Introduction to Soccer

Basics of the Game

Soccer is a simple game. It requires a field, a ball, two teams of players and their equipment.

The aim of the game is for one team to score more goals than the opposing team. The winning team is the team which has scored the most goals at the end of the game.

Players score a goal when they succeed in moving the whole ball over the opposing team's goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar.

There are at least 7 players on the field including the goalie. With the exception of the goalie, players may use any part of their body except their arms and hands. The goalie can use their hands.

The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line - whether on the ground or in the air - and when play has been stopped by the referee.

The game is controlled by one Referee on the playing field and two assistant referees placed on opposite touchlines.

Physical size is not an important factor in becoming a skilled and successful soccer player. Because of the nature of the game, every child participates in the action while on the field.

The Team

A team has a maximum of 11 players on the field at any one time, although a game can be played with as few as seven players on a team. Regions uses short-sided teams (less than 11 players) for younger age divisions. Players get more "touches" on the ball, learn skills quicker and have more fun using this method.

Each team has the following positions:

The Goalkeeper is responsible for guarding his or her team's goal and preventing the other team from scoring.

The Defender's primary duty is to prevent the opponent from having a good shot at the goal. This player also works to gain possession of the ball and pass it to a teammate for an attack.

The Midfielder (or Halfback) plays a "transitional" game from defense to offense and vice versa. Usually the midfielder is the most active player on the filed and key to maintaining team continuity.

The Forward's primary responsibility is to score, and also assists the midfielder in shifting play from defense to offense.

It's important to keep in mind that any player on a team may score a goal, regardless of position.

Skills

The sport involves several basic skills:

• passing/shooting
• dribbling
• controlling (or trapping) the ball

These skills can be learned at any age, and a good soccer player works continually to improve them.

Passing is kicking, pushing or heading the ball to a teammate or to a space where a teammate can run to the ball. A player may lightly tap the ball to a teammate several feet away or kick it strongly to move it down the field. The ball may scoot along the ground or may be kicked into the air.

Most players use two types of kicks to pass to a teammate or shoot towards the goal. One is the instep drive which is a powerful kick. The other kick is called a push pass. Performed using the inside of the foot, the push pass is much more accurate than the instep drive, but is less powerful.

Dribbling is transporting the ball under control from one area to another. With the exception of the Goalie, soccer players cannot use their hands. Players dribble the ball with their feet, using light taps on the ball to move it along the ground.

Controlling (or trapping) is stopping the ball in flight or on the ground, and then controlling it by either dribbling or passing the ball to teammates. There are many ways to trap a ball:

• Allowing the ball to hit the chest at an angle that deflects the ball to the ground where it can be controlled;
• Allowing it to hit the thigh or bent knee to deflect the ball to the ground where it can be controlled; or
• Using the foot to stop the ball.

Heading is unique to the game of soccer. When a ball is too high to kick, players use their head to direct or "head" the ball to pass to a teammate or score a goal. AYSO recommends that players under the age of ten should not head the ball.

The Field

The field (or pitch) of play is rectangular and approximately the size of a football field. Smaller fields are used by younger players. Click on the image at the right for a detailed view of the field.

The field is divided in two halves. The center circle in the middle of the field is used to start the game, to start the second half and to restart after a goal has been scored.

The two long lines running the length of the field are called touch lines. The two shorter lines are called goal lines.

There is a large rectangular area and a smaller rectangular area found at each end of the field. The goal area is defined by the smaller rectanglar area. The penalty area is defined as the larger rectangular area that encompassed the goal area and are where the penalty kicks are taken.

The four corners of the field are inscribed with three-foot arcs where corner kicks are taken.

The Officials

AYSO recommends the use of three game officials - one referee and two linespersons.

The Referee is the ultimate authority during the game. The referee's chief responsibilities are to make the game as fun, fair and safe for the players as possible. The referee enforces the rules - which are called "Laws" - by calling offenses (fouls) and determining if goals have been scored.

