10 Simple Soccer Rules For Baffled Parents
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Rule 1 - No Hands, Please 2
Rule 2 - Equipment 3
Rule 3 - Start and Restart 4
Rule 4 - Throw-ins 4
Rule 5 - Corner Kicks & Goal Kicks 5
Rule 6 - Direct & Indirect Free Kicks 5
Rule 7 - Penalty Kick 6
Rule 8 - Two-touch Rule 6
Rule 9 - Fouls and Punishment 7
Rule 10 - Offside Resources 8
Definitions 9
FAQs 11
Soccer Field Diagram 12
1
Introduction
One of the greatest problems in youth soccer is the number of completely baffled
parents who have never played the game and don't understand the basic rules of
soccer. In many cases like my own, parents didn't have the opportunity to play soccer in
their youth and consequently have never learned this great sport.
Many soccer leagues, however, are desperate for volunteers willing to help out and
knowledge is not a prerequisite. On the job training is a mainstay in youth soccer.
Unfortunately, sometimes these new parents never get the training for various reasons
and end up either incorrectly teaching their kids or a soccer team or yelling at the
referees.
It's not your fault. You're not alone. Believe me, I've been there. I just described myself
5 years ago. Sadly, even though the fundamental soccer rules are simple, finding an
easy-to-understand, cheap resource for these parents is nigh impossible!
Enter Soccer for Parents. Help is here!
I have developed this FREE ebook for parents and soccer leagues to assist in the
fundamental training of parents and new soccer coaches. The book is by no means
an exhaustive review of the soccer rules. It is simply the basics - rules that will
cover greater than 90% of the situations in youth soccer.
NOTE: This book is not organized according to nor does it follow the 17 Laws of the
Game. Many of the laws have been combined to simplify things. For a detailed
discussion of the Laws of the Game, see the Resources page.
Another good reference as you work through these rules is a soccer field diagram and
definitions of the field markings. A field diagram has been provided on the last page
and definitions of the field markings have been provided as well.
Please, kick the book along to any friends or associates who need the same help. Print
it out. Pass it out. Burn it.
Just get the word out.
Now go kick some..... Er, soccer balls!
Randy
P.S. Have a suggestion for the next version? Try the suggestion box.
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RULE 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 handball 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 automatically a handball.
The referee must use his or her judgment in determining whether or not a handball is
accidental contact or a purposeful attempt to gain an advantage.
Put another way, the referee must determine if the play was
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 ball that
was intentionally kicked to them by one of their teammates. If that happens, the
goalkeeper can only kick the ball. (The goalkeeper can pick up a ball that is headed or
chested to them by their teammate) If the goalkeeper violates this rule, it will result in
an indirect kick from the point of the infraction.
This is a good time to discuss the referee’s role in enforcing the rules of the game.
Many of the rules in soccer require the referee to interpret whether a rule violation
or foul has occurred, and to determine if the player committing the rule violation
or foul (or that player’s team) has gained an advantage by their conduct, all
during fast-paced action. If no advantage was obtained, the referee may choose to
allow play to continue instead of stopping play. In this way, soccer differs from many
other sports.
Therefore, it is important to remember that if a referee does not blow the whistle to stop
play, it may mean that the referee determined that no violation occurred, or that there
was a violation but no advantage was gained and therefore play should continue. The
referee’s role in enforcing rules regarding handballs, physical play and offsides is very
often misunderstood by parents, who then take issue with the calls (or non-calls) of the
referee. Keep in mind that these are almost always subject to the referee’s
interpretation. It is best to learn and accept that officiating a soccer game is
extremely subjective.
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RULE 2 - Equipment
The basic equipment for soccer required by the FIFA Laws of the Game is:
?? a jersey or shirt
?? shorts
?? stockings
?? shinguards
?? footwear
Most youth recreational soccer leagues will provide everything but the shinguards and
the footwear.
Shinguards
According to FIFA, shinguards should be "covered entirely by the stockings, made of a
suitable material (rubber, plastic, or similar substance), and provide a reasonable
degree of protection. This leaves a lot of wiggle room!
Most soccer leagues will not allow a person to play or practice soccer without
shinguards. Purchasing good shinguards should be a top priority for every parent.
For more information I suggest you read my reviews & recommendations on
shinguards.
Footwear
There are no requirements by FIFA that your child have shoes with cleats. Technically,
regular tennis shoes are fine - not recommended, but legal. Of course, local league
rules may apply. There is also more information on soccer cleats on the Soccer for
Parents website.
There is also this general safety clause in the FIFA rules:
A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to
himself or another player (including any kind of jewelry).
No necklaces, earrings, nose rings, belly rings, bracelets, or tiaras. Soft "scrunchies" in
the hair are generally allowed, as are soft head stockings.
