| There are several rules (aka laws) that seem to | | | | Off-Side |
| confuse the American spectator, especially the | | | | The first point to be made is that the judgement of |
| spectator of youth soccer. Among the most | | | | whether or not a player has committed an off-side |
| commonly misunderstood rules are: | | | | violation is made at the moment that the ball touches |
| - Handball | | | | or is played by a member of his/her team. Further, |
| - Off-Side | | | | the player in the off-side position must, in the opinion |
| - Goalkeeper Possession | | | | of the referee, be: |
| Now, one must also bear in mind that the referees | | | | - interfering with play |
| who are officiating youth soccer games may, | | | | - interfering with an opponent |
| themselves, just be learning the game, and they may | | | | - gaining an advantage by being in that position |
| also not fully understand these particular rules. | | | | There is no off-side violation when a player in an |
| Therefore, you may find that some of the calls are | | | | off-side position receives the ball directly from: |
| not consistent with the interpretations given here, | | | | - a throw-in |
| but the FIFA laws are written as represented in this | | | | - a goal kick |
| article. | | | | - a corner kick |
| Handball | | | | Note also that a player cannot be in an off-side |
| A handball violation is to be called only when the hand | | | | position when in his/her own half of the field. |
| plays the ball. If the ball is kicked into the hand and | | | | Goalkeeper Possession |
| the ball bounces away without the hand (or arm) | | | | There are four situations in which the goalkeeper |
| redirecting or otherwise controlling the ball, then there | | | | commits a violation when handling the ball inside his |
| is no handball violation. A particular case in point is on | | | | her own goal area: |
| the occasion of a free kick and the defenders align | | | | - controls the ball in his/her hands for more than six |
| themselves into a defensive wall. They may position | | | | seconds before releasing it |
| their hands and arms to protect themselves and, if | | | | - touches the ball again with his/her hands after |
| the ball is kicked into them and hits the arm or hand | | | | releasing it and before any other player has touched |
| without the player moving from the protective | | | | it |
| position, then no handball violation is to be called. | | | | - touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been |
| There is also no handball violation called when a player | | | | deliberately kicked to him/her by a team mate |
| is very close to an opponent who kicks the ball | | | | - touches the ball with his/her hands after receiving it |
| directly into his/her hand or arm. Clearly, there is no | | | | directly from a throw-in taken by a team mate |
| violation if the ball hits the hand or arm when the | | | | Note that these goalkeeper possession violations are |
| player is not even facing the ball when the incident | | | | indirect kick violations: they are never to result in |
| occurs and, therefore could not have known that the | | | | penalty kicks! |
| ball was going to strike the hand. | | | | |