Association Football (Soccer) For Dummies
, by Adam Zawati, 2 min reading time
Rules and Regulations
In the sport of soccer, two teams face off against each other and the victor of the match is determined by the team with the higher number of goals. A goal is scored when the soccer ball officially passes the line of the soccer goals' (8' x 24') side posts. A goal will not be counted if it is scored with a players hand or arm, or if he is caught offside prior to touching the ball and scoring. Each team attempts to score a goal at the other end of the pitch to alter the score by 1. A net hangs on the goal to keep the ball within the boundaries of the post when shot at.
Ties and Penalties
When a player is fouled within the penalty box (18 square yards) of the opposing team, then the team which was fouled, is rewarded with a penalty. A penalty lies 12 yards away from the goal in the center of box. The team selects a player to take the penalty, and it consists of a set shot against the goalkeeper; if the shot is blocked, the game continues as long as the ball is in bounds.
Another way in which penalties are held in a soccer game is when the game ends in a draw, and a victor needs to be determined. This is called a penalty shootout. Each team takes a turn at penalties, until one team ends up with more penalties scored than the other.
Red and Yellow Cards
During the 90 minute match of soccer, players can receive cards which come from fouls. Depending on how bad a foul is, a player can receive a yellow or red card. A red card means that the game is over for whoever received the card, and the team will need to continue playing with 10 players rather than 11. A player can be taken out of the game from two yellow cards as well.
Field Positioning
Each team consists of 11 players. The four general positions are defense, midfield, attack, and goalkeeper. The manager of the team decides how many players to include in each of these general positions.
The positions which are prevalent in defense are:
- Center-back
- Right-back
- Right wing-back
- Left wing-back
Midfield positions consist of:
- Center mid
- Center attacking-mid
- Center defensive-mid
- Right-mid
- Left-mid
Positions held in attack are:
- Striker
- Center forward
- Right wing
- Left Wing
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