If a child just had their ears pieced, the studs should be covered with tape or removed.
Many leagues will require that the studs be removed. As one fellow commented, is the
hole going to grow back in an hour?
Lastly, the goalkeeper must wear colors that distinguish him/her from the other players,
the referee, and the assistant referees.
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RULE 3 – Start and Restart
A kick-off is the way a soccer game is started or restarted:
?? at the start of a game
?? after a goal has been scored
?? at the start of the second half (or each quarter in younger ages)
?? at the start of each period of extra time, if used
The ball is placed in the center of the field. All players must be in their own half of the
field and the opponents of the team taking the kick-off must be at least 10 yards from
the ball. This distance is indicated by the center circle on the field and will vary some
with age.
Normally the referee will blow his/her whistle to indicate they are ready for the kickoff.
The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward.
Note that the two-touch rule applies here (see Rule 8).
After a team scores a goal, the kick-off is taken by the other team.
RULE 4 - 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.
To clarify, both feet must be on the ground when the ball is thrown. The player can
hop, run, or do cartwheels up to the point where the ball is released but not when the
ball is released. Dragging the toes of one foot is considered legal.
Some people also have the impression that a properly thrown ball will not spin. This is
not true. A good player can throw the ball with both hands over the head and make the
ball spin by applying more or less force to one side of the ball. As long as the motion is
over the head and not to the side this is a completely legal throw.
For teaching purposes it is common to allow players under the age of 8 to take more
than 1 attempt.
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RULE 5 - Corner Kicks & Goal Kicks
A corner kick or goal kick is taken when the ball leaves the field across a goal line – you
know, either end of the field with a goal.
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” [also called the 6 yard line].
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 [also called the 18 yard line], the large box outside of the “goalie box”.
(See diagram at end of this booklet). If either team touches the ball before it leaves the
penalty area the kick must be retaken, and if the ball is not kicked well enough to leave
the area, the kick must be retaken.
RULE 6 - Direct and Indirect Free Kicks
Direct and indirect kicks are two primary ways that play is restarted after the referee
stops play for an infraction. There are many soccer rules around what causes a direct
or indirect kick. In general, a direct kick comes from a foul or handball. Fouls are
committed against opposing players. Indirect kicks are a result of misconducts –
violations of rules (e.g. offsides, obstruction, dangerous play, inappropriate language).
Before a direct or indirect kick is taken, the ball must be stationary and the opposing
players should be a minimum of 10 yards away. The 10 yard allowance is often
reduced for the smaller age groups and is left up to the discretion of the referee.
The key 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 a second person touches the
ball. If the referee does not have his arm up, it is a direct kick.
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RULE 7 - 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.
It is important to note that not all stoppages of play for an infraction within the penalty
area result in a penalty kick. Fouls in the penalty area result in a penalty kick (“PK”).
Misconducts (rule violations) result in an indirect kick.
The ball is placed on the penalty spot or mark, 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 keeper and stays on the field, the ball is
“live” and anyone can play it.
If after the ball is kicked, it rebounds off of the goal and stays on the field, the ball is
“live” and anyone can play it with the exception of the person who just kicked the
ball. If the ball rebounds off of the goal and back into play, the person who kicked the
ball cannot play it until another player touches the ball – otherwise he/she will be called
for two touches (the next rule).
RULE 8 - 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, corner kicks, 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 violation.
This also applies to throw-ins. A kid cannot throw the ball in and then kick it. Nope. No
way. No can do.
The only exception to this rule is on a drop ball restart.
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RULE 9 – Fouls and Punishment
The common rule of thumb on fouls is “If it looks like a foul, it probably is.” However,
not every foul will be called and play stopped. The referee must make a judgment call
whether to stop play or to allow play to continue if the team whose player was fouled
has maintained the ball.
In general, a player cannot kick, trip, jump at, charge, strike, push, hold, or spit at an
opponent.
Okay, easy enough, right? Well, not exactly.
Soccer can be a physical, contact sport when two opposing players both want the
soccer ball and no parent or grandparent likes it when little Susie loses the ball and
ends up on the ground! “Foul!” cries the parent. “Little Susie 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.
The normal consequence of a foul is a direct kick for the opposing team. However,
depending on the type of foul and severity, the player “dishing it out” may be punished.
Punishment is given in soccer with yellow and red cards. 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 (unless they are ejected prior to the start of
the game).
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RULE 10 - Offside
I decided to leave the best for last.
This is without a doubt the least understood rule by parents.
The first thing to know is that you cannot be offside on a corner kick, goal kick, or throwin.
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 to 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, in other words,
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.
