -- there are only about a dozen fouls mentioned in Law 12, a very small set of terms to describe the multitude of unfair things that can happen on the field. If you ask the referee after the game, he may give you a fuller description of what he saw and how he made the judgment.

Assistant Referees (ARs), or linesmen, help the referee by drawing to his attention matters he has not seen or observed. The referee may grant them more or less authority, depending on their qualifications and degree of neutrality. Final authority remains with the center referee.

Duties

Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate:

• when the whole of the ball has passed out of the field of play
• which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in
• when a player may be penalised for being in an offside position
• when a substitution is requested
• when misconduct or any other incident has occurred out of the view of the referee
• when offences have been committed whenever the assistants are closer to the action than the referee such as in the penalty area
• whether, at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper has moved forward before the ball has been kicked and if the ball has crossed the line

Assistance

The assistant referees also assist the referee to control the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game. In particular, they may enter the field of play to help control the 9.15m distance.

In the event of undue interference or improper conduct, the referee relieves the assistant referee of his duties and report the same to proper authorities.

Some fouls are occurring right in front of the AR, and he isn't calling them.

The ARs may have been instructed by the referee not to call any fouls. This isn't good practice, but it happens -- remember, the ARs' duties are "subject to the decision of the referee." It may also be that the AR is quite properly concentrating on who is in offside position, which can require one's full attention at times, and he just doesn't see the fouls.

The Law cites about the duration of match (two equal periods of 45 minutes), the half-time interval ( up to 15 minutes), the allowance for time lost as decided by the referee and the time provisions for penalty kick and abandoned match.

Periods of Play

The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams. Any agreement to alter the periods of play must be made before the start of play and must comply with competition rules.

Half-Time Interval

Players are entitled to an interval at half-time which must not exceed 15 minutes. The duration of the half-time interval may be altered only with the consent of the referee.

Allowance for Time Lost

Allowance is made in either period as decided by the referee for all time lost through:

• substitution(s)
• assessment of injury to players
• removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment
• wasting time
• any other cause

Penalty Kick. If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.

Extra Time . Competition rules may provide for two further equal periods to be played. The conditions of Law 8 regarding start nd restart of play will apply.

Abandoned Match An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide otherwise.

I have been to some college and high-school soccer games where they kept time on an official scoreboard clock, and stopped it for time-outs or when players were injured, and the game ended right on the 90th minute with the scoreboard horn, not the referee's whistle. Doesn't this contradict what you've told me about soccer timekeeping?

The rules described herein are based on FIFA rules, which are used in most international, amateur, and youth soccer competitions, other than NCAA , various high school associations, and a few anomalous local amateur soccer leagues. The rules of these other bodies track FIFA rules in a majority of respects, but may differ on details like timekeeping. There is nothing anomalous to FIFA rules by using a scoreboard clock rather than a handheld stopwatch, so long as the clock runs continuously and it is the referee who decides how much discretionary time to add and when it is the appropriate time to end the game. It's possible that there may be a long-term trend favoring eventual rules changes toward using officially stoppable public scoreboard clock but, even if so, the economics of youth and amateur soccer in most places may help provide strong inertia for existing, traditional timekeeping rules for quite awhile.

Law 8 is concerned with filling in any details about how to start or restart the game after a stoppage has been made in play and is not defined elsewhere in the rules.

Preliminaries

A coin is tossed and the team which wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match. The team which wins the toss takes the kick-off to start the second half of the match.

The other team takes the kick-off to start the match.

In the second half of the match the teams change ends and attack the opposite goals.

Kick-off. A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play:

• at the start of the match
• after a goal has been scored
• at the start of the second half of the match
• at the start of each period of extra time, where applicable

A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off.

Procedure

• all players are in their own half of the field
• the opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play
• the ball is stationary on the centre mark
• the referee gives a signal
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward
• the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player

After a team scores a goal, the kick-off is taken by the other team.

Infringements/Sanctions

If the kicker touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred

 

For any other infringement of the kick-off procedure: the kick-off is retaken

Dropped Ball

A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage has been made,  while the ball is in play or for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game.

Procedure

The referee drops the ball at the place when play was stopped. The play restarts when the ball touches the ground.

