The Rules of Soccer are divided into 17 Laws.
Here is a brief description of each law.
Law 1: The Field of Play
Soccer can be played on either grass or turf, but the surface must be green. The field must be rectangular, and marked by two short goal lines and two long-touch lines. The field is divided by the halfway line, which runs from the midpoints of each touchline.
Law 2: The Ball
A soccer ball must be spherical in shape and made of leather or another comparable medium. Its circumference must be in the range of 27 to 28 inches.
Law 3: The Number of Players
Matches are generally played by two teams of 11 to a side. The goalkeeper is included in the 11-player total. If a team cannot field at least seven players at match time, the game is a forfeit.
Law 4: The Players’ Equipment
All players are required to wear a jersey, shorts, shin guards, socks and cleats. The socks must cover the shin guards entirely.
Law 5: The Referee
The referee is the authority on the field, and his word is law.
Law 6: The Assistant Referees
The assistant referees are primarily responsible for assisting the referee in performing his duties.
Law 7: The Duration of the Match
A soccer match is comprised of two 45-minute halves, with extra time added for each at the referee’s discretion.
Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play
Kick-off is generally determined by a coin toss, whereby the winning team can either choose to start with the ball or choose which goal they would like to attack.
Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play
The ball is out of play when it fully crosses either the goal line or the touch line. It is also out of play if the referee stops play for any reason.
Law 10: The Method of Scoring
A goal is scored when the entire ball has crossed the goal line within the frame of the goal. At the end of the match, the team with the most goals is the winner, barring the circumstantial necessity for extra time.
Law 11: Offside
When an attacking player receives the ball while on his opponents half, he must be level or behind the second to last defender (the last typically being the goalkeeper).
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
A direct free kick is awarded when a player kicks, jumps, trips, charges at, strikes, pushes, tackles, holds, spits at an opponentIndirect free kicks are awarded if a player plays dangerously, impedes the progress of an opponent, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball, or commits an unmentioned offense.
Yellow cards are awarded as a caution or warning to a player and can be issued for unsporting behavior, dissent, persistent infringement of the laws, delaying the restart of play, failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted, entering, leaving, or re-entering the field of play without permission.
Red cards are used to send a player off the field, and can be issued for serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or person, denying the opposing team a goal by deliberately handling the ball (exception of the goalkeeper), using offensive language, or receiving two yellow-cards in a match.
Law 13: Free Kicks
A direct kick can be shot directly into the opponent’s goal without touching another player. An indirect free kick is indicated by the referee raising his hand during the kick. An indirect kick can only go into the goal if it has subsequently been touched by another player before it enters the goal.
Law 14: The Penalty Kick
A penalty kick is awarded either when a defensive player fouls an attacking player or commits a handball in his/her team’s penalty area. The penalty kick is placed at the penalty spot, and all players on both teams must remain outside the penalty box during the shot.
Law 15: The Throw-In
A throw-in is awarded when the possessing team plays the ball out of bounds over the touchline. While taking a throw-in, a player must release the ball with both hands simultaneously and keep both feet firmly planted on the ground.
Law 16: The Goal Kick
A goal kick is awarded when the offensive team plays the ball out of bounds over the defensive team’s goal line. After the ball is out of play, the defender or goalkeeper may place the ball anywhere within the six-yard goal box and kick the ball back into play.
Law 17: The Corner Kick
A corner kick is awarded to the offensive team when the defensive team plays the ball out of bounds over its goal line. The ball is placed within the corner area and is kicked back into play by the offensive team.
Law 1: The Field of Play
Soccer can be played on either grass or turf, but the surface must be green. The field must be rectangular, and marked by two short goal lines and two long-touch lines. The field is divided by the halfway line, which runs from the midpoints of each touchline.
Law 2: The Ball
A soccer ball must be spherical in shape and made of leather or another comparable medium. Its circumference must be in the range of 27 to 28 inches.
Law 3: The Number of Players
Matches are generally played by two teams of 11 to a side. The goalkeeper is included in the 11-player total. If a team cannot field at least seven players at match time, the game is a forfeit.
Law 4: The Players’ Equipment
All players are required to wear a jersey, shorts, shin guards, socks and cleats. The socks must cover the shin guards entirely.
Law 5: The Referee
The referee is the authority on the field, and his word is law.
Law 6: The Assistant Referees
The assistant referees are primarily responsible for assisting the referee in performing his duties.
Law 7: The Duration of the Match
A soccer match is comprised of two 45-minute halves, with extra time added for each at the referee’s discretion.
Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play
Kick-off is generally determined by a coin toss, whereby the winning team can either choose to start with the ball or choose which goal they would like to attack.
Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play
The ball is out of play when it fully crosses either the goal line or the touch line. It is also out of play if the referee stops play for any reason.
Law 10: The Method of Scoring
A goal is scored when the entire ball has crossed the goal line within the frame of the goal. At the end of the match, the team with the most goals is the winner, barring the circumstantial necessity for extra time.
Law 11: Offside
When an attacking player receives the ball while on his opponents half, he must be level or behind the second to last defender (the last typically being the goalkeeper).
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
A direct free kick is awarded when a player kicks, jumps, trips, charges at, strikes, pushes, tackles, holds, spits at an opponentIndirect free kicks are awarded if a player plays dangerously, impedes the progress of an opponent, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball, or commits an unmentioned offense.
Yellow cards are awarded as a caution or warning to a player and can be issued for unsporting behavior, dissent, persistent infringement of the laws, delaying the restart of play, failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted, entering, leaving, or re-entering the field of play without permission.
Red cards are used to send a player off the field, and can be issued for serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or person, denying the opposing team a goal by deliberately handling the ball (exception of the goalkeeper), using offensive language, or receiving two yellow-cards in a match.
Law 13: Free Kicks
A direct kick can be shot directly into the opponent’s goal without touching another player. An indirect free kick is indicated by the referee raising his hand during the kick. An indirect kick can only go into the goal if it has subsequently been touched by another player before it enters the goal.
Law 14: The Penalty Kick
A penalty kick is awarded either when a defensive player fouls an attacking player or commits a handball in his/her team’s penalty area. The penalty kick is placed at the penalty spot, and all players on both teams must remain outside the penalty box during the shot.
Law 15: The Throw-In
A throw-in is awarded when the possessing team plays the ball out of bounds over the touchline. While taking a throw-in, a player must release the ball with both hands simultaneously and keep both feet firmly planted on the ground.
Law 16: The Goal Kick
A goal kick is awarded when the offensive team plays the ball out of bounds over the defensive team’s goal line. After the ball is out of play, the defender or goalkeeper may place the ball anywhere within the six-yard goal box and kick the ball back into play.
Law 17: The Corner Kick
A corner kick is awarded to the offensive team when the defensive team plays the ball out of bounds over its goal line. The ball is placed within the corner area and is kicked back into play by the offensive team.