Soccer Notes

Page 1 of 13 SOCCER COURSE NOTES Table of Contents Laws of the Game (Rules).............................................................................................................................. 2 Law 1 — The Field of Play ...................................................................................................................... 2 Law 2 — The Ball ................................................................................................................................... 3 Law 3 — The Number of Players ........................................................................................................... 3 Law 4 — The Players’ Equipment .......................................................................................................... 3 Law 5 — The Referee............................................................................................................................. 3 Law 6 — The Assistant Referee ............................................................................................................. 4 Law 7 — The Duration of the Match ..................................................................................................... 4 Law 8 — The Start and Restart of Play .................................................................................................. 4 Law 9 — The Ball In and Out of Play ..................................................................................................... 4 Law 10 — The Method of Scoring ........................................................................................................... 4 Law 11 — Offside..................................................................................................................................... 5 Law 12 — Fouls and Misconduct ............................................................................................................. 6 Law 13 — Free Kicks ................................................................................................................................ 7 Law 14 — The Penalty Kick ...................................................................................................................... 7 Law 15 — The Throw-In........................................................................................................................... 7 Law 16 — The Goal Kick .......................................................................................................................... 7 Law 17 — The Corner Kick ....................................................................................................................... 7 Soccer Skills and Terminology ....................................................................................................................... 8 Player Positions ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Formations .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Strategies ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Communication Terms ................................................................................................................................ 11 Page 2 of 13 LAWS OF THE GAME Law 1—The Field of Play This law regulates the field surface, dimensions, markings, and goals. The field of play must be rectangular and marked with boundary lines (e.g., touch line, goal line). Field Marking Distance/Length/Size Purpose Center Circle 10-yard radius  Restricts defending team on the kick-off (must stay out until ball is contacted)  Used to contain both teams during a Shootout Center Mark Center point of center circle  Spot where ball is placed for kick-off Corner Arc 1-yard radius  Area for ball placement for a corner kick Corner Flag At least 5 feet high  In each corner to assist in locating boundary lines Goal 8 yards wide by 8 feet tall  Located on Goal Line; used to determine a score Goal Area 6 yards from goal line  Area for placement of ball for goal kick Goal Line 50 to 100 yards in length When ball crosses line: 1. Goal Kick (offense touched last) 2. Corner Kick (defense touched last) 3. Goal Score (between goal posts) Halfway Line (Midline) Midline between Goal Lines  Insures teams are on their own half during kick-off  Regulates the offside rule Penalty Arc 10-yard radius arc from penalty mark  Used to keep both teams 10 yards from the penalty mark during a penalty kick Penalty Area 18 yards from goal line Restricted area where: 1. Goalkeeper is allowed to play ball with hands 2. Opponents aren’t allowed during goal kick 3. Ball must exit to be a legal goal kick 4. Foul by defensive team results in penalty kick 5. Players from both teams aren’t allowed during a penalty kick Penalty Mark 12 yards from the center point of goal  Spot where ball is placed for a penalty kick Touch line* 100–130 yards in length *must be longer than goal line  Determines the side boundaries of play.  When ball crosses line it results in a throw-in by the team opposite the team that touched the ball last. Page 3 of 13 Law 2—The Ball The ball must be: 1. Spherical and made of leather or "other suitable material" 2. Circumference measurement between 27 inches (68 cm) and 28 inches (70 cm) 3. Weight of the ball is between 14 oz (410 g) and 16 oz (450 g) Law 3—The Number of Players Each team consists of eleven players, including one goalkeeper. A match cannot start unless each team consists of at least seven players including the goalkeeper. Substitution To replace a player with a substitute, the following conditions must be observed:  the referee must be informed  the substitute can only enter the field of play after the player being replaced has left and after receiving a signal from the referee  the substitute can only enter the field of play at the halfway line and during a stoppage in the match  the substitution is completed when a substitute enters the field of play  all substitutes are subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referee Changing the Goalkeeper  Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that:  the referee is informed before the change is made  the change is made during a stoppage in the match Limits  International competitions and most domestic leagues have a maximum of three substitutions during a match (including any overtime period).  