Soccer Rules - Learn to play the game properly

A typical game of soccer comprises of 11 players a team. Here are the soccer rules that you must keep in mind when playing a game.

The Rules

1) The rules so a game of soccer are really quite simple. A game is soccer is played with 2 teams. The aim of the game is to score goals in the opposite opponents goal. The team that scores the most goals after a set amount of time wins the game.

2) Before the start of a game, the teams can flip coins to decide which team plays at which side and also which team will kick-off first.

3) A traditional soccer game usually lasts for 90 minutes altogether. Teams usually switch goal sides after about 45 minutes. This is known as half-time. This soccer rule is not as important as smaller games will probably be shorter.

If neither team is the winner when it is full-time, a draw can be called or the game can be played for another 30 minutes. If there is no winner after the extra time is played then a penalty shoot-out will be played to decide a winner.

4) You cannot use your hands or any part of the arm to make contact with the ball. Only the goal keeper has that privilege. If this does happen, a free kick where the "hand ball" was committed is awarded to the opposite team.

Soccer is best played on either grass or astro turf (artifical ground).

5) When making a tackle for the ball, players must genuinely make contact with the ball. This is where it can get messy and fouls can be committed if tackles are not timed right. A foul is committed when the player makes contact with the opponents legs without touching the ball first. Slight contact with the opponents legs may not be deemed as a foul if it is not enough to make the player fall over.

If a foul is committed, a free kick is awarded to the opposite team. If the foul was inside the penalty box, then a penalty kick is awarded, otherwise, its a free kick.

6) Goal keepers may only handle the ball when inside the area marked on the pitch.

7) The keeper is prohibited to handle the ball when a team-mate intentionally uses their feet too pass the ball or from intentionally handling the ball from a direct throw-in. The goal keeper may still use their feet or other body part to re-direct the ball.

However, if the player uses any other body part besides the feet to pass the ball back too the keeper, (e.g. head) the keeper may handle the ball without committing a back-pass.

If a back-pass is committed, am in-direct free kick is given to the opposite team. The kick is to be taken from a point on the forward edge of the goal area closest to where the back-pass was committed.

For more information about Throw-ins, free kicks and corner kicks Click here

There are so many soccer rules that its hard to remember them all. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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Soccer Rules - Learn to play the game properly