Soccer (called football in many other countries) is a game between two teams of 11 players on a large rectangular The object of the game is very simple; score more goals than your opponent Goals are counted when the ball crosses the goal line completely, under the crossbar, between the goalposts. The Soccer team with the greatest goal total at the end of the game will win. Below is a brief, easily understandable description of the basic configuration of a field, the roles of the players, scoring, and some fouls you will be sure to notice; there will be visual examples to aid beginners in Soccer understanding how to play the game.
Basic Field Setup in Soccer:
The soccer field or pitch is a green rectangle with white lines and the long sides are called touchlines while the short side are goal lines. Each end has a goal comprising two upright posts (8 yards apart) and the crossbar is 8 feet off the ground. Each end of the field contains some important areas:
- Penalty Area (18×44 yards): A large rectangle (18 yards deep) in front of each goal. Only the goalkeeper may use hands from anywhere inside this box. A foul by the defending team at this spot usually results in a penalty kick (a direct shot from 12 yards away) for the attacking team
- Goal Area (6×20 yards): A smaller box (6 yards deep) inside the penalty area (also called the “6-yard box”). Goal kicks (free kicks by the defending team from a spot to restart play) are taken from here.
- Center Circle: At midfield is a circle with a 10-yard . Kickoffs are taken from the center of this circle. Opponents must remain outside this circle until the ball is kicked.
- Halfway Line- This line divides the field in half. This line helps determine offsides (player cannot be offside on their own half).
Every line on the Soccer field (side lines, end lines, center line, etc.) is part of the actual field of play. A ball is out of play only when it completely crosses a boundary (for example: a sideline or goal line) . In practice, the field diagram above shows the halfway line and center circle, the goal and penalty areas on either end, or corner arcs that are marked in the corners.
Key field dimensions : According to Wikipedia only, approximately 105 meters long by 68 meters wide is the recommendation for a professional game The goal measures 8 yards wide and is 8 feet tall For a goal to stand, the ball entirely needs to cross the line between the 2 posts.
Player Roles in Soccer:
- Every Soccer team consists of 11 players assigned to specific roles. The four general categories of positions in Soccer are below, while also describing what each role generally does. (These are general roles, but teams can use different systems and formations with varying numbers of players in each role.)
- Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper (or goalie) is the one that plays near the goal, and the only player allowed to handle the ball – But only in the penalty area! The goalkeeper’s job is to prevent shots on his/her goal and stop the other team from scoring. This can be done by catching the ball, diving to block, or kicking the ball as far from the goal as possible. In addition to stopping the ball, the goalkeeper is responsible for organizing the defense, and keeping track of where the other team is, while getting teammates in the correct positions. You will often hear the goalkeeper communicating their instructions to the defenders. Because they are the only players that can handle the ball, there is often a different color jersey worn by a goalkeeper.
- Defenders (Fullbacks and Center-Backs): Defenders will remain close to their goal and protect it. Fullbacks (right-back and left-back) usually play on the wide part of the back line to mark attackers and block crosses. They will usually sprint backwards and forwards down the flank. Center-backs (or central defenders) usually play in the middle of the defenders. They are usually strong, and able to head the ball. Their job is to mark the opponents’ strikers, tackle, intercept, and “clear” the ball away from danger. Defenders help the goalkeeper by blocking shots, covering the area of the goal. When they have an opportunity, they will try to kick the ball away from the goal line towards the sidelines – a defensive clearance.. Basically, defenders are to prevent members of the other team’s forwards from approaching their goal and gain possession of the ball.
- Midfielders (Halfbacks): The midfielders play in between the defenders and forwards. Often called “halfbacks” in the old terminology, midfielders typically have 2–4 players controlling the middle of the field (and giving the signaling players to the wings). The midfielders have two roles: they defend against attacks and help to set up the offense. Midfielders intercept passes, engage in tackles against their opponents, then quickly pass the soccer ball forwards to their forwards. When midfielders win the ball, they look to quickly play the soccer ball to an open forward, and the forwards quickly make a run forward while the midfielder plays the ball. Midfielders operate as a link for the defense and offense plays, the last position before the attack. You can think of midfielders as the engine of the team: they are running a lot, distributing the ball, and allowing the team to play forward.
- Forwards/Strikers: Forwards are the primary attackers on the team, and their primary role is scoring goals. There are most often 1 – 3 forwards depending on the formation (forwards may also be called strikers or wingers). Their place on the field is always at the front and they try to get behind the defense. If when the forwards get the ball or have a chance at a shot, they kick or head the ball to the opponent’s goal. Forwards there need to be good shooters and fast runners. In the modern game, wing players (left and right forwards) often track back to support midfielders but attacking is their primary role. The main idea is forwards score, midfielders connect play, defenders defend, and the goalkeeper saves the ball.
Scoring System in Soccer:
- Definite scoring in soccer: each goal is worth one point. The basic rules of Soccer are the following:
- Scoring a goal: A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line in between the posts and below the crossbar. It does not matter how it went in – weak kick, header, or deflection, if the ball crosses the line completely, it is a goal. Even if the goalkeeper caught the ball and it still went over the line, it still counts as a goal. (In professional play, goal line technology and referee’s make sure that this decision is made correctly.
