Official soccer rules or "Laws of the Game"are far from simple. There are 17 laws that are revised annually by the
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international soccer governing body.
Rule Adjustments
These official soccer laws are designed to apply to all levels of soccer, but certain modifications for groups such as youth organizations and recreational leagues are made to make the game more fun, to promote fair play and to help players learn the sport. Typical modifications include field size, ball size, length of game, number of players per team and the number and frequency of substitutions.
The Basics
Even though specific modifications are made for some organizations, basic soccer rules apply to everyone. Here is an overview of the basic rules of the game:
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Score with the soccer ball. Soccer is played using a single round ball. Two teams of 11 players each compete to get the soccer ball into the other team's goal. The team that has scored more goals at the end of the game is the winner.
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No hands. The main rule is that the players (other than the goalkeepers) may not intentionally touch the soccer ball with their hands or arms during play. However, players do use their hands during a throw-in to restart the game.
- Dribbling and passing. Players attempt to move the soccer ball toward the opponent's goal by "dribbling" or "passing" the ball with their feet to their teammates. Individual players try to control the ball and take shots at the goal, which is guarded by the opposing goalkeeper.
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Intercepting and regaining control. Opposing players may try to regain control of the soccer ball by intercepting a pass or physically taking over the ball. As players get older and more adept at the game, more physical contact is allowed; however, contact between opponents is still limited.
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Free flowing. Soccer is generally a free-flowing game, with play stopping only when the ball has left the field of play or when play is stopped by the referee.
Organized Youth Soccer
The United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) issues its own official modified FIFA soccer rules for players under 12. Many youth organizations use these modified rules as guidelines for their leagues.
Online Version
If you need a copy of the official rules, FIFA has made an online version available that you can download called "Laws of the Game." For specific questions, another wonderful free reference on the FIFA website is the "Questions and Answers to the Laws of the Game."
