Rules and Strategies Teams Kick Off from the Center Spot, a Point in the Middle of The

SOCCER RULES

Rules and Strategies Teams kick off from the center spot, a point in the middle of the field. Players line up on their own half of the field with the three players on the kicking team usually standing close to the ball. Opponents must be at least 10 yards away from the ball. One of the attackers usually kicks the ball forward to a teammate to start. After each goal, play resumes with a kickoff. The team that is scored against kicks off.

As in basketball or hockey, the object is to score points by putting the ball into the opposing team’s goal while preventing the opposing team from scoring. Offensive players try to advance the ball (attack) into opposition territory through team play. This is done by passing the ball from player to player while keeping it away from the defenders. When in position to do so, a player kicks or heads the ball in the direction of the opponent’s goal. When a player gets the ball into the opposing team’s goal, either by kicking it or hitting it with another legal part of the body, the player scores a goal worth one point. Defensive players try to clear the ball from their area by intercepting passes and by using other legal methods to stop the team trying to score.

When the ball has crossed the goal line, it is put back into play by either a goal kick or a corner kick, depending on which team touched the ball last. If the defensive team last touched it, a corner kick is taken by the offensive team from the corner on the side on which the ball went out. If the ball was last touched by the offensive team, the defensive team takes a goal kick. The ball is placed on the ground at any point within the goal area and kicked from there.

Ball Control: Ball control is one of the most important elements of soccer. Players may trap the ball with any part of their body except their hands. After gaining control of the ball, the player may pass it to another player or dribble it downfield. The ball is dribbled by using the instep, the inside, or the outside of the foot. For a long pass the instep is usually used to kick the ball. The player’s head is also used in ball control. Players hit the ball with their foreheads to pass, intercept, and kick the ball at the goal.

Offside: A player is offside if the player is closer to the opponents goal than the ball is at the time the ball is being played by a teammate. But there are exceptions to this rule. A player is not offside if he/she is in the defending half of the field or is farther from the goal line than two opponents. A player is not offside if the ball was last touched by an opponent or if the player received the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in. It is not a violation to be in an offside position. A player shall only be penalized for being in an offside position if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate, that player is involved in active play by gaining an advantage by being in that position. Corner Kick: A corner kick occurs when the ball is deflected over the end line by a defensive player. The offensive player has a corner kick from the closest corner.

Goal Kick: A goal kick occurs when the ball is deflected over the end line by an offensive player. The goalie then places the ball closest to the goal post where it went out. The goalie can only kick it form the ground.

Throw In: The throw must be an overhead, two-handed delivery. As the player releases the ball, both feet must be touching the ground on or outside the side line.

Goal and Goalie: The goalie is the only player to use their hands. There are three ways a goalie can advance a ball- Punt it, Kick from the ground, or throw using one or two hands. The goalie can use their hands when the ball is passed to them. The goalie can only take five steps out of the goal.

Direct Kick: The ball can be kicked in the goal without anyone touching it first. The opposing team gets a direct free kick if a player kicks, trips, jumps at, violently charges, charges from behind, strikes, holds, or pushes an opponent or intentionally touches the ball with their hands or arms. A goal may be scored on a direct free kick without the ball being touched by another player. If any direct free-kick offense is committed by the defending team in its own penalty area, the opposing team is given a penalty kick

Direct kick occurs: Major fouls, Slide tackling, Unsportsmanlike conduct, High Kick

Indirect Kick: The ball needs to touch someone before it can go into the goal. For violations such as an offside, obstruction, and dangerous play, an indirect free kick is given to the opposing team. The player taking the indirect free kick is not allowed to kick the ball directly into the goal. The ball must first be touched by another player before entering the goal.

Indirect Occurs: Offside, Handball, Illegal goal kick, Goalie coming out too far