Soccer rules of the game, referee - become a star!

Soccer Rules of the Game

There are many soccer rules you need to know before playing the game. Soccer is played 11 a side. Each team is allowed 3 substitutes, but players who are substituted off cannot return again. Each team tries to put the ball in the opposing team’s goal which is heavily defended by players and a goalkeeper.

A match is divided into two 45 minute halves. In some knock-out competitions, extra time may be played when the game is tied, and if the game is still tied after extra time, then a penalty shootout is played to determine the winner. For a goal to be scored, the ball must pass between the goal posts, and under the crossbar. It must pass completely over the goal line.

 

The Offside Rule

The offside soccer rule was introduced to make to football a fairer, more interesting game to watch. Offside occurs when a player in the opposing half of the field does not have at least two opponents between themself and the goal line when a team mate plays the ball.

When the ball is played the attacking player is in an offside position. Therefore, the attacking player is offside.	Even though the player receives the ball in an offside position, the ball is played before the player reaches an offside position. Therefore, the player is onside.

Officials

The game is controlled by a soccer referee on the field, helped by two linesmen who patrol the touchlines. It’s the referee’s job to keep control of the game and make sure the players obey the rules. When the rules are broken, the referee decides the penalties.

The referee has the power to caution players, and even send players off the off the field for breaking the rules. A player is cautioned when the referee shows the player a yellow card. If a player gets two yellow cards during a game, he is sent off. A referee can send a player off immediately by showing the player a red card. The player sent off, may miss from 1-6 matches depending on the severity of the offence.

The linesman’s job is to decide which team gets possession after the ball has gone out of play. Also, it is the linesman’s job to see if an attacking player is in an offside position.