Football Rules for Dummies

The last edition of the "Rules of the game of football," dated July 1, 2008, contains 17 main points:

1. Field for game


2. Ball


3. Number of Players


4. Player Outfit


5. Judge


6. Assistant judges


7. Duration of the game


8. Starting and resuming the game


9. The ball is in the game and not in the game


10. Definition of taking a goal


11. Offside"


12. Violations and unruly players behavior


13. Penalty and free kicks


14. Penalty kick (penalty kick)


15. Throw ball


16. Blow from the gate


17. Angular blow

Let us dwell in more detail on some of them.

Play football on a special site - soccer field. The field is rectangular, its lengthand the width is governed by the rules. Field coverage can be natural and artificial. As a natural covering of a football field a special grass is used. Artificial coating is a "carpet" made of synthetic material of green color.

The football match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each, between which there is a break, not exceeding 15 minutes. 90 minutes of the match are called the main game time. In regular time, all possible delays associated with violations of the rules of the game or injuries to players are counted.

At the end of the main game time, the referee (football referee) may appoint added time, to compensate for losses during normal time.

The basic structure of each team includes 11 people. Each player can have their own functions: defender (back), midfielder (midfielder), forward (forward). A goalkeeper (goalkeeper) is singled out separately - a player who defends the goal. The form of the goalkeeper differs from the form of the other players of both teams and from the form of the match judges.

During the match, each the team has the right to replace any of its players with a substitute. In international matches or matches of national federations, the maximum number of substitutions is three, in national league matches - no more than 6.

Player substitution allowed during the stoppage of the game, only from the midline of the field (the line that divides the field in half). The list of team substitution players must be given to the referee before the match begins.

The main task of the team is to score a goal to the opponent and protect his goal from the heads. If a team scores a goal into their own goal, then such a goal is called an own goal. An own goal, with the exception of some cases provided for by the Rules, is counted.

In football, players lead the ball only with their feet. You are also allowed to take shots with your head or chest, but not with your hands. The ball is allowed in the hands of the goalkeeper after a goal scored or the player when throwing the ball.

Strikes on the ball can be free, angular, penalty, from the gate. Corner kick and kick from the gate are ways to resume the game. Angular blow is performed if the ball, last timetouching the defender of the team, crosses the goal line (on the ground or by air), but the goal is not scored. The ball for corner kick is placed in the angular sector, marked with a flagpole and special markings.

Unlike a corner kick, kick from the gate It is performed if the ball crosses the goal line, touching the player of the attacking team for the last time. To carry out this blow, the ball is immobile at any point in the goal area.

Penalty and free punches are appointed as penalties for any violations, for example, for kicking an opponent with a foot, for footsteps, for pushing an opponent, etc.

Also, violations of the rules of the game can be punished with a warning with a display yellow card or removal with delivery red card. Yellow card punishes unsporting behavior, the expression of disagreement with the decisions of the judge, a systematic violation of the rules.

The player is removed from the field after receiving the secondwarnings with showing a yellow card, as well as in cases when he is guilty of serious violation of the Rules of the game of football, aggressive behavior, if he insults the contestants and the judge with words or gestures.

As a result of the football match, the winner is determined. The winner of the match is the team that scored more goals. If the number of goals scored is the same, then the match is recognized as a tie.

In some cases, when teams play "ondeparture ", there should not be a draw. Then, at the end of the regular time, additional time periods of 15 minutes or a penalty shootout may be assigned.

Penalty Is a special blow with an 11-meterThe marks on the opponent's goal, which are protected only by the opponent's goalkeeper. Execution of a penalty is strictly in accordance with the rule 14 of the Rules of the game of football.

A penalty is awarded if the player has committed any of the violations in his own penalty area, which is punishable by a free kick. The ball must be in the game, i.e. be within the field.

Offside" or offside - a special situation in football. According to rule 11 of the Rules of the game of football, a player is recognized as being "offside" if he is closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball and the penultimate player of the opponent (including the goalkeeper). A goal scored from offside is not counted.

Appointment of offside is the most controversial situation infootball. Offside is fixed visually by the side referee, therefore often offside is challenged by players of teams. By itself, offside is not a violation, unless the offside player does not interfere with the opponent's play, does not interfere with the game and if he does not gain an advantage through offside.