Once a player has been removed, he may not reenter the game at a later point.  Lower-level games are much more relaxed with the substitution policies.  Usually no limits to the number of substitutes allowed, and a player is free to enter and leave the game multiple times. Law 4—The Players’ Equipment The only major guidelines are that the teams must wear colors that distinguish them from the other team, and that the players cannot wear any equipment that might be dangerous to them or another player. The basic equipment consists of: 1) jersey, 2) socks, 3) shorts, 4) shin guards, 5) shoes. Law 5—The Referee A single on-field referee controls each match. That referee has full power to enforce the Laws of the Game; the decision-making authority is completely vested with the referee. His many duties include: determining when the match starts and stops, awarding 'red' and 'yellow' cards for cautionable offenses, and calling free kicks and penalties for fouls and misconduct. The role of the referee is to protect players and to allow them to play within the letter and the spirit of the law. To the right are some referee signals (direct free kick, advantage, indirect free kick). Law 6—The Assistant Referees Two assistant referees may be appointed to help the referee officiate the match. The final decisions are ultimately up to the referee, but the assistant referees (who stand on the touch lines) aid the referee in determining such items as whether the ball left the field of play, offside, and fouls committed. Page 4 of 13 Law 7—The Duration of the Match A regulation match consists of two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise agreed upon before the start of play. This change must be agreed by the referee and the two teams. The referee generally adds "stoppage time" for time lost throughout the period due to items such as substitutions, injuries, and time wasting. This extra time is completely at the discretion of the referee. Law 8—The Start and Restart of Play This is a general rule that governs the procedure for starting each half and after a goal is scored. Before the match, a coin toss occurs and the winner decides which goal it will defend in the first half. The other team gets to kick off to start the match. The original coin toss winner kicks off the second half and the teams switch sides. The procedure for a restart is that all players must be in their half of the field, and all opposing players must be at least ten yards from the ball (outside the center circle). Once the ball is stationary on the center mark and the referee gives the appropriate signal, the ball can be kicked forward to restart play. A kick-off is used: 1) at the start of a game, 2) after a goal has been scored, 3) at the start of the second half, 4) at the start of each period of extra time (if needed). Law 9—The Ball In and Out of Play The ball is considered out of play when it has completely crossed the goal or touch line, regardless of whether it is in the air or on the ground, or when play has been stopped by the referee. The ball is still in play if it deflects off a goal post or corner flag and stays in play. All other times the ball is considered in play. In the figure to the right, balls 1–4 are still in play and only ball 5 would be out of play. Law 10—The Method of Scoring A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the goalposts and under the crossbar. A goal can be erased by the referee when he determines that a foul or infringement of the rules was committed by the team scoring the goal. This law also prescribes the methods for breaking a tie in a competition where a winner is necessary. The three methods are the away goals rule, extra time, and penalty kicks. Law 11—Offside The first point to establishing an understanding of offside is to learn the definition of an offside position. A player is in an offside position if he/she is closer to the opposing goal than both the ball and two opponents (in general terms this means the goalkeeper and one defender). He/she is not in an offside position if he/she is level with the second to last opponent. It is also impossible to be in an offside position in your own half of the field. It is important to remember that just because the player is in an offside position, that doesn't necessarily mean he will be penalized. The key is that the referee must decide whether he is actively involved in the play by either interfering with the play or an opponent or by gaining an advantage by being in that position. Even if a player is in an offside position, no foul will be called if the player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in. If the referee decides to whistle an offside offense, an indirect free kick is awarded at the spot the infringement occurred. Page 5 of 13 Note that offside is only considered at the instant the ball is played from a teammate. So at the instant the ball is passed, was the player in an offside position? That is the key question. It isn't relevant if he is in what would be considered an offside position when he receives the ball; it is only relevant at the instant the ball was played. Offside Diagrams Offside Offense – Interfering No Offside Offense – Goal Offside Offense – Gain Advantage No Offside Offense Offside Offense Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct Direct Free Kicks A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits one of the following ten offenses: kicking (or attempt), tripping (or attempt), jumping at, charging, striking (or attempt), pushing, tackling, holding, or spitting at an opponent, or deliberately handling the soccer ball. The direct free kick is taken at the exact spot the offense occurred. If one of the ten direct-kick offenses is committed by a player inside his own penalty area (regardless of where the ball is located), a penalty kick is awarded. Indirect Free Kicks An indirect free kick, also taken at the spot of the foul, is awarded for more general reasons such as offside offense, dangerous play, or impeding the progress of an opponent. It is also awarded against a team if their goalkeeper controls the ball with his hands for more than six seconds, touches the ball with his/her hands after a