As with many sports, soccer has an extensive rulebook, with many technicalities. Some laws determine the field of play, which was discussed in a previous post. Others dictate player’s equipment and uniforms. Here, we’re going to discuss the few major laws that are necessary to understand a game of soccer. Please leave a comment if you want any others covered!
No Hands!
If you’ve ever been to a children’s recreational game, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “No hands!” used a million times. The hand ball rule has gone through many iterations over time but the concept has always been the same: no one, except the goalkeepers, may use their hands (or arms) to intentionally touch the ball. Notice the word intentionally is highlighted here. The law does allow for no foul to be called when the ball is kicked into a player’s hand or arm when the player makes no intentional movement towards the ball.
Even goalkeepers have restrictions on their use of the hands. They may only touch the ball with their hands while they are within their own 18-yard box. They may still touch the ball outside of the box, but they must follow the same rules as all other players (only feet, chest, head, etc.). Additionally, if a player passes the ball back to their goalkeeper with his feet, the goalkeeper may not use his hands, regardless of his position on the field. However, if the player passes the ball back with any other part of his body, such as with the head, the goalkeeper may then use his hands if he is within the 18-yard box.
Offside
The offsides rule was developed to serve a simple purpose: prevent an attacking player from planting himself in the opposing half and getting an easy breakaway goal (aka cherry-picking). To be offside, a player must be in the opposing team’s half and be closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second to last defender of the opposing team. The defenders in this case can (and usually do) include the goalkeeper. Attacking players can be in line with the second to last defender, just not past them. Any part of the body that is not allowed to play the ball (i.e.: hands and arms) may be past the defender and do not count towards offsides. A player can not be offside within their own half, on a corner kick, or a throw-in.
Simply being in an offside position is not an offense in itself. To be considered offside, the player must also be actively involved in play. Many of the controversies surrounding offside come from determining who is actively involved in play. The most obvious way to see a player is actively involved is when they touch the ball. However, players can also be deemed offside and actively involved if they somehow lead to a change in the behavior of an opposing player. For instance, if a forward takes a shot on goal and his teammate, who is in an offside position, blocks the goalkeeper’s view of the shot, offsides will be called.
Throw Ins, Goal Kicks & Corner Kicks
Throw ins, goal kicks and corner kicks are all ways to put the ball back in to play when it goes out of bounds. Possession when a ball goes out of play is always based on which team touched the ball last, with the opposite team receiving possession. So, if an attacking player accidentally kicks the ball out of bounds when dribbling down the touchline, the defending team gains possession.
A throw in is used when a ball goes out of bounds at a touchline. At the point in which the ball goes out of bounds, a player from the team gaining possession is allowed to throw the ball in. The throw must use both hands and go over the head. The player’s feet must also stay on the ground. The player that takes the throw in is not allowed to touch the ball again until another player from either team touches it first.
Goal kicks and corner kicks are used when a ball goes out of bounds over the goal line. If an attacking player is the last to touch the ball, the defending team regains possession through a goal kick. However, if the defending team is the last to touch the ball, the attacking team gains possession through a corner kick.
Corner kicks are taken from the corner of the field where the touchline and the goal line connects. The ball is placed on the corner circle and put back into play via a kick by an attacking player. This kick is usually sent into the defending team’s 18-yard box in an attempt to create a goalscoring chance.
Goal kicks are taken from any point in the defending team’s 6-yard box. That team’s goalkeeper usually takes the goal kick. There are no rules regarding where the ball must be kicked to or who it must go to.
Fouls
There are various reasons a player may be called for a foul. Where the foul was committed, and what the foul is, can determine what type of free kick is awarded. A free kick simply means the ball is placed on the ground at the spot of the foul and the team which had a foul committed against them is allowed to restart play with a kick. The opposing team cannot be within ten yards of the ball until it is put back into play by the fouled team.
Direct versus Indirect
There are two types of free kicks that can be awarded: direct and indirect. Direct free kicks may lead immediately to a goal if possible, whereas indirect free kicks require a second player to touch the ball before a goal can be scored. Indirect free kicks are not very common. Direct free kicks are given for the majority of fouls seen, including tackles deemed to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force, handballs, or impeding an opponent’s progress with contact. It should be noted that it is not illegal to bump, lean on or go shoulder to shoulder with an opponent when competing for the ball, as long as the hands or elbows are not used to gain an advantage.
There is one easy way to quickly determine if a foul is direct or indirect. When a referee has called an indirect kick, they will hold their arm in the air until a second player has touched the ball. A direct kick will not have a signal.
Penalty Kicks
Fouls against the defending team resulting in a direct kick within that team’s 18-yard box are called penalty kicks and are different from direct fouls elsewhere. A penalty kick is taken from the penalty spot in the 18 yard box. No player is allowed within the box except for the defending goalkeeper and the player taking the penalty kick. All other players must be outside the 18 yard box and at least ten yards from the penalty spot.
At the referee’s whistle, the kick is taken. If the ball goes in the goal, it counts. A corner kick is given if goalkeeper saves the ball and it goes out of bounds. If the penalty kick taker misses the goal, the defending team receives a goal kick. If the goalkeeper saves the ball, but it stays in play, the game is now live and play continues as normal. This is only not true during a penalty kick shootout, which is sometimes used to determine a winner in a match that is tied. In a shootout, regardless of the result of the kick, a goal is either scored or it is dead once saved or the shot is missed.
Yellow & Red Cards
Yellow Card
At times, a foul is not deemed a strong enough disciplinary action. The referee has two options for further discipline. A yellow card is a “warning” to a player that they must improve their behavior or risk being expelled from the game (aka “sent off”). Offenses worthy of a yellow card include delaying the restart of a game, dissent, and persistent fouling. At what point a player is worthy of a yellow card is left to the discretion of the referee.
Red Card
A red card is the most extreme form of discipline in a soccer match. If a player receives a red card, they are expelled from the game and can not return. A ban often follows. The player can also not be replaced by their team, so the team must continue the game a man down. This usually results in a game being played with eleven players versus ten. However, there is no limit to how many red cards can be given in a single game. So, a game could become ten versus ten, nine versus eleven, etc.
The most obvious cause of a red card is denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. While somewhat subjective at times, these instances are usually the easiest offenses to determine. Common examples are a goalkeeper attempting to dive at an offending player’s feet to get the ball but missing the ball and fouling the player, or the last defender fouling an attacking player to prevent a breakaway. In the second instance, even though the goalkeeper is still between the attacking player and the goal, a breakaway is an obvious goalscoring opportunity, so the defender should be red-carded.
Another red-cardable offense is dangerous play. Tackles that endanger the opposing player (think: studs up tackle into an opponent’s lower leg) or intentional harm caused to an opposing player (intentional elbow to the face) are common examples. Even when a player wins the ball during a tackle, if the tackle is deemed dangerous to the opponent, it may still be a red card offense. Violent conduct is another way to receive a red card. Of note, a player does not have to receive a yellow card before receiving a red card. A straight red card is an offense deemed worthy of a red card with no caution. If a player receives two yellow cards in a single game, that also automatically leads to their dismissal via a red card.