Rules

There are 17 laws to the game of soccer. These laws make sure that the referee is in charge and has control of the game. The rules are to keep players safe and to ensure that the game is played fairly. These are the laws that are used in soccer.

LAW 1 Field of Play The field has to be a certain size to play soccer on it. It has to be 100 to 130 yards long, and 50 to 100 yards wide. There are markings on the field to indicate out-of-bounds, penalty kicks, etc. Some of them are the sidelines, goal lines, a center line, and goal boxes, called the goal box (6) and the penalty box (18).
	LAW 2 The Ball The ball size that is used for any teams over 13 years of age is size 5. The weight of the ball has to be 14 to 16 ounces, and the diameter is 27 to 28 inches. The shape of the ball of course has to be round and spherical.
LAW 3 Number of Players Each team can have 11 players on the field at one time, including the goalie. A team can't play unless they have at least 7 players, they cannot play with less. In World Cup and MLS, (Major League Soccer) they can only have 3 substitutes (players that come in for the starters to give them a break when they get tired) per game, so the players don't get subbed that often.
	LAW 4 Equipment Each players has to wear certain equipment to play in the game. Shoes, (also known as cleats), a shirt, shorts, shin guards, and socks are required. Keepers are allowed to wear gloves and pants, but they have to wear a shirt that is a different color than the rest of the team's.
LAW 5 Referees The referee's job is to make sure that the game is played fairly. They are in charge of keeping the time, making the calls, and enforcing the rules.
	LAW 6 Assistant Referee The assistant referee's job is to, well, assist the referee. Their job is to help on making the calls, but if the ref chooses to ignore the call, then that is his/her choice. There are 2 usually 2 assistant referees in one game.
LAW 7 Duration of the Game There is 2 45 minute periods in soccer, totaling 90 minute games. There is usually about a 15 minute break for half-time. The ref is allowed to add time for injury time, wasting time, or any other reason that they feel necessary.
	LAW 8 Restarts There are many restarts in soccer. The very first one is the kickoff (start of the game). On a kickoff, the kick has to first go forward. Another restart is the drop ball. This happens when the game is stopped by something that is not in the rules. The ball has to touch the ground before it can be kicked.
LAW 9 In and Out of Play The ball is only considered out of bounds when it has totally crossed the out-of-bounds line.
	LAW 10 Scoring When the ball is kicked over the goal line, and between the goal posts, it is only considered a goal if it has crossed entirely over the line.
LAW 11 Offside A player is offside if he/she is behind the second-to-last defender and is involved in the play. There are a couple of conditions in which the player is not offside. You cannot be offside on a corner kick, a goal kick, or a throw-in.
	LAW 12 Fouls and Misconduct You can get yellow or red carded in a soccer game. To get a yellow card, you can do one of the following fouls. You could get a yellow card for unsporting behavior, showing dissent, persistently infringes the laws, delays the restart, fails to respect the required distance on a free kick, enters or re-enters the field of play with out the ref's permission, or leaves field of play without permission of the ref. If a person gets a red card, they have to leave the field, and no replacement player can be sent in for them. You can get a red card if you are guilty of serious foul play or violent conduct, if you spit at someone, if you deny a goal by handling the ball or by one of the 10 penal fouls (found below in Free Kicks), if you use offensive, abusive etc. language, of if you receive two cautions in 1 game.
LAW 13 Free Kicks There are two kinds of free kicks, indirect and direct. On an indirect kick, you can't score, but on a direct kick, you can. There are only certain fouls in which you can get a direct kick. If you trip, kick, tackle, jump, hold, handle, push, spit, charge, or strike someone, that other team gets a direct kick. For every other foul, you get an indirect kick.
	LAW 14 Penalty Kicks A penalty kick is used when a foul is committed inside of the penalty box by the defending team. You can score on a penalty kick. The penalty spot is inside the penalty box 12 yards from the goal line.
LAW 15 Throw-ins A throw-in is the restart used when the ball goes out-of-bounds from the sidelines. On a throw-in, your hands have to go directly behind your head, and both of your feet have to stay on the ground. You can score directly on a throw-in.
	LAW 16 Goal Kicks This restart can be taken anywhere inside of the goal box. You are allowed to score on a goal kick, but it is very difficult.
LAW 17 Corner Kicks A corner kick is taken in the corner of the field, beside the corner flag. The nearest defender can be 10 yards away. You are allowed to score on a corner kick.