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