Infringements/Sanctions

The ball is dropped again:

• if it is touched by a player before touches the ground
• if the ball leaves the field of play after it makes contact with the ground, without a player touching it

Special Circumstances

·         A free kick awarded to the defending team inside any point within its own goal area

·         An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponents' goal area is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.

·         A dropped ball to restart the match after play has been temporarily stopped inside the goal area takes place on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped.

A ball went out over the touch line, and both the referee and the linesman were unfortunately blocked off from view of the critical play, and couldn't see who the ball last touched before it went out. Therefore, the referee decided to restart with a drop ball as the fairest way to restart the game, rather than arbitrarily award the throw-in. Was this a correct procedure?

Emphatically, NO! If a situation is of a type for which the rules specifically provide a restart other than a drop ball, the referee is not authorized to instead call for a drop ball restart merely because s/he has factual uncertainty or incomplete evidence on which to base a decision. The situation of a ball going out off a player over the touch line is comprehensively covered by Law 15 which specifies that a throw-in is the proper restart for such situations without making any exceptions. The proper response would be to make their best guess based on whatever they do know, perhaps using some rule-of-thumb (awarding doubtful cases to the team who is at their defensive end of the field is one commonly used R.O.T.). Understand, however, that this situation is very different from when the referee refrains from calling that the ball went momentarily out over the touch line while the referee and the linesman temporarily had their view blocked, or from refraining from calling offenses they did not actually see. The proper analogy is between the ball having definitely gone out and the referee having definitely stopped the game to call an offense, and not to a decision whether either these things occurred. Thus, the referee has no choice but to designate the proper restart, and if it's not a drop ball, then also who to award the ball to.

The ball is in play when one of the prescribed means of (re)starting play has been properly executed. these include the kick-off, throw-in, goal kick, corner kick, free kick, penalty kick and drop ball. The ball is out of play "when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch-line or when the game has been stopped by the referee."

Ball Out of Play

The ball is out of play when: it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air or play has been stopped by the referee

 

Ball In Play

The ball is in play at all other times, including when: it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar or corner flagpost and remains in the field of play or it rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when they are on the field of play

 Can a player step out of bounds and still legally play a ball on the touch line or goal line, without first coming back in bounds?

Yes. Only the position of the ball is relevant. A player may leave the field and re-enter it as long as this occurs during the normal course of play. The referee watches the position of the ball, not the player's feet.

Is a ball touching the line in or out? What if it no longer touches the line, but the edge of the ball is still vertically over the line even though the rest of it is out?

In both these cases, the ball is still in. In order to be out, the ball must completely leave the field; if part of the ball is vertically over the line, then the entire ball has not left the 3-dimensional field.

 

The Law discusses about the three things have to happen for a goal to be awarded: (1) The whole ball has to cross over the goal line. (2) The ball has to pass through the goal. (3) No foul by the attacking team occurred before the ball went over the goal line and through the goal.The winning team is simply the team that scores more goals.

 

Goal Scored A goal is scored when the whole ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar provided no infringement of the Law has been committed.

Winning Team The team scoring the greater number of goals during a match is the winner. If both teams score an equal number of goals, or if no goals are scored, the match is drawn.

Competition Rules

For matches ending in a draw, competition rules may state provisions involving extra time, or other procedures approved by the International F.A. Board to determine the winner of a match.

Why does the whole ball have to go over the goal line?

            Law 1, The Field of Play, dictates that the lines are part of the field of play. Therefore, the ball is not out of play until it crosses the line entirely. The same is true for the goal line, in the case of scoring a goal.

What if the goal keeper is holding the ball and he/she crosses over the goal line? In most sports this is considered out of bounds, or in this case a goal.

Unless the ball crosses the line, no goal is scored. The goal keeper can stand anywhere inside the goal mouth, as long as the ball is not over the goal line. Knowing this, please keep in mind that many youth games use a single referee who is often not in position to make the determination that the keeper's feet were in the goal, while the ball was still on the goal line. The referee makes the call, from his/her point-of-view, meaning you're likely not going to get too far trying to argue this call.

