Unlocking the Beautiful Game: Essential Soccer Rules Explained

There are some basic rules of soccer; some are widely known, while others may not be so. Ultimately, these date back to the English and the FA (Football Association), who first codified the game. Since they have been chopped and changed a little bit by FIFA.

To begin, let us start with the basics. The winner of any game is decided by which team scores the most goals in 90 minutes of play, by putting the ball into the back of the opposition's goal. One goal scored is recorded as such in a match. If the game remains level, then in league football, it is deemed tied with no winner. In cup games, usually extra time and penalty kicks are used.

At any rate, with the exception of the goalkeeper, the ball is not to be handled in any way by outfield players. Contact with the hands and arms is not acceptable, and can result in a penalty being given within the penalty area, or a booking and a free kick outside the area. The goalkeeper can handle the ball within a zone deemed the penalty area, outside their goal. Outside of this zone, the same applies as with outfield players.

A team must field a team of 11 players in total. This must include a goalkeeper to play in goal. However, there is nothing to say about how the outfield players should be lined up. Ultimately, at kick off, they must start within their own half of the field, marked by a line and a centre circle. To decide who kicks off, in the centre circle, a flip of the coin is usually acceptable. At 45-minute intervals, the teams must switch ends, with a 15-minute break.

With that, the most basic rules of the game have been covered. After these, it is important to state the rules regarding field boundaries. On the left and right sides of the goal, if the ball goes out of play, by a defending player, a corner is given to the other team. If it is kicked off these sides by an attacking player, then a goal kick is given. If a ball goes out of play on the left or right side of the pitch, not adjacent to the goal, the team that did not knock it out is given a throw-in at the point where the ball left play.

Any soccer fan will be aware of these. The offside rules. Later introduced to the game, this states that no player can be beyond the last outfield player of the opposing team when a ball is played to him or her, in relation to opposition's goal. The last outfield player will probably be a defender, so if an opposition player is closer to the goal than the defender when a ball is played to them, it will likely be deemed offside. Likely, with a flag being raised by the line's man. If so, it can result in a free kick being given to the other side or a goal kick (although not entirely sure on that).

A foul in soccer is actually one of the less clear aspects of the game. It is deemed as excessive physical contact, not winning the ball cleanly, handball (as already mentioned), and generally deliberate attempts to stop a player or team by not kicking the ball (aside from the keeper). Let us suppose that a player is running on goal clearly, before a player dives in towards his feet to trip him. The player then falls, and the ball is not taken cleanly. Certainly, that would be a foul. Sometimes, players can dive to suggest that more or greater contact with them had been made. Ultimately, it is up to the referee to decide on these. This is the main role of the soccer referee.

Ultimately, for any violation of the rules, he has a yellow or red card, free kicks, or penalty kicks to issue to the other side. A yellow card is a warning, and two of these will result in a red. A red sends a player off the pitch for the rest of the game, and can be given out right if appropriate, while free-kicks are given for lighter fouls. Penalty kicks are given if a defending team commits a foul within its own box. Here, a direct shot on goal from the penalty spot is then taken with only the keeper to stop it.

Those are the main rules of the game of soccer. When you next watch a soccer match, take note of the number of times penalties, free kicks, cards, etc., are given by the match officials. You can be certain that there will be a few of those for fouls or perhaps offside. Ultimately, the number of cards being given has risen, which can either be due to less sporting play by players or less leniency by officials (or just poor refereeing). Debate lingers.