Soccer

AYSO Laws of the Game

Our parent site, http://www.soccer.org/ has a great deal of information about AYSO and soccer in general. We've reprinted the LAWS of the GAME for your convenience, but if you would like to read more about Soccer and AYSO, please visit http://www.soccer.org/.

The Very Basic Rules of the Great Game of Soccer

Rules in soccer are called Laws and there are seventeen (17) of them. (If you'd like a full listing of the rules, visit the FIFA Laws of the Game page.)

We won't get into all seventeen here, but give you a general outline so that you can get a feel for how the game is played. Generally, the Laws require that referees stop the game when something has happened which is unfair or unsafe.

The Object

The object of soccer is for players to get the ball into their opponent's goal using any part of their body except their arms and hands. Only goalkeepers may use their hands while inside their own penalty area.

Kickoff

A kickoff is taken from the center circle at the beginning of the game, beginning of the second half and after each goal.

Throw In

After the ball has completely crossed the side boundary lines - called touchlines - a throw in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball. The throw in is taken from where the ball left the field and must be thrown with two hands from behind and over the head, while both feet are on the ground and on or behind the touchline.

Goal Kick

The goal kick is taken by the defending team each time the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by an attacking player. The ball may be placed anywhere in the goal area and is not considered back in play until it has been kicked out of the penalty area.

Corner Kick

The corner kick is taken by the attacking team each time the ball is kicked by the defense over its own goal line. The ball is placed within the three-foot arc in the corner of the field (nearest to where the ball went out of play) and kicked into play by the attacking team.

Penalty Kick

The penalty kick is awarded when a defending player commits one of the 10 penal (major) fouls within their own penalty area while the ball is still in play. The penalty kick is taken by a player from the offended team from a spot 12 yards from the goal. All players must remain outside the penalty area, 10 yards from the ball, and behind the penalty-kick mark until the kick is taken, except for the kicker and the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper's feet must remain stationary on the goal line until the ball is kicked. At the referee's signal, the kicker attempts to kick the ball into the opponent's goal and the goalkeeper tries to stop the ball from scoring.

Misconduct

There are two kinds of misconduct:

	Actions resulting in a caution (yellow card) from the referee.
	Actions resulting in a player being sent off or ejected from the field (red card).

A referee may also warn a player to improve his or her conduct (or unsportsmanlike behavior) before a caution is issued.

Offside

A player is offside if they are ahead of the ball, except if they:

	are in their own half of the field.
	have two opponents even with or between him and the opponent's goal line. The referee's "moment of judgement" is the instant the ball is played, not when it is received.
	are the first to receive the ball from a throw in, corner kick or goal kick.
	are not involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with and opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

Penal Fouls

There are 10 major fouls that result in a direct free kick (DFK) and from which a goal may be directly scored against the opponents.

To be a major foul, the offense must be, in the referee's judgment, intentionally committed.

The 10 fouls are divided into two groups:

These six require that the foul be committed carelessly, recklessly or with disproportionate force:

	Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
	Striking or attempting to strike an opponent.
	Pushing an opponent.
	Charging an opponent.
	Tripping an opponent.
	Jumping into an opponent.

These four require only that they be committed:

	When tackling an opponent, making contact with the opponent before the ball.
	Spitting at an opponent.
	Holding an opponent.
	Handling the ball deliberately.

Non-Penal Fouls

There are five (5) minor fouls that result in an individual free kick (IFK). At least one additional player of either team must touch the ball before a goal can be scored from an IFK.

Dangerous Play: including high kicking near another player's head or trying to play a ball held by a goalkeeper.

Fair Charge Away From the Ball: fairly charging when the ball is not within playing distance.

Impeding the Progress of an Opponent: getting between an opponent and the ball when not playing the ball.

Charging the Goalkeeper: shoulder-to-shoulder contact within the penalty area.

Goalkeeper Infringements:

taking more than four steps while controlling the ball with their hands or otherwise intentionally disrupting the flow of the game.
playing ball with hands when ball is kicked by a teammate.