Lower Merion Soccer Club - Laws Of The Game

There are 17 Laws in the game of soccer. These laws are for the adult level of play (professional leagues, World Cup, etc.) Individual leagues have some ability to modify some of the rules, i.e., length of the game, number of players on the field, etc.

CLICK HERE to see the complete 200+ page Laws Of The Game as put together by the Internation Football Association Board (IFAB), based in Switzerland. IFAB publishes the Laws of the Game in English, French, German and Spanish.

Click on any of the red links below to read about any of the 17 laws of the game, from law 1 to law 17.

Law 1 - The Field Of Play

The length of the field must be a minimum of 100 yards and a maximum of 130 yards. The width must be a minimum of 50 yards and a maximum of 100 yards. The field must be rectangular, longer than it is wide.
For international matches, the field must be 110-120 yards long and 70-80 yards wide.
The goal area must extend 6 yards out from the end line and extend 6 yards away from each goal post on each end line.
The penalty area must extend 18 yards out from the end line and extend 18 yards away from each goal post on each end line.
The corner kick area must be 1 yard in radius. The corner kick flagpost must be at least 5 feet high and not have a pointed top.
The goals must be 8 feet high. This is the distance from the ground to the lower edge of the crossbar. The goal must be 8 yards (24 feet) long. This is the distance between the inside of each goalpost.
Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal; they must be properly supported and must not interfere with the goalkeeper.
Goals (including portable goals) must be firmly secured to the ground.
The goalposts and the crossbar of both goals must be the same shape, which must be square, rectangular, round, elliptical or a hyrbrid of these options.
The goalposts and crossbar must be white and have the same width and depth, which must not exceed 5 inches.
How To QUICKLY measure the dimensions of an 11v11 field
7 v 7 GAMES: Field length = 55-65 yards. Field width = 35-45 yards.
9 v 9 GAMES: Field length = 70-80 yards. Field width = 45-55 yards.

Law 2 - The Ball

A size 5 ball has a circumference of 27-28 inches with a weight between 14 ounces and 16 ounces at the start of the match.
If a ball becomes defective during he run of play, play is stopped, the ball is replaced and play is restarted with a dropped ball. If the ball was not in play, play is restarted with the restart indicated by the referee.
The bal may not be changed during the match without the referee's permission.

Law 3 - The Players

Each team may have a maximum of eleven players on the field. One of the players MUST be the goalkeeper.
A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players.
Teams are permitted a maximum of five substitutes. Teams ar only allowed three substitution opportunities, not counting half-time and the start of extra time. This is only for top division professional teams. Teams are allowed one additional substitution and one additonal substitution opportunity in extra time, if the competition rules permit.
Players who have been substituted may not return to the game, except in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots competition.
Substitutes may only enter the field during a stoppage of play, at the halfway line, after the player being replaced has left the field and after the referee has signaled them onto the field.
Any field player on the field may change places with the goalkeeper, provided the change is made during a stoppage of play and the referee has been informed of the change. This is NOT considered a substitution.
If, after a goal is scored, the referee realizes, before play restarts, that an extra player was on the field of play when the goal is scored, the referee must disallow the goal if the extra player was on the team that scored. Play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position of the extra player. If play restarts before the referee realizes an extra player was on the field, the goal cannot be disallowed. The referee must allow the goal if the extra player was on the team that conceded the goal.
Team captains have no special status or privileges but has a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of the team.

Law 4 - Player Equipment

All items of jewelry (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands, etc.) are forbidden and must be removed. Using tape to cover jewelery is not permitted. The referee must order the player to remove the item. If he player is unable or unwilling to comply, the player must leave the field of play.
Compulsory equipment includes: a shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks, shinguards and footwear. Goalkeepers may wear tracksuit bottoms.
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.
Non-dangerous protective equipment, for example headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material is permitted, as are goalkeepers’ caps and sports spectacles.
Equipment, including undergarments, must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.
Items thatt are usually permitted include: the player’s number, name, team crest/logo, initiative slogans/emblems promoting the game of football, respect and integrity as well as any advertising permitted by competition rules or national FA, confederation or FIFA regulations as we as the facts of a match: teams, date, competition/event and venue.

Law 5 - The Referee

The referee may not change a restart decision on realising that it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official if play has restarted or the referee has signalled the end of the first or second half or extra time.
The referee may allow play to continue when an offence occurs and the non-offending team will benefit from the advantage, and penalizes the offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds.
Mandatory equipment: whistle, watch, red and yellow cards, a notebook (or other means) to keep score.

