Basic Football Rules

Football, or soccer as it is known in some countries, is undoubtedly one of the most widely followed and played games in the world. The game of football arouses expectations and passions like perhaps no other. So do you want to learn how to play football? Here's an article on the basic football rules.

Football Rules and Regulations

A game which involves kicking the ball from one side to the other has been played by people of various cultures and civilizations. The game was given the framework, according to what we know today by the English Football Association. It was they who laid down the basic rules of football which are being followed all over the world today.

So if you're just learning how to play soccer, then this article on the basic soccer rules is going to come in pretty handy.

Objective of the Game
The basic objective of the game is simple. The most important part of the game of football is the goal, a rectangular demarcated area at the end of both sides of a rectangular pitch on which the game is played. There are two teams playing the game at a time and the objective of the game is to somehow, within the framework of the rules of course, get the ball into this goal. Depending on the game plan, the teams need to score on the opposition's goal and simultaneously try to stop the opposition from scoring at our goal. The team with the maximum number of goals at the end of the game time is the winner.

The game is known as football, which means that it is to be played with the feet. But the players (except the goalkeeper) are allowed to use any part, apart from their forearms and hands, to drive the ball forward or defend. The goalkeeper is allowed to use his hands, but only in one part of the pitch, which is explained later in the article. Read on for soccer tricks and moves and soccer strategies and tactics.

Teams
To this end of scoring goals, each team will have 11 players. One of them is a goalkeeper, the man mentioned above as the one with the special provision of being allowed to touch the ball. The other 10 players are known as outfield players.

The Pitch
The basic football rules will tell you that the football pitch is 105m long and 68m wide. There aren't too many lines on the football pitch. The halfway line and the center circle are dead in the center of the pitch where the kick off takes place at the start of the game or the start of the second half or after the opposition has scored. The center circle has a radius of 10 yards (9.15m).

The goal, like I said is a rectangular area on each side, and is 8 yards (7.32 m) long and 8ft (2.44m) tall.

The penalty area is a rectangular area surrounding the goal on both sides of the pitch. This area has a few special provisions. It is only in this area that a goalkeeper guarding the goal in that area can handle or touch the ball. Consequently, if the goal-ward advance of an opposition attacker is stopped by fouling him, or the goal-ward trajectory of the ball is handled by a defender other than a goalkeeper, a penalty kick is given team whose player has been fouled. This area is 18 yards (16.5m) ahead from the line of the goal and 44 yards (40.3m) in front of the goal.

The penalty, explained later in the article is taken from the penalty spot 12 yards (11m) from the center of the goal.

The Time
The normal playing time is 2 half periods of 45 minutes each. But time may be added on at the end of each half for any stoppage during the regulation playing time, on account of any injury or disturbances. If the match is a knockout match and the scores are level, the match will be extended for a further 2 halves of 15 minutes each, plus the extra time for any stoppages.

The Less Basic Football Rules

The basic football rules are over. Here are some of the other rules which you need to know.

Corners and Throw-Ins
If the players of one team kicking the ball out of the playing area, on the length side of the pitch (not facing the goal) then they concede a throw-in. If the ball goes out of the pitch from the line behind the goal that they are attacking, then the goalkeeper of the opposing team gets a goal kick. If the defender puts the ball behind the line of the goal which they are defending then the opposing team gets a corner kick. A corner kick is from that vertex of the pitch, on the side from where the ball has gone out.

A Foul
A foul is said to be committed when a player commits an act which is considered illegal according to the laws of the game. Common reasons why a referee may call a foul include, handling the ball, attacking a player bodily from behind, knocking the player down without getting the ball, trying to knock the ball out of the players legs etc. A foul would normally result in a free kick to the team of the fouled player, from the place where he was fouled. Read on good soccer defensive drills so that you do not concede a foul and defend well too!

A Penalty
A penalty kick is given to one team when one of their players is fouled in the penalty box. Any unfair means to stop the goal-ward advance of the player is known as a penalty. A penalty means that one player of the team whose player has been fouled squares up against the goalkeeper of the opposing team. The former takes the kick from the penalty spot while the goal is unguarded except for the goalkeeper.

The Sending Off
Another basic football rule you need to know is that a player can be sent off (red-carded) if he is found to commit too many fouls. If the player commits too many fouls, or conceded a penalty by making a blatant hand-ball in the penalty area, or making a bad tackle, he will be sent off and his team will have to finish the game with one player less.

The Offside Rule
The offside rule is one of the not-so-basic football rules for kids. The offside rule states that an attacker of one team cannot be beyond the defenders of the other team when the former's teammate passes the ball to him. If he is closer to the opposition's goal than the opposition players at the time of the pass, he is said to be offside. An offside player concedes a foul and a free kick. More on offside rule in soccer.

More football articles! Read on.

• Soccer Tricks : How to Do Them
• Soccer Shooting Drills
• Soccer Positions on the Field

So these were some basic football rules to get you started with the beautiful game. All said and done, the one thing you have to remember is that play fair, and use your head and think on your feet! Football is a great game and I've had great fun playing it all these years. And I'm sure even you will!