Basics of Soccer

Soccer is simple, there are eleven players on the field, consisting of forwards, midfielders, fullbacks and a goalie.  The players can be placed anywhere as long as there isn’t more than eleven players on the field.  There are many different line set ups.  The biggest most important rule in soccer is; DON’T USE YOUR HANDS.  The only players allowed to use hands are goalies and only if they are inside the 18 yard box.  Soccer is meant to be played with feet, if caught using your hands, the ball will be turned over to the opposing team for an indirect kick.  There are indirect and direct kicks, the difference is; a direct kick can be a shot to the goal, an indirect kick has to come in contact with another player before it can be shot at the goal.

If the ball goes out of bounds on a side line it is a turn over and has to be thrown in, with both feet on the ground, two hands on the ball, and ball is moved from behind the head to over the head to to another player.  If the ball goes out on the goal line then it is a corner kick.  If a referee finds a purposefully dangerous action they will give out a yellow card and that player has to sit for 10 minutes, while their team plays man down.  If the same player continues to do these actions the referee will give out red cards, causing the player to be out of the rest of the game and all of the next game.  If the referee calls a penalty inside the penalty box then the opposing team gets a penalty kick.  A penalty kick is the goalie versus a single opposing player, giving the player a large chance to score.  In soccer the only equipment you have to wear are shin guards, mouth guards, and cleats.  The goals are 24 ft. x 8 ft. and the fields range from 45-90 m. x 90-120 m.  Soccer is an easy sport to comprehend, not so easy to engage in though.