The Game

Two teams of 11 players on the pitch. Players attempt to score goals by kicking the ball in the opposing team's goal. Using hands or arms to control the ball is not allowed for outfield players and instead the outfield players can use feet, legs and head to control and play the ball. Only the goalkeeper can use any part of their body to deflect the ball away from the goal when in their 18 yard box. Outside the 18 yard box the goalkeeper must abide by the same rules as the outfield players regarding ball control. 

Games last for two 45 minute halves.

Players may tackle opposing team-members by trying to get the ball, using feet only.

To start the game, a coin is tossed by the referee, and the visiting captain will elect whether to kick off, or which goal to aim for (the teams change ends at the start of the second half).

The game is started when the ball is placed on the centre spot and kicked by a player from the team taking the kick off. This player must not touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player from either side.

The ball must travel forward from the kick off. The opposing must be in their half of the field, and outside the centre circle. A goal cannot be scored directly from the kick off but can after the second player touches the ball.

Play is restarted with a kick from the centre after a goal is scored by the non-scoring team, and at the start of the second half, when the team which did not kick off to begin the game take the first kick of the second half. 

It is worth noting that goalkeepers can score goals the same ways as any other player.

The ball must completely cross the goal line to count as a goal. 

The lines around the pitch count as the playing area, so if the ball is on the line it is not out of play.

Offside

A player is declared offside (by the line official raising a flag) if they are closer to the opponents goal line than the ball is. Unless:

• The player is in their own half (in this case, offside does not apply)
• At least two opponents are as near or nearer to their own goal line

If a player is offside, the referee will only take action if:

• The player is interfering with play or with an opponent
• The player could gain a play advantage by being in an offside position

A player is not offside if:

• They are in an offside position, but not taking part in play (for example, not getting the ball or attempting to go for it)
• The player in an offside position is receiving a ball directly from a goal kick, free kick, or throw in. 

If a player is onside when the ball is played to them, but in an offside position when they actually receive it, they are not offside. In short, the player must be onside at the moment the ball is played, not when they receive it.

This rule is to prevent players waiting by the opposing goal just to knock the ball in. It also prevents games from just being contests where the ball is consistently played from one end of the pitch to the other.

Throw Ins

The throw in is used to restart play when the ball has left the field across one of the side lines (touch lines). A member of the team that was not the last to touch the ball takes the throw in.

For example, if a player from Team A was the last to touch the ball (even by accident) then a player from Team B will take the throw in.

The player taking the throw in must be as close to the point where the ball left the pitch as possible. The ball is held in both hands and is thrown from behind and over the head. The player must face the pitch and have both feet on or behind the touch line when the ball is thrown.

Goals cannot be scored directly from throw ins.

Corner Kicks

If any member of the defending team is the last to touch the ball before it goes over the goal line (shorter sides of the field either side of the goals), a corner is awarded to the other team.

Players on the defending team must not be within 10 yards of the corner area before the kick is taken.

A member of the attacking team kicks the ball into play. A goal scored directly from a corner kick is valid.

Goal Kick

The goal kick is used to restart play after the ball has crossed the goal line, and the last player to touch it was on the attacking team. The goalkeeper of the defending side kicks the ball out from anywhere in the 6 yard box (marked area closest to goal).

The ball is not considered to be in play until it has left the penalty area (18 yard box).

Goals cannot be scored from a goal kick, although goalkeepers can score goals the same way as any other player.

Free Kick

Free kicks are awarded to a team when the opposing team has infringed the rules in some way i.e commited a foul.

Free kicks can be direct or indirect. Goals can be scored from direct free kicks. Goals cannot be scored from an indirect free kick. For both types, the player who takes the kick may not touch the ball again until another player on either side has touched it.

All free kicks are taken from the point where the offence occurred. The player who takes the kick does not have to be the one who was fouled. The defending players must be at least 10 yards from the ball when it is kicked. The side taking the kick can ignore the distance if they feel they can gain an advantage.

In all cases, the referee may simply allow play to continue if the non-offending side have or could gain an advantage by doing so.

Why would a direct free kick be awarded?

There are nine main offences:

• Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
• Tripping or throwing an opponent.
• Jumping at an opponent.
• Charging an opponent from behind.
• Striking or attempting to strike an opponent.
• Holding an opponent.
• Pushing an opponent.
• Charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner.
• Handling the ball deliberately.

The goalkeeper can handle the ball, but only in the penalty area (18 yard box). If a player accidentally handles the ball or is struck on the hand or arm, and the referee decides that the player could not have avoided it, no foul is given. If any of the above offences occur in the penalty area, a penalty kick may be awarded to the other team.

When play is stopped for reasons other than a deliberate infringement of the rules, for example, an injury, the referee will restart play by dropping the ball at the place it was when play was stopped. The ball is in play as soon as it touches the ground. No player can touch it until then.

One player from each team stands on either side of the referee when the ball is dropped, and both try to get possession once it has hit the ground. Other players do not have to be 10 yards away.