Soccer Rules and Regulations: A Complete Guide for All Players

Soccer is a simple sport. Kick the ball into the opposing team’s net and whichever side has the most goals when the clock runs out wins the match. It’s not, however, as easy as it might seem. Understanding soccer and playing it well can take years of practice.

It’s the most popular sport globally with an estimated 240 million players, and it’s constantly growing. Five of the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world are soccer stars. Because of its immense reach and the constantly evolving nature of the game, it’s important to know the rules and regulations.

To help you play your best soccer, we’ve put together a comprehensive analysis of the rules and concepts you need to understand and the equipment necessary to elevate your soccer skills.

The Basic Soccer Structure

Below is an overview of some simple soccer concepts that are important when you start to play.

Field of Play: The dimensions of a soccer field aren’t standardized. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has fields between 110 and 120 yards long and 70 and 80 yards wide The National Federation of High Schools recommends that high school fields should be 55 to 80 yards wide and 100 to 120 yards long. The playing area of a soccer field is called the “pitch.” In England, pitch means “field.” Pitch was first used to describe the playing area for a cricket match but was later adopted for a soccer field. Goal posts are centered on the goal line on each end of the field.
Players: There are 11 players on a soccer team and one player must be the goalie. A goalie guards the net, trying to prevent opposing teams from kicking the soccer ball into it for a goal.
Kickoffs: For a kickoff, the referee flips a coin with usually the captain from both teams at midfield. The winner of the coin toss gets to decide if they want to choose a goal to defend or get the ball first. The team that loses the coin toss gets to choose if they want the ball or to defend a goal in the second half. Teams tend to pick the goal they want to defend because weather conditions, like a strong wind, can be a factor.
Length: Games generally last 90 minutes with two 45-minute halftime intervals. Though it’s a running clock, stoppage time is frequently added. Stoppage time could be time taken by a celebration after a goal, when a player is hurt, or there’s a substitution. If the match is tied, there’s extra time or added time that’s generally two 15-minute halves. If neither team scores during the overtime period, there are 5 rounds of penalty kicks. That’s when a player matches against a goalie and tries to score with a kick. The team that has the most goals in the shoot-out wins.
Substitutions: A substitute is when a player is brought in to replace someone on the field. Teams are allowed 5 substitutions per game, and a coach can substitute at any time during the match. The clock stops for a substitution. In professional soccer, substitutions can’t leave and return. In youth soccer, subs are often allowed to reenter the game.
Referee Duties: Referees are responsible for applying the rules of soccer. They can penalize and remove players for breaking the rules. Their main job is to keep play fair. They’re also responsible for ensuring the timekeeping is accurate and the players’ safety isn’t compromised.

Important Rules of Soccer

For a deeper understanding of soccer, it’s helpful to know the rules. Below is a description of some of the principal rules.

Free and Penalty Kicks: A foul results in a free kick or a penalty kick. A free kick is when a player can try to score indirectly, meaning the ball must touch another player first. A penalty kick is when a player can score directly, and it occurs when the foul is committed inside the penalty area. For a penalty kick, a player has a free kick at their opponent’s goal against the goalie. For instance, if the defending team tripped an attacking player inside the penalty area, it would result in a penalty kick. If the trip occurred outside the penalty area, it’s a free kick.
Offside Rule: Offside is one of the more confusing rules for new players. It occurs when an attacking player is closer to the opponent’s goal than the player with the ball and the second to last opponent. Only the attacking team can be called for offsides. You aren’t penalized for being offside if you aren’t involved in the play. However, if a teammate passed the ball to you while you were offside, it’s an offense. Offenses are hard to call for officials because it can be difficult to tell if a player is ahead of their second-to-last opponent. Your offside position is established when a teammate touches the ball. The penalty for offside is a free kick.
Fouls and Misconduct: The difference between fouls and misconduct is intention. If a player accidentally causes physical harm to another player while trying to get the ball away, like pushing, kicking, striking, or tripping them, it’s a foul. Misconduct occurs when a player willfully harms an opponent. Fouls only occur during live play, but misconduct can happen when play is halted. Using your hands is an unfair advantage. A handball is when a player uses their hand or arm during play. It’s illegal to use any part of your arm or hand, which runs from your fingertips to your shoulders. Any purposeful touching of the ball with your arm is a penalty.
Red Card: A red card, which results in an automatic ejection, is the most severe form of discipline. A red card could be issued for fighting, an extreme foul, violent play, or spitting. The player can’t be replaced for the remainder of the game after getting a red card.
Yellow Card: A yellow card is a warning for breaking the rules. Some examples of a yellow card include reckless tackling, arguing with the referee, unsporting conduct, and time wasting. Two yellow cards in the same game equal a red card and leads to an ejection and a suspension for the next game.
The Throw-In: When the ball passes the touchline or field of play, possession is awarded to the opponent of the player who touched the ball last. An overhead toss with both hands is required for a throw-in. The player throwing the ball must have 1 foot on the touchline, and the defense must be at least 2 yards from the touchline. You can’t score on a throw-in.
Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play when it completely passes over the touchline, hits a referee, or an official has stopped the game. Changing game conditions means any play that gives an advantage to one team. That includes starting an attack, scoring a goal, or changing possession.

Goalkeeping Rules

The goalie area for a goalkeeper is a 6-yard box that extends from the soccer goal. A goalie’s main job is to guard the goal, trying to keep the other team from scoring. Below are some goalie rules.

Goalies Can Use Their Hands: They can legally use their hands, but it’s limited to the goalie area. Goalies use their hands to block shots or field balls hit into the goalie area.
Save: A save is when the goalie stops a shot on the goal from an opponent. The ball must be going into the goal to get credited for a save.
Goal Kick: A goalie must take a goal kick, which happens after the goalie gets control of the ball, inside the goal area.
Penalty Kick: A penalty kick is a free kick against the goalie with one player from the opposing team. The kicks must be taken outside the penalty area. A penalty kick is very hard to defend, and it frequently results in a goal.

Equipment Needed

You need a ball, cleats, a goal, corner flags, and a few other items for a soccer match. Below is a description of those items.

Soccer Ball: The circumference of a soccer ball is around 18” and it generally weighs between 14 and 16 ounces. Soccer balls are usually made of synthetic leather. There isn’t a standard design for a soccer ball.
Goals: There’s a goal at each end of the field, which typically has an aluminum or steel base. Each goal contains 2 vertical bars, 1 horizontal bar, and a cross net. Professional goals are usually 24 feet wide and 8 feet tall.
Corner Flags: Corner flags mark the field boundaries. They let players, fans, and officials know what the area of the field is. The flags are usually diagonal and placed on top of a 5-foot-high pole. They typically have a circular base.
Cleats: Cleats are used because soccer requires bursts of speed and sharp lateral movements. They help with traction. Soccer cleats are light and flexible, so players don’t feel weighed down on the field.
Shin Guards: Shin guards are worn to protect the lower front part of your knees. Shin guards should be lightweight, comfortable, and strong. They should allow for maximum movement.
Uniform/Kit: A uniform kit usually contains a jersey with sleeves, shirts, shorts, and sometimes shin guards and shoes.

Learning the rules of soccer and applying them effectively is something that players work on constantly. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, it’s critical for you to stay up to date with the changes that occur frequently in the game.