17 Laws of the Game

The field of play must either be a wholly natural or wholly artificial playing surface except where competition rules of a given league permit an integrated combination of artificial and natural materials (hybrid system). 

 

The color of any artificial surfaces must be green. 

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A field of play must be a rectangle and the regulation length and width have minimum and maximum parameters. For example, the field may be 90 meters (100 yards) to 120 meters (130 yards) in length and must be a minimum of 45 meters (50 yards) to a maximum 90 meters (100 yards) in width.

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There are few line markings on a field of play and they include two longer boundary lines are called touchlines (what an American might call a sideline) and the two shorter ones (width) which are called goal lines. 

 

Find other field markings, dimensions and specifics for goal, penalty and corner areas on page 32 in the full manual. 

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Law 1 also includes sections on such things as use of goal line technology (GLT), advertising, logos and video assistant referees (VAR).

It begins with the fact that the ball must be spherical and continues with the words "must be of suitable material" (page 41 of the Laws of the game 24-25). 

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The NWSL Official Ball information can be found here, where you can also purchase one.

A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of 11 players; one must be the goalkeeper. A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players. 

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Number of substitutions in a competition are where rules can vary based on the level and league. (In American youth programs and schools, there is an emphasis on having "free" substitutions so that players can gain experience.)

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But here is the language from the Laws of the Game (page 45): "

The number of substitutes, up to a maximum of five, which may be used in any match played in an official competition will be determined by FIFA, the confederation or the national football association. For men’s and women’s competitions involving the 1st teams of clubs in the top division or senior ‘A’ international teams where competition rules permit a maximum of five substitutes to be used, each team:

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• has a maximum of three substitution opportunities* 

• may additionally make substitutions at half-time. 

 

*Where both teams make a substitution at the same time, this will count as a used substitution opportunity for both teams. Multiple substitutions (and requests) by a team during the same stoppage in play count as one used substitution opportunity."

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In pro leagues once a player has been substituted for they may not return to a match. Other sections of this law include how to handle substitutions during extra time, what substitution procedures are, who can and how to change the goalkeeper, and what happens when a player is "sent off" (for example, by a red card). 

Refer to Player's Equipment, Referee, and other Match Officials, pages 53 - 75, here are a few highlights:

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From Law 4 regarding Player's Equipment under safety, jewelry of any kind is not permitted. Here is the "compulsory equipment that must be worn:

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• a shirt with sleeves 

• shorts 

• socks – tape or any material applied or worn externally must be the same color as that part of the sock it is applied to or covers 

• shinguards – these must be made of a suitable material to provide reasonable protection and covered by the socks 

• footwear 

 

Goalkeepers may wear tracksuit bottoms. 

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A player whose footwear or shinguard is lost accidentally must replace it as soon as possible and no later than when the ball next goes out of play; if before doing so the player plays the ball and/or scores a goal, the goal is awarded" (pages 53 - 54). 

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Regarding color, each team must be distinguishable from the other and from match officials and a goalkeeper's colors must be different than even their team and the match officials. If both goalkeepers wear a same color jersey, match play can proceed at the discretion of the referee. 

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From Law 5, the Referee: "Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match" (page 59). Further, decisions "will be made to the best of the referee’s ability according to the Laws of the Game and the ‘spirit of the game’ and will be based on the opinion of the referee, who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws of the Game" (page 59).

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In that law are sections on powers and duties, disciplinary action, injury, and referee equipment. 

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See pages 64 - 66 for the charming illustrations for what all the hand signals the referee is indicating means and pages 72 - 75 to learn what the assistant referees and other match officials are signaling as well.

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Refer to Duration of a Match, Start and Restart of Play, and Ball In and Out of Play rules. A match consists of two 45-minute halves, with an intermission of not more than 15 minutes.

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Here are the reasons extra time may be added to a half (aka allowance time):

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"Allowance is made by the referee in each half for all playing time lost in that half through: 

 

• substitutions 

• assessment and/or removal of injured players 

• wasting time 

• disciplinary sanctions 

• medical stoppages permitted by competition rules, e.g. ‘drinks’ breaks (which should not exceed one minute) and ‘cooling’ breaks (ninety seconds to three minutes) 

• delays relating to VAR ‘checks’ and ‘reviews’ 

• goal celebrations 

• any other cause, including any significant delay to a restart (e.g. due to interference by an outside agent)" (page 77). 

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From Law 8: Each half begins with a kick-off and possession is determined by a coin toss to begin the match and alternates for the second half.

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A kick off also follows any goal scored by the opposition.

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From Law 9 (page 85) "The ball is out of play when: 

• it has wholly passed over the goal line or touchline on the ground or in the air 

• play has been stopped by the referee 

• it touches a match official, remains on the field of play and: a team starts a promising attack or 

• the ball goes directly into the goal or 

• the team in possession of the ball changes." 

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The ball is in play if it touches a match official or rebounds of equipment (goal post, corner flag, etc.) and remains in the field of play.

From Determining the Outcome of a Match: A goal is scored when the whole of it passes over a goal line, between the posts and under the crossbar. 

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The winner is determined by whichever team scores the most goals. (No wonder it doesn't appear till Law 10, that's so simple!)

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Rules for a penalty-kick goal appear in this section (page 87) as follows.

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"Penalties (penalty shoot-out) are taken after the match has ended and unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game apply. A player who has been sent off during the match is not permitted to take part; warnings and cautions issued to players and team officials during the match are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out)." 

Here it is, directly from page 93:

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"It is not an offense to be in an offside position. 

 

A player is in an offside position if: 

• any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents’ half (excluding the halfway line) and 

• any part of the head, body or feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. 

 

The hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered. For the purposes of determining offside, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. 

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A player is not in an offside position if level with the: 

• second-last opponent or 

• last two opponents."

 

See videos on the Rules page if you want a visual explanation.

 

Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct includes detailed explanations for all kinds of actions and their remedies.

 

Direct, indirect free kicks and penalty kicks can only be awarded for offenses committed when the ball is in play and those offenses, determined by the referee, generally occur because of careless, reckless or excessive force plays.

 

To become advanced at the rules and sound like you know the game when you yell outrageous things at a referee, be sure to consult with pages 99 - 112.

 

Page 101 even features helpful illustrations of what is and is not a handball (don't let the name fool you, most of the arm may not be used).

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Consult page 107 to learn what constitutes a sending-off offense (red card).

Direct and indirect free kicks are awarded to the opposing team of a player or team official who is guilty of an offense. Types of those Free Kicks are explained beginning in Law 13.

 

Law 14 describes The Penalty Kick and begins on page 119:

"A penalty kick is awarded if a player commits a direct free kick offense inside their penalty area or off the field as part of play as outlined in Laws 12 and 13. 

 

A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick" (page 119) and the section is worth a read for full understanding.

 

Law 15 explains The Throw In and begins on page 125. A throw in "is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, on the ground or in the air." 

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"A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in" (page 125).

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Law 16 describes The Goal Kick and begins on page 129 with this: "A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored. 

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A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team; if the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents."

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The Corner Kick "is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored.

 

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team; if the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents" (page 133). 

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The rest of the procedures for each of those kicks is also described or illustrated in the Laws of the Game 2023-24 from pages 119 - 134. The final nearly 100 pages include sections on such things as protocols, law changes, glossaries football bodies, terms and referee terms.

 

The manual concludes with Practical Guidelines for Match Officials, if you think you want to become a referee after reading this page! 

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