What I
have tried to do below is explain the main rules of soccer that you
need to know as a parent.
If you
want the official version, feel free to surf on over to the FIFA
website.
Here is the official FIFA Laws of the Game 2006 . Be patient.
This is a large file [826 kb]. The soccer rules are in pdf format
and easy to print out, although it gets a little bulky. I did it
myself last year before getting certified as a referee for the first
time.
FIFA has
also made an online version available very recently. Here are the
Laws of the Game 2006 in html format.
Last, but
certainly not least is a new interactive Flash
guide to Offside Law 11 courtesy of FIFA.
Also,
please bear in mind that the US Youth Soccer Association (USYSA)
issues their own “official” modified FIFA soccer rules for players
under the age of 12. These modified rules are essentially guidelines
for the appropriate number of players, field size, and ball size for
different age levels. Here are links to them.
Local and state soccer organizations are strongly encouraged to
adopt the soccer rules from the USYSA but as far as I know they are
not mandated. Each local youth organization can ultimately do
whatever they feel is best for the kids in their area.
OK. On
with the show.
Here’s the
short and simple soccer rules you need to know as a parent.
1. No Hands, please
I bet you
knew that one. Most people who know nothing about soccer still know
that you aren’t supposed to use your hands unless you’re the goalie.
A couple
of points to clarify.
First, the
rule for a hand ball includes using any part of the body from the
tips of the fingers to the shoulder.
Second,
the proper way to look at this soccer rule is that a player cannot
“handle” the ball. A ball that is kicked and hits a player’s hand or
arm is not a hand ball. This means that the referee must use his or
her own judgment to some extent in determining whether or not a hand
ball is accidental contact or a purposeful attempt to gain an
advantage.
Believe it
or not, there is also a situation in which the goalie cannot use
his/her hands. This is sometimes called the back-pass rule.
Goalkeepers cannot pick up a pass that came directly from one of
their teammates. In this case, the goalkeeper must use his feet.
Infraction of this soccer rule will result in an indirect kick from
the point of the infraction.
2. Throw-ins
A throw-in
is taken when the ball crosses a sideline and leaves the field. The
two basic soccer rules for a proper throw-in are to have both feet
on the ground and to throw the ball with both hands over the head.
For
teaching purposes it is common to allow players under the age of 8
to take more than 1 attempt.
3. Corner Kicks & Goal
Kicks
A corner
kick or goal kick is taken when the ball leaves the field across the
endline – you know, the end of the field.
If the
offensive team kicks it out, play is restarted with a goal kick. If
the defensive team kicks it out, play is restarted with a corner
kick.
The goal
kick is taken from anywhere inside the “goalie box” as it is
affectionately called. It can be taken by any player, not just the
goalkeeper.
The corner
kick is taken from – yes, you guessed it – the corner nearest to
where the ball left the field.
You may be
confused at times in youth soccer games to see a goal kick retaken.
This is because the FIFA soccer rules state that the ball is not
back “in play” until it leaves the penalty area, the large box
outside of the “goalie box”. No one can touch the ball until it
leaves the penalty area, and if the ball is not kicked properly to
leave the area, the kick must be retaken.
4. Fouls
The common rule of thumb on fouls is
“If it looks like a foul, it probably is.”
Too true.
A player cannot kick, trip, jump at, charge, strike, push, hold, or
spit at an opponent.
So what’s
the problem?
Soccer can
be a physical, contact sport when two opposing players both want the
soccer ball and no parent likes it when little Johnny loses the ball
and ends up on the ground!
“Foul!”
cries the parent. “Little Johnny was pushed!”
What you
need to know as a parent is that bumping or going
shoulder-to-shoulder while competing for a ball is not a foul
until the hands or elbows come up. This is a bit of a judgment call
and not all referees will call it the same way. Some soccer rules
are actually not black-and-white.
Remember
though, the referee is ALWAYS right.
5. Direct and Indirect
Free Kicks
The simple
difference between the two is this: On a direct kick you can score
by kicking the ball directly into the goal. On an
indirect kick you cannot score. An indirect kick must be touched by
another player before it can go into the goal – that is the kicker
and a second person.
As a
parent on the sideline, you can tell whether the kick is direct or
indirect by looking at the referee. For an indirect kick, the
referee will hold one arm straight up in the air until the second
person touches the ball. No arm up, it’s a direct kick.
There are
many soccer rules around what causes a direct or indirect kick.
In
general, a direct kick comes from a contact foul or hand ball.
Everything else is indirect.
6. Penalty Kick
A penalty
kick results from a contact foul or hand ball by the defending team
within the penalty area – the large box on either end of the field.
So it’s a type of direct kick also.
The ball
is placed on the penalty spot, 12 yards in front of the center of
the goal.
All
players must remain outside the penalty area and the penalty arc
until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must have both feet on the
goal line until the ball is kicked.
If after
the ball is kicked, it rebounds off of the goal or the keeper and
stays on the field, the ball is “live” and anyone can play it.
7. Two-touch Rule
A player
cannot touch the ball twice in a row when putting the ball in play.
You will see this called many times in youth soccer. It applies
everywhere. You will see it frequently on kick-offs or direct and
indirect kicks. If a kid barely hits the ball and decides to take
another swipe at it, that is a two-touch.
This also
applies to throw-ins. A kid cannot throw the ball in and then kick
it. Nope. No way. No can do.
8. Yellow and Red
Cards
This is
the way punishment is given in soccer. The FIFA soccer rules give
the guidelines for when to give a yellow card to a player and when
to give a red card. I’m not going to get into the specifics here.
If a
player is given two yellow cards in the same game, that is equal to
a red card. A red card can be given at any time without the player
first receiving a yellow card. When a player gets a red card, they
must leave the game and their team must play short. An ejected
player cannot be replaced.
9. Offside
I decided
to leave the best for last.
This is
without a doubt the least understood rule by parents and coaches
alike.
Check your
local league soccer rules first. There’s a good chance that this
rule won’t be called for the U8 or younger teams. You may be off the
hook for now. However, if you are a U8 or U6 coach you still need to
know this rule so you can begin teaching your players not to be
offside.
The first
thing to know is that you cannot be offside on a corner kick, goal
kick, or throw-in. Don’t ask me why. Just accept it and go on. The
explanation is too long.
Also, it
is not an offense for a player to be in an offside position. The
player must be involved in active play as determined by the referee
to be called offside.
As quoted
from the FIFA soccer rules:
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.
Clear yet?
I didn’t think so.
Try this.
An offensive or attacking player can’t be ahead of the ball and
involved in the play unless there is a defender between him and the
goalkeeper. Or, you can’t hang out at the other team’s goal waiting
for the ball.
A few
other buts. You can’t be offside if you are standing on your half of
the field. Also, the offside rule applies when the ball is
kicked, not when the player receives the ball.
To be
honest with you, this can be a hard rule to understand. Don’t get
too hung up on it. Trust the referees.
Download the FIFA Laws of the Game . They have good diagrams of
what is and isn’t considered offside.
How to play soccer 
How to play soccer...
Rules
of the game.