 

The offside rule generally provides that a pass cannot legally be made to an off-ball attacker who is ahead of the ball and in the attacking half unless there are at least two defenders (one of whom may be the goalkeeper) between him and the goal when the ball is passed to him by a teammate.

 

Offside Position

Being in an offside position is not an offence.

 

A player is in an offside position if: he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent

 

A player is not in an offside position if : (a)he is in his own half of the field of play (b) he is level with the second last opponent (c) he is level with the last two opponents

Offence

A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by: (a)interfering with play (b)interfering with an opponent (c)gaining an advantage by being in that position

No Offence

There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from: a goal kick or a throw-in or a corner kick

Infringements/Sanctions

For any offside offence, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

 

Can the offside rule be used as a tactical weapon?

Absolutely. By taking advantage of Law 11, defenders can pull the off-ball attackers up and away from their own goal, since the attackers have to stay even with the defenders to avoid being called for an offside offense. However, by pushing up, the defenders run the risk that a speedy attacker will be able to outrun them if a ball is played into the spaces behind the defenders for the off-ball attacker to run onto. Coaches constantly strive to strike a balance between pushing up too far, and not pushing up far enough, and the offside rule is an important part of their decision-making process.

The initial section of Law 12, "direct free kick", lists a set of six offences which, if committed against an opponent in a manner that the referee judges to be "careless, reckless or with excessive force", result in a DFK to the non-offending team. The offences are kicking or attempting to kick, tripping or attempting to trip, jumping at, charging, striking or attempting to strike, and pushing.

The second section of Law 12 provides for the award of a direct free kick to the non-offending team for the commission of the following four offenses:holding an opponent; spitting at an opponent; handling the ball deliberately (other than by goalkeepers in their own penalty area); and tackling an opponent to gain possession of the ball.

Law 12 further provides that, if a player commits any of these six offenses inside his own penalty area (PA), the opposing team will be awarded a penalty kick (PK).

The law also discusses provisions about awarding an indirect free kick to the opposing team if the goalkeeper inside his own  penalty area commits any of the four offences cited in the Law and the provisions of awarding the opposing team with IFK if a player in the opinion of the referee plays in a dangerous manner and impedes the progress of the opponent.

 

Fouls and misconduct are penalised as follows:

Direct Free KickA direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• jumps at an opponent
• charges an opponent
• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• pushes an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offences:

• tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball
• holds an opponent
• spits at an opponent
• handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

A direct free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.

Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above ten offences is committed by a player inside his own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball and while it is in play.

Indirect Free Kick

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following offences:

• takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands
• touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player
• touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate
• touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee, commits any of the following three offences:

• plays in a dangerous manner
• impedes the progress of an opponent
• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
• commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12 when the play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player

The indirect free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.

Disciplinary Sanctions

Only a player or substitute or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card.

Cautionable Offences

A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

• is guilty of unsporting behaviour
• shows dissent by word or action
• persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
• delays the restart of play
• fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick
• enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission
• deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission

A substitute player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following three offences:

• is guilty of unsupporting behaviour
• shows dissent by word or action
• delays the restart of play

Sending-Off Offences

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

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 offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
6. uses offensive, insulting or abusive language
7. receives a second caution in the same match

A player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area.

If a foul, of the type for which a direct free kick is awarded, occurs right on the penalty area line but not inside it, is the result a direct free kick or a penalty kick?

Remember that "on it is inside it" (or "the lines are part of the area they define") so a PK will be awarded.

Is it legal to set an attacker in front of the goalkeeper to block him on corner kicks or other set plays?

It is illegal to impede the progress of the goalkeeper toward the ball. If the attacker blocks the keeper from the ball, without trying to play the ball himself, then this is a foul. However, there is nothing wrong with an attacker standing near the keeper, if when the ball is kicked, the attacker moves to play the ball, not the keeper.

The most important thing to know when there is a free kick is if the ball can be kicked directly – for example, without being touched by another player-into the defending goal. If it can't, this is called an indirectfree kick (IFK) and the referee is required to put one arm straight up in the air and hold it there until the ball touches a player other than the kicker or goes out of play. This is the only hand signal the referee makes.  All players should be coached to recognize and understand this signal. If the arm is not up, then it is a direct free kick (DFK) and the initial kicker can score a goal.

