Rules of the Game - During Play
The game starts with a kick-off. To kick-off, two players from the offensive team stands inside of the circle, which is at the half-field point. No one else is allowed in the circle until the ball has been touched by the offensive team. One person touches the ball so that it moves forward at least one rotation. The second player may then do what they wish with the ball (pass or dribble). The game has begun.
Throughout the game, the ball tends to be knocked out of bounds. The soccer field is lined with white paint. A regulation soccer field is 60 yards wide and 100 yards long. If the ball passes over the outer border (white line) of the field then it is considered out of play. There are a few different rules to what happens next:
- Whomever touched the ball last forfeits possession to the other team.
- If the ball is out of bounds along the length of the field, the ball must enter the field by a throw-in. The player must throw the ball (both hands on the ball) overhead, with both feet planted on the ground.
- If the ball is out of bands along the width of the field (the goal line), then either a goal kick or a corner kick will bring the ball back into play:
- If the offensive team is the last to touch the ball, the defensive team will place the ball on the goal box (which surrounds the goal, 20 yards across and 6 yards out from the goal), and kick it. This is called a goal kick. All other players (besides the one kicking the ball and the goalie) must remain outside of the outer goal (aka penalty) box, which is 44 yards wide, and 18 yards deep. No player, including the one that kicked it and the goalie, can touch the ball again until it has reached the 18 yard (penalty box) line.
- If the defensive team was last to touch the ball, the offensive team gets to do a corner kick. The ball is placed in the very corner of the field, inside a small box. It is then kicked into play. This is seen as an advantage, as the offensive team can set up a play to attempt to score a goal.
Substitutions are allowed at the referee's discretion, while the ball is out of bands and prior to being thrown/kicked back in to play. This can only be done before a throw in or goal kick. Substitutions are not typically allowed on a corner kick.
A goal is scored any time that the ball crosses the goal line.
If the defensive team attacks the offensive team within the defensive team's penalty box, the referee may award a penalty kick to the offensive team. (There are a few factors that play into what would warrant a penalty kick. This is just a basic overview of what it is.) Just as with a goal kick, no one can be inside of the penalty box, other than the kicker and the goalie. The ball is placed 12 yards away from the goal, directly in front of it. The goalie may move horizontally along the goal line prior to the ball being kicked. One offensive player is chosen to kick the ball. If the ball crosses the goal line, it is a goal. If the goalie catches the ball, the game resumes as normal. If the goalie hits the ball out of bounds, the offensive team will have a corner kick. If the ball is deflected, the game resumes immediately. Any player can then kick the ball. If the ball is kicked directly out of bounds by the person taking the penalty kick, the defensive team will resume play with a goal kick.
If an offensive player is between the last defender and the defensive team's goalie on the offensive side of the field, he/she may not receive the ball from a player on the offensive team. This is called offsides. So, if an offensive player runs behind the last defender, and a teammate passes him/her the ball, he/she cannot continue the play (a linesman will notify the referee and the referee will blow a whistle to stop play). If the ball is deflected off of a defender (if a defender is the last to touch the ball), though, the play resumes. If the referee blows the whistle to stop play, due to an off sides, the defensive team will resume play by kicking the ball forward, from wherever the off sides occurred. *See the video below for a visual explanation.
Players may not deliberately touch the ball with their hands, other than the goalie. This is called a handball. If a player does touch the ball with his/her hands, the referee will stop the play, and award the other team the ball to kick.
A goalie may only touch the ball with his/her hands within the penalty (18 yard) box. If the goalie has the ball in possession, he/she may punt (drop kick) the ball, throw or roll it, or put it down and kick it. Outside of the penalty box, the goalie becomes just another player, and may play without using his/her hands.
There are two types of free kicks: indirect and direct.
- Indirect kicks are awarded when a non-dangerous foul has occurred. An indirect free kick cannot directly result in a goal. As in, another player must touch the ball, after it is kicked, prior to it entering the goal.
- Direct kicks are awarded of a dangerous foul or a handball, and can result in a goal (directly).