Rules

FIFA - Laws of the Game

 

Rule exceptions for each age group
U6    U8    U10    U12    U15    U18

 

Please also see Codes of Conduct for Parents and Coaches

See this great link for explaining "Offside" rule.  A player is off-side when he / she is "involved with active play" in the opinion of the referee.  This website only shows off-side, when an off-side player touches the ball.

Referees are encouraged to explain the infractions to the players.  The players, coaches, and spectators may not challenge the referee's rulings.

Law 1 - The Field of Play

The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touch line must be greater than the length of the goal line. The length of the touch line is a minimum of 100 yards, but less than 130 yards. The width of the goal line is a minimum of 50 yard, but less than 100 yards.

Field Markings: The field of play is marked with lines. These lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries. The two longer boundary lines are called touch lines. The two shorter boundary lines are called goal lines. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The center mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of 10 yards is marked around it.

The Goal Area: The goal area is defined at each of the field as two lines drawn at right angles, 6 yards from the inside of each goal post, extended 6 yards into the field of play, ajoined by a line drawn parallel to the goal line.

The Penalty Area: The goal area is defined at each of the field as two lines drawn at right angles, 18 yards from the inside of each goal post, extended 18 yards into the field of play, ajoined by a line drawn parallel to the goal line.

Within the penalty area a penalty mark is made 12 yards from the midpoint between the goalposts. An arc of a circle with a radius of 10 yards from each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.

Flagposts: A flagpost, not less than 5 feet high is placed at each corner. A flagpost may also be placed at each end of the halfway line.

The Corner Arc: A quarter circle with a radius of 1 yard from each corner flagpost is drawn inside the field of play.

Goals: Goals must be placed on the center of each goal line. The consist of two upright posts ajoined at the top by a horizontal cross bar. The distance between the posts is 8 yards and the height of the crossbar is 8 feet. Nets may be attached to the goals and ground, provided that they are properly supported and do not interfere with the goalkeeper.

Law 2 - The Ball

The ball is spherical, made of leather or other suitable material, circumference between 27 and 28 inches, weigh between 14 and 16 ounces, and of equal pressure.

Law 3 - The Number of Players

A match is played between two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players. Substitutes may be used provided that the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number and the referee is informed before the match.

Substitution Procedure: The referee is informed before any proposed substitution, enters only after replaced player leaves the field of play and referee signals the substitute to enter, enters the field of play at the halfway line during a stoppage in the match. A substitute becomes a player when he / she enters the field of play. All substitutes are subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referee, whether called upon or not.

Changing Goalkeeper: Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided the referee is informed before the change is made and is made during a stoppage in the match.

Law 4 - The Players' Equipment

A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself / herself or another player (including any kind of jewelry).

Basic compulsory equipment includes shirt, shorts, stockings, shinguards, and footwear.

Shinguards are covered entirely by the stockings, made of suitable material (rubber, plastic, or similar substances), and provide a reasonable degree of protection.

Goalkeepers wear colors which distinguish him / her from other players, the referee and assistant referees.

Law 5 - The Referee

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he / she has been appointed.

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.

The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided that he has not restarted play.

Law 6 - The Assistant Referees

Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate: when then whole of the ball has passed out of the field of play; which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick, or throw-in; when a player may be penalized for an offside position; when a substitution is requested; when offenses or misconduct or any other incident has occured out of the view of the referee.

The assistant referees also assist the referee to control the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

Law 7 - The Duration of the Match

Periods of Play: The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless mutually agreed between the referee and two participating teams.

Half-Time Interval: The half-time interval must not exceed 15 minutes. Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval.

Allowance for Time Lost: Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through substitions, assessment of injury to players, removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment, wasting time, and any other cause at the discretion of the referee.

Extra Time: Competition rules may provide for two further equal periods to be played. The conditions of Law 8 will apply.

Abandoned Match: An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide otherwise.

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play

Preliminaries:A coin is tossed and the team which wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match. The team that wins the toss takes the kick-off to start the second half of the match. In the second half of the match the teams change ends and attack opposite goals.

Kick-off: A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play: at the start of the match, after a goal is scored, at the start of the second half, at the start of each period of extra time. A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off.