Types of Free Kicks

Free kicks are either direct or indirect.

For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationarywhen the kick is taken and the kicker is not allowed to touch the ball a second time.  

The Direct Free Kick

• if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents' goal, a goal is awarded
• if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

The Indirect Free Kick

Signal

The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm above his head.

Ball Enters the Goal

A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal.

• if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded
• if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

Position of Free Kick

Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area

Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:

• all opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball
• all opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
• the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area
• a free kick awarded in the goal area is taken from any point inside that area

Indirect free kick to the attacking team:

• all opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
• an indirect free kick awarded inside the goal area is taken from that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred

Free Kick Outside the Penalty Area

• all opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
• the free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred

Infringements/Sanctions

If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance: the kick is retaken

 

If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, the ball is not kicked directly into play: the kick is retaken

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team or a penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the kicker's penalty area

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time (except with his hands), before it has touched another player:  an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred outside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred
• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred  

 

A player on the kicking team touches the ball as she runs by. Can my wall players close on the ball?

Yes, assuming the referee felt the first touch was a deliberate effort to put the ball into play, allowing the other team to move within the 10-yard limitation. Touching the ball by stepping on it should have caused some ball movement.

In setting up a free kick, a player moved the ball with his foot to position the ball on a tuft of grass. The defending team ran in and kicked the ball away and the referee allowed play to continue. Why didn't he stop play?

Apparently, the referee felt the attacking player was trying to fake out the defending team by pretending to reset the ball. The attacking player should consider positioning the ball with his hands.

A penalty kick is simply a direct free kick taken from the penalty mark, with a few important additional rules. There is nothing especially complicated about the procedure for taking a penalty kick, but because it is a  penalty, whether successfully converted or not, it can have a decisive effect on the outcome of a match.

 

A penalty kick is awarded against a team which commits one of the ten offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play.

A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.

Position of the Ball and the Players

The ball is placed on the penalty mark

The player taking the penalty kick: is properly identified

 

The defending goalkeeper is on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked

 

The players other than the kicker are located must be inside the field of play, outside the penalty area, must be either behind the penalty mark or at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the penalty mark

The Referee

• does not signal for a penalty kick to be taken until the players have taken up position in accordance with the Law
• decides when a penalty kick has been completed

Procedure

• the player who takes the penalty kicks the ball forward
• he does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward

When a penalty kick is taken during the normal course of play, or time has been extended at half-time or full time to allow a penalty kick to be taken or retaken, a goal is awarded if, before passing between the goalposts and under the crossbar:

• the ball touches either or both of the goalposts and/or the crossbar, and/or the goalkeeper

Infringements/Sanctions

If the referee gives the signal for a penalty kick to be taken and, before the ball is in play, one of the following situations occurs:

The player or the teammate of the player taking the penalty kick infringes the Laws of the Game:

• the referee allows the kick to proceed and if  the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken , otherwise, the kick is not retaken

The goalkeeper infringes the Laws of the Game:

• the referee allows the kick to proceed and if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded, otherwise,  the kick is retaken

 

A player of both the defending team and the attacking team infringe the Laws of the Game: the kick is retaken

 

If, after the penalty kick has been taken: The kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player:

• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred

The kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred  

The ball is touched by an outside agent as it moves forward: the kick is retaken

 

The ball rebounds into the field of play from the goalkeeper, the crossbar or the goalposts, and is then touched by an outside agent:

• the referee stops play and the play is restarted with a dropped ball at the place where it touched the outside agent

Who should take the penalty?

A player who wants to take it and who is likely to be successful. No player should be forced to take a penalty if s/he does not want to. Nervousness is a primary cause of poor penalties, and you should avoid making your players look bad if at all possible. Players who are good under pressure, good at 'self-paced' activities, and have an accurate shot make the best penalty takers. A good time to experiment is after a friendly match with another team. That's a good time to hold a penalty contest and let everyone on both teams shoot. Many coaches designate a player to take penalties during a match, so that the captain will know who is to take the penalty if one is given. This avoids the potential for arguments on the pitch.

