The Basic Points and Rules of Soccer
Soccer is a racy game which is played by two competing teams in a period of 90 minutes divided into two 45 minute halves. Each team consists of 11 players including 5 forwards, 3 halfbacks, 2 fullbacks and 1 goalkeeper. The game starts with a kickoff at the center field; the whole aim of the game is to keep the ball in constant motion across the field and to attempt to get it to the goalpost of your opponent. The ball is kept constantly in motion by dribbling, kicking or propelling it forward with the head or chest. Nobody is permitted to hold the ball while it is in play. The goalkeeper is an exception to this rule however as he may handle the ball in the goal area near the net.
A point is scored when a player is successful at getting the ball into the goal of an opponent. A single point is given for each goal and any team with the most points wins the game. If the score is a tie at the end of regulation time then a period of overtime may be added. If the teams remain tied at the end of the overtime period then the winner is determined by shoot-out. This allows each particular team to take five shots which are unblocked (except by the goalkeeper) to the opposing goal. At the end of the day, the team with the most shoot-out goals wins the game.
In order to obtain control of the ball while in play, an opponent may intercept in by various means and this includes tackling which entails taking the ball through footwork only. This means the player should not deliberately kick, trip or hang onto an opponent. There is a penalty for making use of hands or arms in order to move the ball forward and this penalty results in a free-kick by an opponent at the place where the foul occurred. Penalty kicks permit an opponent to stand at a distance of just 12 yards from goal and leaving only the goalkeeper around to protect the net. Other fouls such as obstruction of players or wasting of time, may result in the giving of an indirect free kick, this free kick should be touched by at least one other player on the kicking team before a goal may be scored.
Players or coaches are not permitted to call Timeouts. However, referees may stop play briefly if a serious injury occurs or the ball crosses the goal line or goes outside the touchlines.
If a ball in play has been accidentally driven over the touchlines, an opposing player may throw it in with the use of his hands. If it is driven over the goal line, it is put back in play by kicking it from the corner of the field (appropriately called a corner kick) by the opposing team, or a goal kick from the area in front of the goal. Although anyone from the defending team may make a goal kick, it is usually made by the goalkeeper.
The rules of soccer have not changed that much since the game was created in the 1800’s in Europe. The only major change which has happened in the last century is the offside rule; this rule allows a player to be declared offside which means he is in an unfair position near the goal line of his opponents. Offside positions are usually penalized by allowing the opposing team has an indirect free throw. Another recent rule allows the substitution of players, under international rules this is two players while in the United States up to five players may be allowed.
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