?? the offside rule applies when the ball is kicked, not when the player receives the
ball.
To accurately judge offside, one has to stay even with the second-to-last defender and
not watch the ball. Listen for the kick of the ball and judge at the time of the kick
whether or not the player was offside.
To be honest with you, this can be a hard rule to understand. Don’t get too hung up on
it. Trust the referees.
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Definitions
Caution – a disciplinary action in which the referee shows a player the yellow card (for
violating a soccer rule, obviously). A second caution in the same match results in the
player being shown the red card (ejected from the game).
Corner kick – a direct free kick that is awarded when the defending team puts the ball
over the end line. A corner kick is taken by the offensive team from next to the corner
flag.
Dangerous Play – an action by a player that the referee considers dangerous to that
player or others. Examples are high kicking, playing while lying on the ground, or
playing the ball while it is in the possession of the goalkeeper.
Direct Free Kick – a free kick that is awarded at the spot of the infraction for a physical
contact foul such as tripping, holding, pushing, tackles from behind, jumping into an
opponent, or for hand balls. A direct free kick can score by going directly into the goal.
It does not have to be touched by anyone other than the kicker.
Drop Ball – a method of restarting a game where the referee drops the ball between 2
players facing each other. A drop ball restarts the game after play is stopped for no
penalty situation (e.g. after an injury) and in other circumstances (more than one soccer
rule about this). The ball is dropped where it was last in play or at the nearest point
outside the penalty area.
Foul – when the referee judges a violation against an opposing player. The team that
suffers the foul is awarded with a direct free kick unless the foul is committed by a
defensive player inside his own penalty area, in which case the foul results in a penalty
kick.
Goal Kick – a type of restart that is awarded when the attacking team puts the ball over
the end line. The ball is kicked from anywhere inside the goal area away from the goal
to restart play. After the kick is taken, the ball cannot be touched again by any player
until it is outside of the penalty area.
Indirect Free Kick – a free kick that is awarded at the spot of the infraction for other
fouls that are judged not to be serious such as obstruction, dangerous play or charging
(non-contact fouls), as well as for offside. Indirect kicks must touch another player
(either team) before the ball goes into the net in order to score.
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Offside – a difficult soccer rule. Not good enough for you? Ok, ok. Here it is: a violation
that occurs when an offensive player is closer to the opponent’s goal than both the ball
and the second-to-last opposing player at the time that the ball is passed to the
offensive player by his or her teammate. Players cannot be called offside if they are in
their own half of the field or if they receive the ball from a throw in, corner kick, or goal
kick. When a player is called offside, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free
kick.
Obstruction – a foul in which a defensive player, instead of going after the ball, illegally
uses their body to prevent an offensive player from playing it.
Penalty kick – A kick taken from 12 yards in front of the goal as a result of a contact
foul or hand ball that takes place inside the penalty area.
Red card – a referee shows a player a red card to signal that the player has been
banned from the rest of the match. A red card can be shown for a single serious
offense or as the result of being shown a second yellow card in the same game. After a
player is shown a red card, the player must leave the field of play and cannot be
replaced by a substitute, meaning that his or her team must finish the match with one
player fewer.
Sending off – an ejection resulting from a player being shown a red card. See also
Red card.
Throw-in – a way to restart play when the ball goes out over the sidelines. The team
that did not touch the ball last is allowed an overhead throw.
Yellow card – see Caution.
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FAQs
Question: Can you score directly from a kick-off?
Answer: Yes. Even if no one else touches the ball – GOOAAAALLLLL!!
Question: Can you score directly from a throw-in?
Answer: No. If the ball goes into the goal directly from a throw-in without anyone else
touching the ball, it is not a goal. Play would resume with a goal kick.
Question: When is time stopped?
Answer: Under FIFA rules, game time is kept by the center referee. Technically,
game time is never stopped but runs continuously throughout a half. However, the
center referee has discretion on how much time to add time at the end of the game or
half to compensate for lost time due to injuries, substitutions, or any other delay of the
game as determined by the center referee. In high school or college there will
sometimes be an official game clock.
Question: If a ball bounces off of a defender and goes in their goal, does it count?
Answer: Yes, it is a – GOOAAAALLLLL!! However, if on a goal kick a wayward
defender miss-kicks the ball and it goes into the goal it doesn’t count. Play would
resume with a corner kick.
Question: What is the minimum number of players?
Answer: The minimum number of players is left to the discretion of the local, state, or
national association. Certainly in youth soccer the number will vary with age level. For
regulation play above U-12, seven is considered the minimum number.
Question: Can my child use his/her baseball cleats?
Answer: No. Baseball or softball cleats have a toe cleat that is dangerous in soccer.
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Soccer Field Diagram
