The cleats allow you to strike the ball properly.  The cleats on the bottom help you to get good traction while running.  Shin guards protect your shins and ankles from getting kicked.

To get a goal, the ball must cross the goal line and go into the goal.  It is the offense’s main purpose to score a goal.  A striker is and all-out attacking player whose job is to score a goal.  They can also be called forwards.

On the other hand, it is the defense’s job to stop goals.  A defender is a back player whose job is to prevent the opponent from getting into a scoring opportunity.  The sweeper is the last line of defense that operates behind the other defenders. 

Midfielders play both offense and defense.  They help the strikers bring the ball down the field and create scoring opportunities for them.  They hustle back to help the defenders defend the goal.

The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use his or her hands on the field, as long as they are in their box.  Their job is to stop the ball from getting in the net.  They wear gloves so the ball isn’t so slippery and so they don’t hurt their fingers.

The only time players other than the goalie can use their hands, is while doing a throw-in.  When the ball goes out of bounds, and the opposite team was the last to touch it, is when you get a throw-in.  The ball is thrown in from behind the sideline to an open teammate.  The ball must be behind the player’s head and both feet must be planted on the ground.

A corner kick is awarded when the ball goes over the defense’s end line.  The ball is placed anywhere within the corner arch.  With a running start, the ball is kicked.  The preferable place for the ball to be kicked is right in front of the goal, so your on rushing teammates can knock the ball in. 

A free kick is given after a foul.  Play is re-started by a kick from the opposite team.  There are two types of free kicks: direct or indirect.  When the ball is kicked on a direct kick, it can go directly in the goal.  The ball must be touched by another player before it goes in the goal on an indirect kick.

A penalty kick is a direct kick is a direct kick taken form the penalty mark.  A penalty kick is awarded when there is a foul on the defense with-in the penalty box.  A penalty kick is also called a pk.