Soccer

Essentials

The world's most popular game to play as well as its most popular spectator sport, soccer is an obsession across much of the globe, but only in the last 20 years has soccer made major inroads in the United States. It is now firmly established as an organized sport for young people, and a professional league has taken root. In 1994, the U.S. hosted the World Cup, an international event held once every four years.

The field

Rectangular, traditionally with a grass surface, divided into two equal halves. Its length is between 110 and 120 yds and its breadth between 70 and 80 yds.

The goals

Placed on the center of the goal lines at each end of the field and must consist of two upright posts, 8 yards apart and joined by a horizontal crossbar. Both posts and crossbar should be of equal width, not exceeding 5 in. A net attached to posts, bars and the ground behind them is optional. The whole structure must stand 8 feet above the ground (inside measurement).

The teams

Two teams of 11 players each, including one goalkeeper, or goalie. A maximum of three substitutes is permitted. Any of the other players may change places with the goalie.

The ball

Spherical with an outer casing of leather or approved substitute material. Its circumference must be 27-28 in and it must weigh between 14 and 16 oz. Its pressure should be equal to 0.6-l.1 atmospheres

HOW TO PLAY

Each team attempts to score goals by kicking or heading the ball into the goal defended by the opposing side. The ball must not be touched by the hands of any player other than the goalkeeper.

Starting

The team who wins a coin toss chooses to defend one end of the field or to the kickoff. At least two players from the team kicking off position themselves behind the halfway line and inside the center circle. (At this point every player must be within his team's half of the field. The defending team's players must also remain outside the center circle.) The ball is placed on the center spot and the game starts on the referee's whistle. The first kick must enter the opponent's half.

How to win

The team scoring the highest number of goals by kicking or heading the ball into the opposition's goal wins the game. The goal zone is defined in Law 10, Method of Scoring (page 12).

Officials

A referee and two assistant referees (linesmen).

Dress

A jersey or shirt with shorts and socks. These are the same color for a whole team, although the goalie must wear colors that distinguish him from the other players. Suitable footwear and protective shin guards (covered entirely by the socks) are also worn. A player must not wear anything that is dangerous to other players.

KEY RULES

A game lasts 90 minutes, divided into two halves. Teams change ends at halftime. Although the clock runs continually, a referee tracks the time lost to injuries and penalties and adds it back at the end of either half. Because only he knows how much "extra time" there is, no one knows precisely when a half will end until his whistle blows. In addition some important games are extended by 30 minutes of overtime in the event of a tie. If the tie remains, a series of penalty kicks may decide the issue.

* A player can be penalized for being offside, i.e., being in front of the ball, in the opposite side's half and without at least two opponents between him and the goal. See Law 11, Offside (page 12).

* If a player commits a major foul such as kicking, striking, or pushing an opponent, a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team. This also applies if the ball is deliberately handled by any player other than the goalie. Other offenses such as delay of game or dangerous play are penalized with an indirect free kick for the other team.

    For any free kick, the kicker's opponents must keep a distance of 10 yards between themselves and the ball.

* A player who argues with the referee or persistently breaks the rules is shown the yellow card (an official caution), while more serious conduct such as violent behavior or foul language results in the player being sent out of the game (shown the red card). See pages 12-13 and 16 for Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct.

* Some fouls, if they take place within the penalty area, incur a penalty kick against the offending team. See Law 14,

SOCCER
THE RULES

Law 1

The Field of Play

See The field (page 10).

Law 2

The Ball

See The ball (page 10).

Law 3

Number of Players

See The teams (page 10).

Law 4

Players' Equipment

See The Ball (page 10).

Laws 5 & 6

Referees

Law 7

Duration of the Game

The duration of the game shall be two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon, subject to the following:

a) Allowance shall be made in either period for all time lost through substitution, the transport from the field of injured players, time-wasting or other cause, the amount of which shall be a matter for the discretion of the Referee.

b) Time shall be extended to permit a penalty kick being taken at or after the expiration of the normal period in either half.

    The halftime interval shall not exceed 15 minutes.

    Competition rules shall clearly stipulate the duration of the halftime interval.

    The duration of the halftime interval may be altered only with the consent of the Referee.

Law 8

The Start of Play

a) At the beginning of the game, choice of ends and the kickoff shall be decided by the toss of a coin. The team winning the toss shall have the option of choice of ends or the kickoff. The Referee having given a signal, the game shall be started by a player taking a placekick (i.e., a kick at the ball while it is stationary on the ground in the center of the field of play) into his opponents' halt of the field of play. Every player shall be in his own half of the field and every player of the team opposing that of the kicker shall remain not less than 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked off; it shall not be deemed in play until it has traveled the distance of its own circumference. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.

b) After a goal has been scored, the game shall be restarted in like manner by a player of the team losing the goal.

c) After halftime: when restarting after halftime, ends shall be changed and the kickoff shall be taken by a player of the opposite team to that of the player who started the game.

Punishment

For any infringement of this Law, the kickoff shall be retaken, except in the case of the kicker playing the ball again before it has been touched or played by another player; for this offense, an indirect free kick shall be taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred, subject to the overriding conditions imposed in Law 13. A goal shall not be scored direct from a kickoff.

d) After any other temporary suspension: when restarting the game after a temporary suspension of play from any cause not mentioned elsewhere in these Laws, provided that immediately prior to the suspension the ball has not passed over the sideline or goal lines, the Referee shall drop the ball at the place where it was when play was suspended, unless it was within the goal area at that time, in which case it shall be dropped on that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped. It shall be deemed in play when it has touched the ground; if, however, it goes over the sideline or goal lines after it has been dropped by the Referee, but before it is touched by a player, the Referee shall again drop it. A player shall not play the ball until it has touched the ground. If this section of the Law is not complied with the Referee shall again drop the ball.

