Soccer
The Laws of the Game, Simplified
The Field (or “Pitch”) – Soccer fields in AYSO vary in size depending on the age group that is playing. While sizes vary, the components of a soccer field are all the same. See this link for a video animation that explains the parts of a soccer field.
Goalkeeper - The goalkeeper may play the ball with his or her hands, but only inside their own penalty area. The goalkeeper may not waste time putting the ball into play. The goalkeeper wears a different color jersey from his or her teammates.
Ball out of touch – All of the ball must go completely past the outside edge of the touch line or goal line either on the ground or in the air.
Goal – All of the ball must go completely past all of the goal line into the goal.
Throw-In – A throw-in is the restart after the ball has gone over the touch line. The ball is thrown in at the spot it left the field of play. Both of the player’s feet must be on or behind the touch line. The ball must be thrown from behind the head with both hands, one on each side of the ball.
Corner Kick - After the ball has gone out over the goal line having last been touched by the defensive team. The ball is placed inside the corner arc and kicked by an offensive player.
Goal Kick – After the ball has gone out over the goal line having last been touched by the offensive team. The ball is kicked by a defensive player from anywhere inside the goal area. The ball must be kicked out of the penalty area before it is back in play.
Offside – A player is in an offside position if:
the player is in the opponent’s half of the field, and
is ahead of the ball, and
there are fewer than two opponents ahead of the player.
The offside position is judged at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate. If, in the opinion of the referee, a player in an offside position touches the ball, interferes with an opponent, or plays a ball that rebounds from the goalkeeper or the cross bar, then an indirect free kick is awarded the opposing team.
There is no offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from a throw-in, corner kick or goal kick.
Click here for a great video animation that illustrates the above explanation of offsides!
Indirect Free Kick (IFK) – An IFK is taken from the location of the offense. A goal cannot be scored directly, i.e. the ball must touched by another player before a goal can be scored. An IFK is awarded for various infractions as well as the following fouls:
plays in a dangerous manner
impedes the progress of an opponent
prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
The following apply to the goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area:
controls the ball with his hands after he has released it from his possession and before it has touched another player
touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate
touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kick to him by a teammate
touches the ball with his hands after he has releaed it from his possession and before it has touched another player
Direct Free Kick (DFK) – A DFK is taken from the location of the foul and is awarded for the following offenses when committed by a player while the ball is in play (except when committed inside the offenders own penalty area) :
kicks or attemps to kick an opponent
trips or attemps to trip an opponent
jumps at an opponent
charges an opponent
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
pushes an opponent
tackles an opponent
holds an opponent
handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
spits at an opponent
Penalty Kick (PK) – A PK is awarded for a direct free kick foul committed inside a team’s penalty area. The kick is taken from the penalty spot. All players except the kicker and goalkeeper must be outside the penalty area, behind the ball and at least 10 yards from the penalty spot. The ball is in play after it has been kicked forward, but the kicker may not be the next to touch it.
Advantage – Any penalty which might in the opinion of the referee give an advantage to the team committing the foul shall not be called.
Warning – A verbal warning from the referee to a player, coach or spectator.
Caution (Yellow Card) – A player is cautioned if he commits any of the following seven offenses:
unsporting behavior
dissent by word or action
persistent infringement of the laws of the game
delaying a restart of play
failing to respect required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in
entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission
deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission
Send Off (Red Card) – A player or substitute is sent-off if he commits any of the following seven offenses:
serious foul play
violent conduct
spitting at an opponent or any other person
denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handlng the ball (this does not apply to the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or penalty kick
using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
receiving a second caution in the same match
An ejected player, coach or spectator must immediately leave the field and surrounding area. An ejected player may not be replaced during the current match. While team officials can be sanctioned, only a player or substitute may be shown the red or yellow card.
For more information about the laws of the game visit the FIFA “Laws of the Game” website.