| Despite being a sport with roots reaching out to | | | | none to 7, with 3 substitutions eligible for each of the |
| medieval and even ancient times, soccer was never | | | | two teams. |
| really played under a set of strict rules until 1863. | | | | However, in friendly matches, it's often the case that |
| On 26 October, 1863 several amateur and | | | | both teams agree upon a set number of substitutions |
| semi-professional clubs from England gathered up in | | | | or simply go all-out and allow every bench player to |
| London and formed up the Football Association and | | | | get in the game at some point, replacing one of the |
| devised a "constitution" for the game, including a set | | | | first team members. |
| of standardized soccer.Obviously the "Laws of | | | | Ball in/out play soccer rules - The ball is in play |
| football" as they were called back then were just a | | | | whenever the referee doesn't intervene whistling a |
| set of basic soccer rules and they didn't cover all | | | | game stop and whenever it stays inside the play |
| aspects of the game. | | | | area. |
| The main points covered by the Football Association | | | | If the ball crosses the goal line or touch line by more |
| were regarding violence on the pitch, as oftentimes | | | | than half its circumference, then it goes out of play |
| the tense clashes in no-rules matches lead to bloody | | | | and a goal kick/corner or throw in is given to one of |
| fistfights between the teams. Since then, soccer | | | | the teams (the opposition of the team that last |
| rules constantly evolved and began covering more | | | | touched the ball). If a ball hits the referee ,the corner |
| and more of the game's principles and also adapting | | | | flag, the goal post or any other object on the pitch, |
| soccer to the age it was played in. | | | | the game remains in play. |
| A simple example of this would be the offside rules | | | | Fouls - Fouls are one of the most problematic soccer |
| which was introduced later on in the game, when | | | | rules nowadays, since they can be easily misjudge or |
| matches became more and more tactical. | | | | interpreted by the referee, which often causes |
| Without the offside rule, attackers would often have | | | | arguments on and off the pitch. Theoretically, a foul |
| a hibernating role in the team, simply staying up front | | | | is whistled and a direct or indirect kick is given when |
| and waiting for the ball to come, hence with the new | | | | a player trips, kicks, pushes, punches, charges or |
| rule, they were forced to work as much as the | | | | holds an opponent. |
| other players on the pitch. | | | | However, in the fast pace of the game, it's often |
| Let's take a look at some of the official soccer rules | | | | hard for the referee to see if a tackle touches the |
| of today and give them a small explanation for why | | | | feet of the attacker or the ball. It's considered a foul |
| they are there and how they affect the game: | | | | even if the defending player doesn't touch the |
| Soccer field dimensions - since not all soccer pitches | | | | attacker at all, but has a dangerous intervention such |
| could share the exact same size, FIFA decided a | | | | as a high kick. |
| small length and width size threshold in order for a | | | | Goals - Last but not least, the essence of soccer |
| pitch to be playable. So the minimum length of a | | | | rules and the object of the game itself, the goal. |
| soccer field must be of 100 yards (90 meters), | | | | In order to score a goal, the attacking team must |
| whereas the maximum length must be 130 yards | | | | pass the ball beyond the other team's goal line. The |
| (120 meters). | | | | attacker can kick the ball, head the ball or push it in |
| A bigger size difference was allowed for the width, | | | | with any other body part other than the hand (in |
| which can be as small as 50 yards (45 meters) and | | | | which case it is considered handball). |
| as big as 100 yards (90 meters). You might have | | | | Not all shots that end up in the net are goals though, |
| noticed that the minimum length coincides with the | | | | as a goal can be cancelled if it was scored after the |
| maximum width! Although strange indeed, soccer | | | | attacker broke one of the other soccer rules, such |
| could actually be played on a square field, however | | | | as fouling a defender or the goalkeeper, using his |
| for entertainment's sake no one built that kind of | | | | hand to control the ball, being offside or scoring |
| pitch yet (thankfully). | | | | directly from an indirect free kick. |
| Number of players - The official soccer rules book | | | | These are the basic soccer rules and although there |
| states that each team can enter the field with 11 | | | | are a few smaller twists to learn, if you manage to |
| players (one of which is the goalkeeper). | | | | understand these, you'll be able to watch, and |
| The number of substitutes depends on the | | | | understand a soccer match without problems. Outside |
| competition the match is played in, but in official FIFA | | | | the offside rule the other official soccer rules are |
| matches the number of substitutes can range from | | | | quite easy to grasp. |