Soccer / Football

Soccer / Football Rules

Start Of The Game And During Gameplay

If a goal is scored at the beginning of the play then a kick-off is awarded from the center circle. After the kick-off, the ball will be in the play till the time it goes out of the boundary or the referee stops play.

Time Duration

The game duration is divided into 45 minutes halves with a 10-15 mins halftime. Whereas, youth matches are played in equal halves of lesser time than the former usually 20 to 40 mins depending on the age groups or regions.

No Use Of Hands

Touching the ball with the hands is disallowed unless the player is a goalie. Hand balls are anything that touches the body part from the shoulder to the tips of fingers.

Throw-Ins

A throw-in is taken when the ball passes the sideline and is out of the field. The basic rule of throw-in is to keep both the feet on the ground and throw the ball with both the hands over the head.

Corner & Goal Kicks

A corner or a goal kick is taken when the ball leaves the field across the end line. It is said to be a goal kick when the offensive team kicks it out whereas when the defensive team does the same, it is termed as a corner kick. The goal kick is taken from anywhere inside the penalty corner and the corner kick is taken from the nearest corner.

Fouls

The foul is said to have been committed in the following circumstances:-

• When a player trips, jumps, kicks, strikes, charges, holds, pushes or spits on the opponent player/s.
• Bumping or shoulder to shoulder while struggling for the ball is not considered as a foul but the use of arms and elbow definitely is.

Cards

A card is awarded against fouls as a punishment.

• A yellow card is a warning. Two yellow cards equate to a red card.
• A red card is an expulsion and a reasonable suspension of next game.
• A referee can straight away show a red card if necessary before yellow ones.

Direct or Indirect Kick

Both direct as well as an indirect kick can be taken after a foul has been committed.

• Direct kick is said to have been taken when the player scores by directly kicking the ball on the goal.
• An indirect kick has to be touched by two players of the same team before scoring a goal. Generally, teammates of the opponent team will stand nearby to ‘quick touch’ the ball during an indirect kick.

Game Rules (major changes in rules)

Year 1866

The strict rugby-style offside rule was relaxed: a player was considered onside as long as there were three opponents between the player and therefore the opposite goal. The free kick awarded for a fair catch (still seen in different soccer codes) was eliminated. A tape (corresponding to the new crossbar) was adscititious to the goals; antecedently goals might be scored at any height (as these days in Australian rules football).

Year 1867

The situation when the ball went behind the goal-line was simplified: all rugby-like components were removed, with the defence being awarded a goal-kick no matter that the team touched the ball.

Year 1870

Handling of the ball was banned (previously, players had been allowed to catch the ball). groups amendment ends at half-time, however as long as no goals were scored within the first half.

Year 1871

Introduction of the particular position of goalkeeper, who is allowed to handle the ball "for the protection of his goal".

Year 1872

The indirect free kick was introduced as a penalisation for a handball, the first mention of a correctional action for contravening the principles. The corner kick is introduced. teams don't amend ends once goals are scored in the second half.

Year 1873

The throw-in was granted against the team who kicked the ball into touch (previously it had been awarded to the first player from either team to the touch the ball once it went out of play). The goalkeeper might not "carry" the ball.

Year 1874

The indirect free kick, antecedently used solely to penalise handball, is extended to hide fouls and offside. the first regard to a match official (the "umpire"). Previously, team captains had usually been expected to enforce the laws.

Year 1875

A goal might not be directly scored from a corner-kick or the kick-off. groups amendment ends at half-time solely. The goal might have either a crossbar or tape.

Year 1877

The throw might get into any direction (previously it had to be thrown in at right-angles to the sideline, as these days in rugby union). As a result of this alteration, the clubs of the city soccer Association united to drop their own unique "Sheffield Rules" and use the FA laws.

Year 1878

A player can be regarded as offside even if he is in a throw-in.

Year 1881

The referee is introduced, to determine disputes between the umpires. The caution (for "ungentlemanly behaviour") and therefore the sending-off (for violent conduct) seem within the laws for the first time.

Year 1883

An "international conference" between English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh soccer associations, conducted in Dec 1882, resulted with the unification of the principles across the home nations, that entailed many changes to the FA's laws the subsequent year. The throw-in finally reaches its current type, with players needed to throw the ball from on top of the head using two hands. A player can't be offside from a corner kick. The goalkeeper might take up to 2 steps whereas holding the ball. The goal should have a crossbar (the choice of tape is removed). The kick-off should be kicked forwards. The touch-line was introduced (previously, the boundary of the sector of play had been marked by flags).

Year 1887

The goalkeeper might not handle the ball within the opposition's half.

Year 1888

The drop ball was presented as a way of restarting play once it's been suspended by the referee.

Year 1889

A player is also sent off for continual cautionable behaviour.

Year 1890

A goal might not be scored directly from a goal kick.

Year 1891

The penalty kick was added, for handball or fouls within twelve yards of the line. Linesmen replace the umpires. Pitch markings are introduced for the goal space, penalty space, centre spot and centre circle.

Year 1897 

The laws specify, for the primary time, the number of players on every team (11) and therefore the length of every match (90 minutes, unless agreed otherwise). The half-way line is introduced. the entire length of the bottom is reduced from two hundred yards to a hundred thirty yards.

Year 1901

Goalkeepers might handle the ball for any purpose (previously the goalkeeper was permissible to handle the ball solely "in defence of his goal").

Year 1902

The goal space and penalty space assume their current dimensions, extending six yards and eighteen yards severally from the goal posts. The penalty spot is introduced.

Year 1903

A goal is also scored directly from a free kick awarded for handball or foul (previously all free-kicks awarded for infringements of the laws, aside from penalty kicks, had been indirect). A referee might refrain from awarding a free kick or penalty to relinquish advantage to the attacking team. A player is also sent off for "bad or violent language to a Referee".

Year 1907

Players can't be offside once in their half.

Year 1912

The goalkeeper might handle the ball solely in the penalty space.

Year 1920

A player can't be offside from a throw-in.

Year 1924

A goal is also scored directly from a free kick.

Year 1925

The offside rule was relaxed further: a player was considered onside as long as there were two opponents between the player and therefore the opponents' goal-line (previously, three opponents had been required).

Year 1931

The goalkeeper might take four steps (rather than two) whereas carrying the ball.

Year 1937

The "D" was annexed to the pitch markings, to make sure that players don't infringe at ten yards of the player taking a penalty kick.

Year 1938

Stanley Francis Peyton Rous utterly rewrites the laws. A player is also sent off for "serious foul play".

Year 1970

The red and yellow cards were introduced.

Year 1990

An additional relaxation of the offside rule: a player level with the second-last opponent is taken into account onside (previously, such a player would are thought of offside). A player is also sent off for an offence that denies opponents a "clear goalscoring opportunity".

Year 1992

The back-pass rule was established: the goalkeeper might not handle the ball once it's been intentionally kicked to him/her by a mate.

Year 1997

The principles are utterly rewritten, for the first time since 1938. A goal is also scored directly from the kick-off or the goal kick. The goalkeeper might not handle the ball once receiving it directly from a team-mate's throw.

Year 2000

The four-step constraint on the goalkeeper handling the ball was abolished and replaced by the "six-second rule": the goalkeeper might not handle the ball for more than six seconds. The goalkeeper might not be charged whereas holding the ball.

Year 2012

Goal-line technology permissible (but not required).

Year 2016

The kick-off is also kicked in any direction.

Year 2018

Video assistant referees permissible (but not required). A fourth substitution is permissible in additional time.