A throw-in is a method of restarting play used when the ball passes entirely over the touch line. When properly executed, the ball is thrown from the point where it crossed the touch line, by any player of the team that did not touch it last.

 

 

A throw-in is a method of restarting play.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

A throw-in is awarded:

• when the ball passes over the touch line
• from the point where it crossed the touch line
• to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball

Procedure

At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:

• faces the field of play and each foot can either be on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line
• using both hands he delivers the ball from behind and over his head

The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

Infringements/Sanctions

Throw-in taken by a player other than the goalkeeper

If, after the ball is in play, the thrower touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team

 

 

If, after the ball is in play, the thrower deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team
• a penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the thrower's penalty area

Throw-in taken by the goalkeeper

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time (except with his hands), before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team

 

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred outside the goalkeeper's penalty area
• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred

If an opponent unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower: he is cautioned for unsporting behaviour and shown the yellow card

 

For any other infringement of this Law: the throw-in is taken by a player of the opposing team

 

A player attempts to direct a throw-in "down the line". How does the referee judge when it's in play?

Assuming that there is no foul play, delay of game, etc. involved in the throw:

• If the ball doesn't reach or cross the touchline in the air from the throw, the throw is retaken by the same team from the same spot no matter who plays it, how they play it, or where they play it.
• If the ball does reach the touchline in the air, it's then in play no matter what happens to it after that and no matter where it lands.
• If the ball hits first directly ON the line, then it is also in play as soon as it hits.

Once the ball is in play, the normal guidelines for determining who should take any subsequent throw-ins apply

A goal kick is the way the play is restarted when the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line and a goal is not scored according to Law 10. The kick is taken by the defending team at any point within their own goal area.

 

 

A goal kick is a method of restarting play.

A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team.

A goal kick is awarded when:

• the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10

Procedure

• the ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team
• opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
• the kicker does not play the ball the second time until it has touched another player
• the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area

Infringements/Sanctions

If the ball is not kicked directly into play beyond the penalty area: the kick is retaken

 

Goal kick taken by a player other than the goalkeeper

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team

 

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team
• a penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the kicker's penalty area

 

 

 

 

Goal kick taken by the goalkeeper

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred outside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred 

• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred 

For any other infringement of this Law: the kick is retaken

What if a player on the defending or attacking team rushes in to play the ball after the kick, but before it clears the penalty area?

Good questions. First of all, let's look at the defender. Defenders can be anywhere on the field at the time of the kick so they can certainly rush into the penalty area to play the ball if they want—as long as they don't actually touch it until it leaves the area. If they DO touch it, the kick is retaken. Looking at the attackers, they are in violation of the law as soon as they enter the area, which earns an immediate retake whether they touch the ball or not. Note that if either the attackers or defenders continually play the ball in the area, or if the attackers continually enter the area, the referee might apply sanctions for wasting time, misconduct, or impeding the restart of play.

A corner kick is essentially a direct free kick taken by the attacking team from the corner of the field in the attacking end.

 

 

A corner kick is a method of restarting play.

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.

A corner kick is awarded when:

• the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10

Procedure

• the ball is placed inside the corner arc at the nearest corner flagpost
• the corner flagpost is not moved
• opponents remain at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play
• the ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
• the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player

Infringements/Sanctions

Corner kick taken by a player other than the goalkeeper

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands), before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred  
• a penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the kicker's penalty area

Corner kick taken by the goalkeeper

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred outside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred

• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred  

We played a short corner kick, and then passed the ball right back to the original kicker, but the linesman called offside. I thought you couldn't be offside on a corner kick.

The first recipient of a corner kick can't be called for offside. However, at the moment the second attacker touches it, the corner kick is over, "normal play" resumes, and offside position is judged again. Because the CK kicker will be very near the goal line, offside is common in this situation if the defense pulls out just a short distance.

References:

Laws of the Games 2006

http://footballteams.org.uk/fifa_rules.pdf

SOCCER-COACH-L List of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~dgraham/s-c-l.html

The Official Soccer Site for Officials, Referees, Players, and Fans

http://www.drblank.com/slaws.htm