The Laws of the Game
There are 17 laws of football; here is a brief description of each and every one.
1. Field of play
Rule one refers to the field of play or ‘pitch’. This can be a natural or artificial surface of which must be green. The field must be rectangular and marked with white lines. The length of the sidelines or touchlines must be longer than the length of the goal line. A rectangular goal must be placed on each goal line – this must be made of wood, metal or another approved material.
2. The ball
The second law refers to the ball. It must be spherical and made of leather or another suitable material. The circumference must not be more than 70cm (27.56 inches) and not less than 68cm (26.77 inches). If the ball bursts or becomes defective, the match is stopped and its replacement is dropped at the place where the problem occurred.
3. The number of players
Either team must not consist of more than 11 players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. If either side consists of less than seven players, the match cannot start. Up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used.
4. The players’ equipment
Law four mainly refers to the teams’ kits. Each player must wear a jersey or shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks, suitable footwear and shin guards, which must be covered by the socks. Players must not wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player. The two kits must distinguish from each other and the goalkeepers’ kits must distinguish from the other players and the assistants.
5. The referee
Rule five refers to the ‘man in the middle’ the referee. Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the laws of the game in the match. All his or her decisions are final but they can change a decision on the advice of an assistant referee.
6. The assistant referees
To help the man in the middle there can be two assistant referees appointed who are stationed on either sideline or ‘touchline’. Their main duties include indicating when the ball leaves the field of play, which team is entitled to the restart and deciding if a player is offside. They also generally help the referee to identify any wrongdoing by any player on the field of play.
7. The duration of play
The football match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes unless both teams agree otherwise before the start of play. Players are entitled to an interval in between the two halves. This must not exceed 15 minutes.
8. The start and restart of play
At the start of the game, a coin is tossed and the team that wins chooses which goal it will attack. The other team takes the kick-off. Whenever a kick-off is taken, all players must be in their own half of the pitch, the ball must be stationary on the centre mark and the ball must move forward not sideways or backwards.
9. The ball in and out of play
The ball is out of play when it wholly crosses the line or when the referee stops play. It remains IN play even if it rebounds off a goal-post, corner flag or crossbar but doesn’t cross the line.
10. The method of scoring
A goal is scored only when the whole of the ball crosses over the goal line between the posts and underneath the crossbar. Whichever team scores most goals wins and if both teams score the same number of goals, or none at all, the game is a draw.
11. Offside
Law 11 is refers to the dreaded offside rule. Firstly, it is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. You are in an offside position if you are nearer to the opponent’s goal than both the ball and the second-last opponent – including the goalkeeper. You cannot be offside in your own half, if you are level with the second-last opponent or if you are behind the ball. A player is only penalized for being in an offside position if he is interfering with play, interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage by being in that position. You cannot be offside if you receive the ball from a goal kick, throw in or corner.
12. Fouls and misconduct
A direct free-kick is awarded is awarded if a player commits or attempts any of the following offences in a manner considered by the referee as careless, reckless or using excessive force, kicks an opponent, trips an opponent, jumps at an opponent, charges an opponent, strikes as opponent, pushes or tackles an opponent, holds an opponents, spits at an opponent, handles the ball. A direct free-kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred, if inside the area, a penalty kick is awarded.
13. Free-kicks
These can be either direct or indirect. A goal is given if a direct free-kick is kicked directly into the opponent’s goal. If a direct free-kick is kicked directly into their own goal, a free-kick is awarded to the opposing team. For both direct and indirect free-kicks, the ball must be stationary when taken and the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. All opposition players must be at least 10 yards from the ball until it is in play.
14. The penalty kick
If a foul is committed inside the area, a penalty kick is awarded. Rule 14 refers entirely to this procedure. The ball must be placed on the penalty spot 12 yards from goal and the taker must be properly identified. The goalkeeper must remain on his line, facing the kicker until the ball is kicked. All the other players must remain behind the ball and outside the area until the kick is taken.
15. The throw-in
This is a method of restarting play. A throw-in is rewarded to the opposition when a player touches the ball last before it crosses the touch line on either the floor or the air. At the moment of delivering the all, the thrower faces the field of play, has part of each foot on the touchline or behind it, holds the ball with both hands and delivers the ball from behind his head. After delivering the ball, the thrower must not touch the ball until it has touched another player. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
16. The goal kick
This is another method of restarting play. One is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line either side or above the goal when the last touch came from a member of the attacking team. Any player from the defending team can take the kick and opponents must remain outside the box until the ball is in play. The kicker may not touch the ball until it has touched another play and if the ball is not kicked directly out of the penalty area the kick is retaken.
17. The corner kick
The last law of football refers to another method of restarting play – the corner kick. This is awarded to the attacking team when the ball crosses the goal line, either side, or above the goal, having last touched a member of the defending team. The ball must be placed inside the corner arc nearest to the point the ball crossed the line and opponents must stay at least 10 yards from the ball until it is played. They ball is in play once it is kicked and the kicker must not touch it again until it has touched another player. A goal may be scored directly from a corner.
