Rules of the Game

Object of the Game / Method of Scoring
The team that scores the most goals during the match emerges as the victor. A goal is scored by using a legal soccer action - largely, kicking the ball from player to player without bringing the ball into contact with the players' hands - to bring the entire circumferenc of the ball into the goal area of the opposing team - while the ball is in play.

Ball in and out of play
The ball can go out of play in any of the following 8 situations:

1. When a goal is scored the ball goes out of play. It is brought back into play with a kick-off.


2. When the ball goes out of play due to a non-penal foul (such as a dangerous play, inhibiting progression of a play, or offside), the opposing teams kicks the ball pack into play with an indirect free kick - a ground kick that may not score a goal (if it does go into the goal of the opposing team, it will be replayed).


3. The balls goes out of play when a penal foul, handball, or misconduct takes place. The opposing team kicks the ball back into play with a direct free kick - a ground kick that may score a goal. For both direct and indirect free kicks, no player may be within 9.15 meters of the player who takes the kick, and the kicker may not touch the ball again until it has been touched by someone of the opposing team.


4. When the defending team takes the ball out of play with a foul, handball, or misconduct from within its own penalty box (within 11 meters of the goal), the opposing team is awarded a penalty kick. An opposing player takes a free direct kick toward the goal a distance of 11 meters away. No other players are allowed to enter the penalty box or touch the ball with the exception of the defending goal keeper until the ball has either been deflected by the goal keeper or bounced off the bar.


5. If a ball goes beyond the sidelines (the borders of the long edges) of the soccer field, a player from the team opposing the last player to touch the ball throws the ball back in. The player throwing the ball back in must stand with both feet firmly planted out of the sidelines, and throw the ball with both hands over his head.


6. When the attacking team takes the ball out of play by sending it over the byline (the border of the short edge of the field in line with the opposing team's goal), the defending team is awarded a goal kick. The defending goal keeper takes a free direct kick towards the attacking teams goal (across the field). This kick must exit the penalty box in order to count.


7. When the defending team takes the ball out of play by sending it over it's goal line (the border of the short edge of the field in line with the team's own goal), the attacking team is awarded a corner kick from the corner on whichever side of the goal that the ball went over. An attacking player takes a free direct kick towards the defending goal.


8. When the referee stops the game for an external factor, a defective ball, or an injured player it is called a dropped ball. The play is restarted when the referee drops the ball from shoulder height in between 2 opposing players.

Fouls vs. Misconduct
A foul occurs when a player inadvertantly kicks or pushes an opponent when trying to get to the ball. This can only occur when the ball is in play. Misconduct is an intentional assault or flagrant and aggressive disruption of the game, and can occur anytime. The referee can choose to issue a yellow card to warn the player depending on the severity of the misconduct. The issuance of a second yellow card, or a red card in the case of severe misconduct, expels the player from the present match, as well as the following match in the tournament, with no allowance for replacing the expelled player with a substitute.

The Offside
An offside is an illegal play perpetrated when an attacking player is closer to the defending goal than the ball itself and any other defending players (with the exception of the goal keeper). The position of the offender can be rendered offside if he leans in a way that places him closer to the goal than the last defender - even if his feet are in good position. The attacking player may pass the last defender in the direction of the goal once the ball has been passed without committing an offside offense, as long as he was in correct position when the ball was passed.
A passive offside occurs when the attacking player in offside position does not effect the play of the ball directly or indirectly, and is usually waived by the referee.