teammate deliberately kicks the ball back to him (same goes for a throw-in), or touches the ball after he had already handled it and put it on the ground. Page 6 of 13 Yellow and Red Cards A yellow card indicates that a player has been cautioned. A red card indicates that the player has been sent off or expelled from the game. If a player receives two yellow cards in one match, it’s equivalent to a red card. A player that has been sent off is not allowed to play for the remainder of that match (and often the subsequent match), and it is important to note that his team must play the remainder of the match a player down. Cautioned (yellow card) offenses include: 1. unsporting behavior 2. dissent by word or action 3. persistent infringement 4. delaying the restart of play 5. failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick, or throw-in 6. entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission 7. deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission Sent off (red card) offenses include: 1. serious foul play 2. violent conduct 3. spitting at an opponent or any other person 4. denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area) 5. denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick 6. using offensive, insulting, or abusive language and/or gestures 7. receiving a second caution in the same match Law 13—Free Kicks As mentioned in Law 12, there are indirect and direct free kicks. A direct kick can be played directly into the opponents’ goal without it touching another player. An indirect kick must touch another player before a goal can be scored. In both cases, when the ball is placed at the spot of the foul by the referee, the opposing team must stand at least 10 yards from the ball. Once the ball is played, that 10-yard boundary is no longer in effect. Law 14—The Penalty Kick A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits a direct kick offense (see Law 12) inside its own penalty area while the ball is in play. The ball is placed on the penalty mark (12 yds) and one person is identified as the player taking the penalty kick. The goalkeeper must stay on his goal line until the ball has been kicked. The ball is in play once the ball is kicked forward and the kicker may not touch the ball again until another player touches it. Law 15—The Throw-In A throw-in is the method of restarting play after the ball completely crosses the touch line and is out of bounds. The opponent of the team who last touched the ball is awarded the throw-in. The thrower must have both feet on the ground (on or behind touch line), both hands on the ball, and must deliver the ball from behind and over his head. You can rotate your trunk, but you cannot rotate your arms to give the ball a spin. The closest member of the opposing team cannot be clsoer than 2 yards from the point of the throw-in. The ball is considered in play when it enters the field. Law 16—The Goal Kick A goal kick is the method of restarting play after the ball has completely crossed the goal line outside the goal posts, having been last touched by a member of the attacking team. The goal kick is taken from any point within Page 7 of 13 the goal area (commonly referred to as the 6-yard box) by a member of the defending team. All opponents must remain outside the penalty area (18-yard box) until the ball is in play. Law 17—The Corner Kick A corner kick is the method of restarting play after the ball has completely crossed the goal line, having been last touched by a member of the defending team. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick. The ball is placed inside the corner arc markings near the corner flag. All opponents must stand at least 10 yards from the ball until it is back in play. SOCCER SKILLS AND TERMINOLOGY  Dribbling Moving the ball with your feet.  Heading Contacting the ball with your head (forehead); usually to win the ball in the air.  Passing Moving the ball from one player to another (inside or outside of foot, heel pass).  Square Pass Passing to the player across from you.  Trail Pass Passing to the player behind you.  Lead Pass Passing to the player ahead of you.  Punt A method of putting the ball back into play by the goalkeeper after a save.  Trapping Stopping and/or controlling the ball with the body. Absorb the ball for good control.  Shooting Kicking or heading the ball toward the goal for a score  Tackling Used to get the ball from an opponent, to steal the ball.  Dodging Used to keep control by evading an opponent.  Volleying Directing the ball with the chest, shoulder, knee, or hip. PLAYER POSITIONS Goalkeeper—The player positioned directly in front of the goal who tries to prevent shots from crossing the goal line; the only player allowed to use his/her hands and arms (within the penalty area). Sweeper—A single defender that plays closest to the team’s own goal behind the rest of the defenders; a team's last line of defense in front of the goalkeeper. Rear Defender/Fullback—A player who works mainly in the defensive third of the field. They are primarily focused on stopping the opposition’s attackers from scoring.  Central Defender—Guards the area directly in front of his/her own goal, often considered the strongest defender.  Defensive Wing—Guards the area on the left or right side of his/her own goal. Stopper—The player that defends or guards the best scorer on the attacking team, often the opposition's striker. Midfielder/Halfback—Generally positioned in the middle third of the field between the forwards and defenders. This position links the defense and the offense through ball control and passing. They play both an attacking role and a defensive role.  Defensive Midfielder—The player positioned just in front of the defense and often assigned to mark the opposition's best offensive player; tends to play more defense as a midfielder.  Central Midfielder—The midfielder most responsible for organizing play in the midfield area, creating scoring opportunities for the attackers, and often a team's leader.  Attacking Midfielder—The midfielder that plays right behind the forwards; they support the offense by providing accurate passes to forwards to set up goals.  Midfield Wing—A player positioned to the left or the right of one of the above midfielders.