What are the 17 Basic Rules of Soccer?

Soccer, a sport that saw growth incessantly in the region of the UK, is now popular in more than 150 countries across the world. Just like other games, the rules of soccer have made this sport very interesting when it is played on the turf between two teams. These soccer rules play a pivotal role in maintaining the proceedings of the game in the smoothest way possible.

The famous Football Association first introduced the basic rules of soccer to the sporting community after its inception back in 1863. Since then, there have been multiple changes in soccer rules and regulations as the supreme authority of the beautiful game has decided to make life easy for the players and the match officials. If you are a soccer fan and want to understand the rules of soccer then you have to know the basic guidelines of the game to understand how soccer is played. In this article, we will discuss every major rule associated with the game including some major regulations like offside rules.

Complete List of Basic Soccer Rules

The International Football Association Board, consisting of top soccer personnel, has created a complete guideline of the soccer rules in which regulations for all the positions of the game such as forward, goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and referees have been listed. These 17 soccer rules and regulations have made sure that soccer is played in a clean and fair manner.

1. Soccer Field

In order to play the game, there is a need for a ground with certain dimensions and markings. This is primarily called a soccer field. Initially, it was mandatory to play soccer on a ground covered with natural grass. But later, with the help of scientific development, artificial grass is also used on the turf. Even the soccer rules also allow the games to be played on a dirt field without a cover of grass. 

Now, the most important part is how the soccer field will look like for an official match. Generally, the shape should be rectangular and the long and short touch lines should be marked precisely. A white line must be drawn on the surface to divide the field into two equal parts. The middle point of the soccer field is encircled by a circle of 10 yard radius, making it visible for the players and match officials. During the beginning of a game, each team is given a particular side and opponents can not enter the other half of the soccer field before kickoff. 

Also Read: A Complete Guide for Basic Rules of Soccer

2. Ball

There are no particular soccer rules in creating and choosing a ball for the game unless it’s not spherical in shape. The soccer balls are generally made with leather or soft plastic. This rule only applies to the official soccer games. However, the size of the ball may differ regionally. The air and size of a soccer ball is always determined by the on-field referee during a game.

3. Soccer Equipment

Soccer is a physical game and in order to safeguard the players from being injured. It is necessary for the players to wear jerseys, cleats, socks and shin guards. Most importantly, the shin guards must be fully covered by socks, so that major injuries can be avoided. Match referees have the authority to send the players out of the field if they are not well-equipped.

4. Players Numbers

The guidebook of soccer rules states that a match is played by two teams, with maximum of 11 players participating in each side. An official soccer game can only be started when a team has at least seven players on the field. Otherwise, the match referee can cancel the game. Earlier, only three substitutes could be made in three intervals, but after 2020, the teams now can use five substitutes.

5. Referees

The match referee is the one who makes sure that the match is played according to the soccer rules. There is one standing match official in every match, who is given the power to run the game. Referee’s words are considered laws as well as the verdict on the pitch.

6. Assistant Referees

Assistant referees stay outside the playing area. In an official soccer game, there are three match officials who help the stand-in referee to run the game smoothly. Two assistant referees stay on turf and help the main referee in making offside and foul decisions. The fourth match official or referee stays behind the monitor and plays the role of Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

7. Duration of a Soccer Match

According to soccer rules, a game is played for 90 minutes in two halves. The duration of each half of a soccer game is 45 minutes. Extra time of maximum 15 minutes after the regulation time is added only according to the discretion of the referee. In certain tournaments, 30 minutes of play are allowed after the match is drawn after the normal period.

8. Starting Point of a Game

Soccer rules declare that a match will be started from the centre of the halfway line of the pitch. Before that, a toss is done by using a coin to decide which team will start from which side and who will kick the ball first. The kickoff of a soccer match happens every time a goal is scored. Even during the beginning of the second half the same procedure is followed.

9. Scoring Methods

There is a goal line inside the framework of the bar. The rules of soccer clearly state that the ball must cross the goal line fully for a goal to be scored. Even if one percent of the ball is on the line, then it will not be counted. The most-scoring team will win the match if they lead until the final whistle. Then there will be no need for an extra 30-minute play.

10. Offside rules

During attack, if a player from the attacking team receives the ball behind the last defender then he will be caught offside. When the attacker receives the ball during the attack, then a straight line is imagined to understand whether he is at the same level as the opponents. If the scoring body parts of the player with the ball are not crossing the line, then he is not offside. Nowadays, VAR is used to minimize the errors at offside calls. The assistant referees raise their flags in the event of an offside.

11. Fouls

Soccer rules in the event of fouls and misconduct are very important for the free flow of the game. During a game, when a player is physically tackled in an unethical way that goes against the rules and regulations of the game and violates the proceedings, then the match referee blows a whistle to stop the game to award a free kick against the offenders. In this situation, the referee decides whether to penalise the or take disciplinary action against the offender. If the offense is severe then he may be shown a yellow or a red card. In the red card scenario, the player is sent off the field and can not set foot again on the pitch during the remainder of the match.

12. Ball Going in and Out of Play

During a match, if the match ball goes out of the touchline or goal line, then the play is deemed stopped as it is out of play. Then, a goal kick or a throw in can resume the play again. In both situations, it is the referee who decides when to continue the game again and the mode of the restart. If the ball stays inside the line even after hitting the framework of the goal, then the ball is still in play.

13. Penalty kicks

According to soccer rules, if a player fouls his opponent inside the penalty box near the goal scoring area, then the opponent team is awarded a penalty or spot kick by the referee. During a penalty, the ball is placed in a certain area from where the attacker kicks the shot to score a goal. The goalkeeper should stay behind or on the goal line before the ball leaves the foot of the attacking player.

14. Free kicks

In the event of a physical offense or misconduct, the team of the victim player is given a free kick by the referee. The soccer rules say that there are two types of free kicks – Direct and indirect free kick, determined by the degree of offense or misconduct. The indirect free kick is awarded when there is a serious foul. In the case of warning a player or normal foul, the opposition receives an indirect free kick.

15. Corner Kicks

During the play, when the ball goes out of play beside the goal line after touching a defender or a goalkeeper or any other players, then their opponents are awarded a corner kick. In corner kicks, the ball is kicked normally towards the goal from a marked area in the corner of the field.

Also Read: Soccer substitution rules explained

16. Throw-ins

When a soccer game is played and the in-field ball goes outside the side touchline after touching a player, then the opponent team is given an opportunity to restart the game through throw-ins. In this case, a player holds the ball with both of his hands and throws the ball inside to resume the game, according to soccer rules.

17. Goal Kicks

A goal kick in soccer happens when the ball last touched by an opponent player goes out of the play. In order to resume the game, the ball is placed inside the penalty box and a goal kick is taken by any of the members of the team. Usually, a goal kick is taken by a goalkeeper.

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