Law 6 - Other Match Officials

Other match officials may include two assistant referees (AR's), a fourth official and a video assistant referee (VAR). All final decisions however will always be taken by the referee.
The onfield match officials assist the referees with inspecting the field of play, the balls, players' equipment and maintaining records of time, goal, misconduct, etc.
Assistant referees indicate when the whole of the ball leaves the field of play and which team is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in, a player in an offside position may be penalized, a substitution is requested and at penalty kicks.
A VAR (video assistant referee) may assist the referee to make a decision using replay footage only for a 'clear and obvious error' or 'serious missed incident' relating to a goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, direct red card (not a second caution) or case of mistaken identity when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player of the offending team.

Law 7 - Duration Of The Match

A match lasts for two equal halves of 45 minutes each. Players are entitled to an interval at half-time, not exceeding 15 minutes.
Allowance in each half may be made for playing time lost trhough substitutions, assessment and/or removal of injured players, wasting time, disciplinary sanctions, medical stoppages, 'cooling' breaks, delays relating to VAR checks and reviews and any oher cause, including delay to a restart (e.g. goal celebrations).
If a penalty kick is to be taken or retaken, the half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.
An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organizes determine otherwise.

Law 8 - The Start And Restart Of Play

If an offense occurs when the ball is not in play, this does not change haw play will be restarted.
The ball is dropped for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area if, when play was stopped: the ball was in the penalty area or the last touch of the ball was in the penalty area.
In all other cases, the referee drops the ball for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the position where it last touched a player. All other players (of both teams) must remain 4.5 yards from the ball until it is in play (touches the ground).

Law 9 - The Ball In And Out Of Play

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 or the ball touches a match official, remains on the field and a team starts a promising attack or the ball goes directly into the goal or the team in possession of the ball changes. The ball is in play at all other times when it touches a match official.
The ball is in play if it rebounds off of a goalpost, crossbar or corner flag and remains on the field of play.

Law 10 - Determining The Outcome Of A Match

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offence has been committed by the team scoring the goal. The ball does NOT have to touch the ground.

Law 11 - Offside

The most important thing to remember is the difference between being in an offside position and being called for offside
Offside is determined by the position of the player's head, body or feet, but NOT the hands or arms.
A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a teammate is only penalized on becoming involved in active play by:
- interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a teammate or
- interfering with an opponent by:
  - preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or
  - challenging an opponent for the ball or
  - clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or
  - making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball
- gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar, match official or an opponent
- been deliberately saved by any opponent
There is no offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick.
If an offside offence occurs, the referee will award an INDIRECT free kick from where the offense occurred, including if it is in the player's own half of the field of play.
The offense is "offside," NOT "offsides." There is no 's' at the end of the word.

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

When considering a handball offence, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Not every touch of a player's hand / arm with the ball is an offence.
Some offences result in a DIRECT free kick, while other offences result in an INDIRECT free kick.
Some offences may result in a Caution (yellow card) while others may result in a Sending-off (red card).

Law 13 - Free Kicks

Some free kicks are "direct" while others are "indirect."
A free kick issued to the defending team in their own goal area may be taken from anywhere inside the goal area.
For a free kick issued to the attacking team inside their opponent's goal area, the ball will be spotted at the nearest point on the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line.
The ball must be stationary when the free kick is taken. The kicker may not play the ball again until it has touched another player.
Defenders must be at least 10 yards from the free kick unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts.
When three or more defending players for a wall, all attacking players must be at least one year from the wall until the ball is in play.

Law 14 - The Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is awarded if a defender commits a direct free kick offence inside their penalty area.
The goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the ball has been kicked. The goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line when the ball is played.
All other players must be 10 yards from the penalty mark, behind the penalty mark, inside the field of play and outside the penalty area.
The kicker may not play the ball again, until it has been touched by another player. This means that if the ball hits the crossbar or goalpost, the kicker may not play the ball again (unless another player has touched the ball).

Law 15 - The Throw In

At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower must stand facing the field of play, have part of each foot on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline and throw the ball with both hands from behind and over the head from the point where it left the field of play.
If the ball touches the ground before entering the field of play, the throw-in is retaken by the same team, from the same place on the field.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. If the ball enters the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded. If the ball enters the thrower’s goal, a corner kick is awarded.
If the defending team's goalkeeper handles the throw-in, an indirect free kick is awarded.

Law 16 - The Goal Kick

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.
If, when a goal kick is taken, any opponents are inside the penalty area because they did not have time to leave, the referee allows play to continue.
If an opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken, or enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, touches or challenges for the ball before it is in play, the goal kick is retaken.

Law 17 - The Corner Kick

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.
The corner kick flag may NOT be moved.
The ball must be placed in the corner area nearest to the point where the ball passed over the goal line.