Law 9

Ball In and Out of Play

The ball is out of play:

a) When it has wholly crossed the goal line or sideline, whether on the ground or in the air.

b) When the game has been stopped by the Referee.

The ball is in play at all other times from the start of the match to the finish including:

a) If it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar or corner flag post into the field of play.

b) If it rebounds off either the Referee or Assistant Referees when they are in the field of play.

c) In the event of a supposed infringement of the Laws, until a decision is given.

Law 10

Method of Scoring

Except as otherwise provided by these Laws, a goal is scored when the whole of the ball has passed over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided it has not been thrown, carried or intentionally propelled by hand or arm, by a player of the attacking side, except in the case of a goalkeeper, who is within his own penalty area. The team scoring the greater number of goals during a game shall be the winner; if no goals, or an equal number of goals are scored, the game shall be termed a "draw."

Law 11

Offside

1. A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than the ball, unless:

a) he is in his own half of the field of play, or

b) he is not nearer to his opponents' goal line than at least two of his opponents.

2. It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position. A player shall only be penalized for being in an offside position 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, or

b) interfering with an opponent, or

c) gaining an advantage by being in that position.

3. A player shall not be declared offside by the Referee

a) merely because of his being in an offside position, or

b) if he receives the ball, direct from a goal kick, a corner kick, or a throw-in.

4. If a player is declared offside, the Referee shall award an indirect free kick, which shall be taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred, unless the offense is committed by a player in his opponents' goal area, in which case the free kick shall be taken from any point within the goal area.

Law 12

Fouls and Misconduct

A player who commits any of the following six offenses in a manner considered by the Referee to be careless, reckless or involving disproportionate force:

a) kicks or attempts to kick an opponent; or

b) trips an opponent; or

c) jumps at an opponent; or

d) charges an opponent; or

e) strikes or attempts to strike an opponent; or

f) pushes an opponent;

or who commits any of the following four offenses:

g) when tackling an opponent makes contact with the opponent before contact is made with the ball; or

h) holds an opponent; or spits at an opponent; or

i) handles the ball deliberately, i.e., carries, strikes, or propels the ball with his hand or arm (this does not apply to the goalkeeper within his own penalty area);

shall be penalized by the award of a direct free kick to be taken by the opposing team from the place where the offense occurred, unless the offense is committed by a player in his opponents' goal area, in which case the free kick shall be taken from any point within the goal area. Should a player of the defending team commit one of the above l0 offenses within the penalty area, he shall be penalized by a penalty kick. A penalty kick can be awarded irrespective of the position of the ball, if in play, at the time an offense within the penalty area is committed.

    A player committing any of the following five offenses:

1. playing in a manner considered by the referee to be dangerous;

2. charging fairly, i.e., with the shoulder, when the ball is not within playing distance of the players concerned and they are definitely not trying to play it;

3. when not playing the ball, impeding the progress of an opponent, i.e., running between the opponent and the ball, or interposing the body so as to form an obstacle to an opponent;

4. charging the goalkeeper except when he:

a) is holding the ball;

b) is obstructing an opponent;

c) has passed outside his goal area;

5. when playing as a goalkeeper and within his own penalty area:

a) from the moment he takes control of the ball with his hands, he takes more than four steps in any direction while holding, bouncing, or throwing the ball in the air and catching it again, without releasing it into play, or

b) having released the ball into play before, during or after the four steps, he touches it again with his hands, before it has been touched or played by a player of the opposing team either inside or outside of the penalty area, or by a player of the same team outside the penalty area, subject to the overriding conditions of 5c), or

c) touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate, or

d) indulges in tactics which, in the opinion of the Referee, are designed merely to hold up the game and thus waste time and so give an unfair advantage to his own team, shall be penalized by the award of an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing side from the place where the infringement occurred, subject to the overriding conditions imposed in Law 13.

    A player shall be cautioned and shown the yellow card if:

j) he enters or re-enters the field of play to join or rejoin his team after the game has commenced, or leaves the field of play during the progress of the game (except through accident) without, in either case, first having received a signal from the Referee showing him that he may do so. If the Referee stops the game to administer the caution, the game shall be restarted by an indirect free kick taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the ball was when the Referee stopped the game, subject to the overriding conditions imposed in Law 13.

    If, however, the offending player has committed a more serious offense, he shall be penalized according to that section of the law he infringed;

k) he persistently infringes the Laws of the Game;

l) he shows, by word or action, dissent from any decision given by the Referee;

m) he is guilty of ungentlemanly conduct.

    For any of these last three offenses, in addition to the caution an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the opposing side from the place where the offense occurred, subject to the overriding conditions imposed in Law 13, unless a more serious infringement of the Laws of the Game was committed.

    A player shall be sent off the field of play and shown the red card if, in the opinion of the Referee, he:

n) is guilty of violent conduct;

o) is guilty of serious foul play;

p) uses foul or abusive language;

q) is guilty of a second cautionable offense after having received a caution.

(Continues...)

Copyright © 1998 Duncan Petersen Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISBN: 0-8160-3919-4