Linespersons provide vital assistance to the referee by signaling when the ball has gone out of play and which team gets possession. Linespersons also assist with substitutions and the general control of the game.

Equipment: What Players Need

Soccer has limited equipment requirements.

The player needs to have their own pair of shinguards (mandatory equipment) during practice and games. A soccer ball is also required. The ball size required is determied by the age of the player. The following list is a guideline on the soccer ball size and player division.

Soccer shoes are optional, but highly advisable.

Most AYSO teams play in uniforms (shirt, shorts and socks) supplied by the local region. Regions also provide field equipment, such as goals, nets and flags.

The Laws (Rules)

There are 17 of them and they are easy to understand. Their purpose is to make the game fun, safe and fair. The object of the game is for the players to get the ball into their opponent's goal using any part of their body except hands and arms. Only goalkeepers may use their hands while inside their own penalty area.

The Kickoff is used to start the game or the second half and also to resume play after each goal . A kickoff is taken from the center circle. The ball must be played forward from the kick-off. The opposition cannot come into the center circle until the ball is played.

Throw In: After the ball has completely crossed the side boundary lines - called touchlines - a throw in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball. The throw in is taken from where the ball left the field and must be thrown with two hands from behind and over the head, while both feet are on the ground on or behind the touchline.

The Goal Kick is taken by the defending team each time the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by an attacking player. The ball may be placed anywhere in the goal area and is not considered back in play until it has been kicked out of the penalty area.

The Corner Kick is taken by the attacking team each time the ball is kicked by the defense over its own goal line. The ball is placed within the three-foot arc in the corner of the field (nearest to where the ball went out of play) and kicked into play by the attacking team.

A Penalty Kick is awarded when a defending player commits one of the 10 penal (major) fouls within his or her own penalty area while the ball is still in play. The penalty kick is taken by a player from the offended team from a spot 12 yards from the goal. All players (except the kicker and the goalkeeper) must stand outside the penalty area, 10 yard from the ball and behind the penalty-kick marker. The goalkeeper's feet must remain stationary on the goal line until the ball is kicked. Once kicked, the goalkeeper may try to stop the ball from entering the goal. The kicker, after waiting for the referee's signal, may score by kicking the ball directly into the opponent's goal.

Offside

A player is offside if he or she is ahead of the ball, unless the player ...

1. is in his own half of the field, or
2. has two opponents even with or behind him and the opponents' goal line. The referee's "moment of judgment" is the instant the ball is played, not when the ball is received or
3. is the first to receive the ball from a throw in, corner kick or goal kick or
4. is not involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

The Fouls

Penal (Major) Fouls

There are 10 major fouls that result in a direct free kick (DFK), and from which a goal may be directly scored against the opponents. To be a major foul the offense must have been, in the referee's judgment, committed intentionally.

The 10 penal fouls are divided into two groups. Six within the first group require that the foul be committed carelessly, recklessly, or with disproportionate force:

• Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
• Striking or attempting to strike an opponent.
• Pushing an opponent.
• Charging an opponent.
• Tripping an opponent.
• Jumping at an opponent.

The other four penal fouls require only that they be committed:

• When tackling an opponent, making contact with the opponent before the ball.
• Spitting at an opponent.
• Holding an opponent.
• Handling the ball deliberately.

Non-Penal (Minor) Fouls

There are five minor fouls that result in an indirect free kick (IFK). At least one additional player of either team must touch the ball before a goal can be scored from an IFK.

• Dangerous Play. Including high kicking near another player's head or trying to play a ball held by a goalkeeper.
• Fair Charge Away From the Ball. Fairly charging when the ball is not within playing distance.
• Impeding the Progress of an Opponent. Getting between an opponent and the ball when not playing the ball.
• Charging the Goalkeeper. Shoulder-to-shoulder contact within the penalty area.
• Goalkeeper Infringements.
  1. Goalkeeper taking more than four steps while controlling the ball with his or her hands, or otherwise wasting time.
  2. Goalkeeper playing ball with hands when ball is kicked by teammate.

(Adapted from The ABC's of AYSO)

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