Procedure: All players are in their own half of the field. The opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 10 yards from the ball until it is in play. The ball is stationary on the center mark. The referee gives the signal. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward. The kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it is touched by another player. After a team scores a goal, the kick-off is taken by the other team.

Dropped Ball: A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after temporary stoppage which becomes necessary, while the ball is in play, for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game.

Procedure: The referee drops the ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.

Law 9 - The Ball In and Out of Play

Ball Out of Play: The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air. Play has been stopped by the referee.

Ball in Play: The ball is in play at all other times, including when it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar, or corner flag and remains in the field of play. It rebounds from either a referee or an assistant referee when they are on the field of play.

Law 10 - The Method of Scoring

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provide no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.

Law 11 - Offside

Offside Position: It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position. 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. A player is not in an offside position if he is in his own half of the field of play, he is level with the second last opponent, or he is level with the last two opponents.

Offense: A player is in an offside position is only penalized 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: interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

No Offense: There is no offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from: a goal kick, a throw-in, or corner kick.

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

Fouls and misconduct are penalized as direct free kick and indirect free kick.

Direct Free Kick: A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offenses in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
trips or attempts to trip an opponent
jumps at an opponent
charges at an opponent
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
pushes an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offenses:

tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball
holds an opponent
spits at an opponent
handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

Penalty Kick: A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above ten offenses is committed by a player inside his own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play.

Indirect Free Kick: An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offenses:

takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession

touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player

touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate

touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

wastes time

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:

plays in a dangerous manner

impedes the progress of an opponent

prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands

commits any other offense, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player

A direct free kick and indirect free kick are taken from where the offense occurred.

Disciplinary Sanctions: Only a player, substitute, or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card.

Cautionable Offenses: A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offenses:

is guilty of unsporting behavior

shows dissent by word or action

persistently infringes the Laws of the Game

delay the restart of play

fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick

enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission

deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission

Sending-Off Offenses: A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offenses:

is guilty of a serious foul

is guilty of violent conduct

spits at an opponent or any other person

denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and / or gestures

receives a second caution in the same match

A player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area.

Law 13 - Free Kicks

Types of Free Kicks: Free kicks are either direct or indirect. For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

The Direct Free Kick: If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents' goal, a goal is awarded. If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

The Indirect Free Kick: A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal. If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded. If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Position of Free Kick: All opponents are at least 10 yards from the ball. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. The free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred, except penalty kicks.

Law 14 - The Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is awarded against a team which commits one of the ten offenses for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.

Position of the Ball and the Players: The ball is placed on the penalty mark. The player taking the penalty kick is properly identified. The defending goalkeeper remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked. The players other than the kicker are located inside the field of play, outsided the penalty area, behind the penalty mark, and at least 10 yards from the penalty mark.

Procedure: The player taking the penalty kicks the ball forward. He does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward.

Law 15 - The Throw-in

A throw-in is a method of restarting play. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

A throw-in is awarded

when the whole of the ball passes over the touch line either on the ground or in the air

from the point where it crossed the touch line

to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball

Procedure: At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:

faces the field of play

has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line

uses both hands

delivers the ball from behind and over his head

The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. The ball is in play immediately it enters the field of play.

Law 16 - The Goal Kick

A goal kick is a method of restarting play. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team.

A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

Procedure:

The ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team

Opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play

The kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player

The ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area

If the ball does not travel beyond the penalty area, the kick is retaken.

Law 17 - The Corner Kick

A corner kick is a method of restarting play. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.

A corner kick is awarded whent the whole of the ball, having been touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

Procedure:

The ball is placed inside the corner arc at the nearest corner flagpost

The corner flagpost is not moved

Opponents remain at least 10 yards from the ball until it is in play

The ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team

The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves

The kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player

 

The Technical Area

The technical area is a designated seated area for technical staff and substitutes.

The occupants of the technical area are identified before the beginning of the match in accordance with the competition rules.

Only one person at a time is authorized to convey tactical instructions and he must return to his position after giving these instructions.

The coach and other officials must remain within the confines of the technical area except in special circumstances.

The coach and other occupants of the technical area must behave in a responsible manner.