Soccer Rules - Day One

Soccer Rules - Day One

Study Guide Part 2- Playing According to the Rules

1- Understand the objective of the game

• You win a soccer match by scoring more goals than the opponent scores. A goal is scored when the whole ball passes the opponent's goal line within the net area.

• Goalies, when in their own penalty area, are the only players on the field (also called a pitch) who can use their arms or hands. All other players may use any part of their bodies except their arms and hands.

• A regulation game (also called a match) is typically 90 minutes long, made up of 2 halves of 45 minutes each.

Multiple Choice

Quiz Question #1

How many minutes long is a half in soccer?

• 20 minutes

• 30 minutes

• 45 minutes

• 50 minutes

2- Recognize the positions in soccer

• There are 11 total players ( per team) on the field to start the game. Although the positions can be rearranged however the coach sees fit.

• Defenders usually stay behind the midfield line in an effort to help prevent the other team from scoring. They need to make good outlet (clearing) passes and are usually bigger physically than other players.

• Midfielders do the most running, as they play a combination of defense and offense. They usually orchestrate the attack and need to be good at holding onto the ball and passing.

• Forwards/strikers get the most cracks at shooting the ball. They need to be quick, agile, and able to shoot with power and accuracy within seconds. They are often the fastest players on the field.

• The goalie protects the 18-yard penalty area and is the only player who can use their hands (but only in their own penalty area). The goalie has to be agile, flexible, and good at communication.

Multiple Choice

Quiz Question #2

How many players can a soccer team have on the field?

• 5

• 10

• 11

• 15

3- Note that kickoffs start the game and the beginning of the second half

• At the time of kickoff, each team's players need to be entirely on their own half of the field and the opposition must not be within the center circle as the 10-yard mandatory distance on a restart. Once the whistle has blown and the ball is kicked, the laws allow it to go backwards or forwards, the players can move freely into both halves of play.

• One team starts the game by winning the coin toss to choose a side, the opposite team gets to kick off. Teams change sides at halftime and the team who did not kick off does so in the 2nd half.

• There is also a kickoff after each goal is scored by the team that was scored on.

Multiple Choice

Quiz Question #3

Which team starts a kickoff after a goal is scored?

• The team that scored the goal.

• The team that was scored on.

4- Learn when and how to do throw-ins

• Throw-ins happen when the ball goes completely over 1 of the 2 touchlines. Possession goes to the team who wasn't the last to touch it. This team gets to throw the ball in from the place where it went out of bounds.

• A player throwing can get a running start but must perform the throw-in correctly.

• A player must bring the ball up with both hands behind their head, and release the ball over their head with both hands.

• A player cannot lift either of their feet completely off the ground while they are throwing the ball, though the players typically drag 1 foot as they release the ball.

Multiple Choice

Quiz Question #4

When does a throw-in happen during a soccer game?

• When a yellow card is issued.

• When the game starts.

• After a goal is scored.

• When the ball goes completely over 1 of 2 touchlines.

5- Recognize the difference between a corner kick and a goal kick

• If the ball goes over the goal line (but not into the goal) and was last touched by the defending team, the ball goes to the closest goal line corner and becomes a corner kick, with possession going to the attacking team.

• If the ball goes over the goal line (but not into the goal) and was last touched by the attacking team, it becomes a goal kick, with possession going to the defending team. The keeper often takes a goal kick but any one of the 11 players can.

Multiple Choice

Quiz Question #5

If the ball goes over the goal line out of bounds (but not into the goal) and was last touched by the defending team what kind of kick is the attacking team allowed to take?

• Corner Kick

• Goal Kick

• Penalty Kick