- Winning the game: The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins. A match follows the basic structure of two halves of 45 minutes of play. In league play, if both teams score the same number of goals, the end score is typically a draw. (For example, 1-1 is a draw.) In many leagues, three points are given for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss in league . Goal difference (goals scored minus goals let in) is also often used as a tiebreaker in league.
Matches ending in ties and extra period:
The “knockout” tournaments (like playoffs in the World Cup tournament for national teams), if teams are tied at the end of 90 minutes, there are extra times. If tied after 90 minutes two – 15-minute extra times are played. If there is still a tie after the extra times, a penalty shootout occurs where teams alternate kicking the ball from the penalty mark instead of an actual game, (The old “sudden death” goal rule used to apply – which is no longer widely used.)
Statistical Performance: a team wins the match if they have more total goals. Thus, a goal is considered the same if a forward scores as if a defender or midfielder score. it is however worthiness to note that players can be credited for assists (the pass or touch just before a goal). Assists are kept track of in statistics but not in the rules of score.
Common Fouls and Penalties in Soccer:
- Soccer is a contact sport but there are many actions that are foul if done in a way that is unfair. Referees are determined to enforce many of the rules to keep the game fair and safe. The common fouls and associated penalties in Soccer are:
- Offside: The offside rule will not be a “foul” but often catches beginners off guard. A player is in an offside position if, at the time of the pass by a teammate, the player is closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender (generally the last outfield defender). A player who is in an offside position can no longer be included in the play until a teammate returns the ball back inside (that is, either by carrying the ball back or passing to an area of the field they had previously been to). Importantly, merely being in an offside position is not an offense. The player is penalized (referee has stopped playing for the offside) only if they become involved in the attack – by for instance receiving the ball, obstructing or impeding a defender, or playing the ball. In the event offside is called, the defending team is awarded an indirect free kick at the location of the offside.
- Fouls – Free Kicks: Fouls are defined when a player physically kicks or trips an opponent or pushes or charges into them or tackles and hits them before touching the ball (a player cannot tackle the ball if the player is traveling with the ball). Handball (foul) is when a player, other than the goalkeeper (who can play with their hands within the penalty area), plays the ball deliberately with their hand or arm. If the foul occurs outside of the penalty area, the referee will blow their whistle to stop playing and the opposing team receives a free kick. If the foul is minor (for example, obstruction), the free-kick will be indirect, meaning the ball must touch another player before a goal can be scored from the free-kick. If the foul is significant (for example, a kick or push), the free kick will also be direct because of the foul. A direct free kick allows the kicker to directly shoot at the goal.
- If the foul resulting in a direct free-kick occurs within the penalty area of the defending team, the direct free-kick is a penalty kick. The ball will be placed twelve-yards from the goal line and will only be defended by the goalkeeper (the other players must be outside the penalty area and have a minimum of ten-yards if they are trying to attack from outside the penalty area, if they are not trying to attack the goal then they do not have to be in these two places). When the referee whistles for a penalty kick, the only possible outcome for the attacking team is goal or a miss (shot off the post or by the goalkeeper), so although it may not always be the case it is guidance – not a rule, that any penalty will be considered a very high probability shot on goal.
- Corner Kicks and Throw-Ins: If the ball completely crosses the goal line, being the last touch of a defender and is not a goal kick, then the attacking team is awarded a corner kick – taken from the corner arc. If the ball completely crosses the touchline, the opponents of the person who touched the ball last are awarded a throw-in. These are restarts, not fouls, but are regular plays when the ball goes out.
- Cards (Yellow/Red): For more serious or repeated fouls, the referee can discipline the players with cards. A yellow card is a caution (for example: unsporting behavior, repeated fouls, dissent, or delaying the game). If a player receives a second yellow card for a foul worthy of a yellow, that player now receives a red card (expulsion) for repeated offenses and the player must leave the field. A player is shown a red card if he commits an extremely careless, reckless act (Violent conduct, denying a goal or attacking foul language, dangerous play). If a player is issued a red card, he must leave the field and that team must play the remainder of the game down a man.
Common Examples of Fouls in Soccer
- At a high level, a referee will stop playing for actions like:
- Kicking an opponent or an attempt to kick an opponent.
- Tripping an opponent or an attempt to trip (i.e., with a leg or slide tackle).
- Jumping or charging into an opponent (often behind them).
- Pushing of an opponent or striking an opponent.
- Holding an opponent (shirt grabbing, etc.).
- A player (apart from the goalkeeper) handling the ball with the hands/arms.
- When a foul is committed, the referee will blow the whistle and win a free kick to the opposition team at the spot of the foul. Then play starts again from that spot after the whistle blows. If the foul was committed inside the area, the restart is the penalty kick as noted above.
Conclusion:
In summary, soccer rules are there to keep the game fair, and in flow. Because most contact (any tackle and challenges) is allowed if it is a clean tackle, the key rule for beginners to keep in mind is that reckless behavior, as well as handball (by field players) is not permitted. The referees manage unfair play in Soccer through free kicks, penalty kicks, and cards. Players learn to follow the rules over the years, and once you become accustomed to some basics it is easier to follow along as a new fan or player.