Springfield Futbol Club

Soccer rules made easy

Here are the short and simple soccer rules you need to know as a parent.

No Hands, please

First, the rule for a hand ball includes using any part of the body from the tips of the fingers to the shoulder.

Second, the proper way to look at this soccer rule is that a player cannot “handle” the ball. A ball that is kicked and hits a player’s hand or arm is not a hand ball. This means that the referee must use his or her own judgment to some extent in determining whether or not a hand ball is accidental contact or a purposeful attempt to gain an advantage.

There is also a situation in which the goalie cannot use his/her hands. This is sometimes called the back-pass rule. Goalkeepers cannot pick up a pass that came directly from one of their teammates. In this case, the goalkeeper must use his feet. If the goalie does pick up the ball it will result in an indirect kick from where he/she touched the ball.

Throw-ins

A throw-in is taken when the ball crosses a sideline and leaves the field. The two basic soccer rules for a proper throw-in are to have both feet on the ground and to throw the ball with both hands over the head.

Corner Kicks & Goal Kicks

A corner kick or goal kick is taken when the ball leaves the field across the goal line - the end of the field.

If the offensive team kicks it out, play is restarted with a goal kick. If the defensive team kicks it out, play is restarted with a corner kick.

The goal kick is taken from anywhere inside the “goal area box”.  It can be taken by any player.  Defensive players must be outside of the "penalty area", or behind the "build-out line" before the kick is taken.

The corner kick is taken from the corner nearest to where the ball left the field.

Fouls

The common rule of thumb on fouls is “If it looks like a foul, it probably is.” A player cannot kick, trip, jump at, charge, strike, push, hold, or spit at an opponent.  Bumping, leaning, or going shoulder-to-shoulder while competing for a ball is not a foul until the hands or elbows come up.

Direct and Indirect Free Kicks

The simple difference between the two is this: On a direct kick you can score by kicking the ball directly into the goal. On an indirect kick you cannot score. An indirect kick you cannot score.  An indirect kick must be touched by another player before it can go into the goal - that is the kicker and a second person.

You can tell whether the kick is direct or indirect by looking at the referee. For an indirect kick, the referee will hold one arm straight up in the air until the second person touches the ball. No arm up or pointing towards the goal, it's a direct kick.  In general, a direct kick comes from a contact foul or hand ball. Everything else is indirect.

Penalty Kick

A penalty kick results from a contact foul or hand ball by the defending team within the penalty area – the large box on either end of the field. So it’s a type of direct kick also.

The ball is placed on the penalty spot, in front of the center of the goal. All players must remain outside the penalty area and the penalty arc until the ball is kicked.  If after the ball is kicked, it rebounds off of the goal or the keeper and stays on the field, the ball is “live” and anyone can play it.

Two-touch Rule

A player cannot touch the ball twice in a row when putting the ball in play. You will see this called many times in youth soccer. It applies everywhere. You will see it frequently on kick-offs or direct and indirect kicks.

This also applies to throw-ins. A player cannot throw the ball in and then kick it.

Offside

You cannot be offside on a corner kick, goal kick, or a throw-in.  Also, it is not an offense for a player to be in an offside position.  The player must be involved in active play as determined by the referee to be called offiside.

A player is in an offside position if: he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second to last opponent.

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