SOCCER 101 LESSON 2: BASIC RULES
Rule 7: Duration of the Match Rule 11: Offside
Universally, matches consist of two halves of 45
minutes. Regular season games can end in a tie
after 90 minutes, but in knockout competitions,
like the US Open Cup and the USL Playoffs a winner
must be decided. Overtime (called “Extra Time”
in soccer) consists of two 15 minute halves. If the
game is still tied, the game goes to Penalties, lined
out in Rules 10 and 14. Since the clock never stops
running in soccer, time is added at the end of each
half for stoppages for substitutions, time wasting
(a gamesmanship tactic), disciplinary sanctions or
other major stoppages. Probably the single most difficult decision in the
game, offside offenses are almost exclusively
identified by an Assistant Referee. The rule was
installed to keep players in check and not “cherry
pick” in front of opponents goals, and has evolved to
both a lightning rod for video replay advocates and
excuse for beleaguered managers. In the simplest
terms, any attacking player between the second-to-
last defender and the goal is in an offside position.
For an advanced attacking player to legally receive
the ball, they must be either:
Rule 8: Start and Restart of Play
Halves are commenced by a kick off from the center
spot of the match, and restarts after goals are taken
from the center spot as well, taken by the team that
just conceded.
Rule 9: The Ball in and Out of Play
In Soccer, the lines on the field are considered in
bounds for the area they demarcate. The ball has
to completely pass over the line to be out, either
on the ground or in the air, a decision chiefly made
by the ARs.
Rule 10: Determining the Outcome of the Match
Goals are awarded by the Center Referee after
the ball passes completely over the goal line, as
illustrated when the ref points to the center of
the pitch.
Regular season matches in any league are over
after 90 minutes, whether there is a winner or not.
For knockout games, the team with the most goals
at the end of Regulation or Extra Time wins, but if
the game is tied after 120 minutes, Penalties must
decide the game. Teams alternate shots from the
Penalty Mark (the spot 12 yards from the goal)
unless the competition has specified otherwise
(some competitions employ the A-B-B-A order
to negate any advantage that could be had by the
alternating nature of shots) and the best of five
shots, wins. Should the teams remain tied after five
shots, it goes to a round by round “sudden death”
format. The pressure is on the penalty taker to
convert the shot, as they require great anticipation
and a healthy dose of luck to save, and shootouts
rarely go beyond the first five rounds of shots.
40 EXTOL SPORTS / MARCH 2018
A. In their own defensive half, or
B. Either in front of, or in line with the second-
to-last member of the defending team at the
moment the ball is played
Essentially, a player cannot be passed the ball if
they are between last defender of the defending
team and the goal, BUT they can be level with the
second-to-last defender.
Additionally, if an attacking player is in an offside
position and doesn’t interfere with play and a
goal is scored, no rule has been infringed upon.
If an attacking player is in an offside position and
interferes with play (like screening the goalkeeper,
for instance), then they are offside, and the goal is
disallowed.
The signal for offside is given by the Assistant
Referee when they hold their flag straight up in
the air to alert the Center Referee, then holding
it in front of them. To restart play after an offside
offense, the referee awards an indirect free kick to
the defending team (that’s to come).
Rule 12: Fouls and Misconduct
The following is a list of fouls in the game. They are
interpreted differently by different referees, and
also their enforcement changes significantly from
league to league and country to country. England
has a history of a physical game, where the Spanish
appreciate more style over substance. As the law
goes, a Free Kick is awarded if an opponent commits
any of the following offenses:
A. Charges (running shoulder to shoulder in an
aggressive manner)
B. jumps at
C. kicks or attempts to kick
D. Pushes
E. strikes or attempts to strike
(including head-butt)
F. tackles or challenges
G. trips or attempts to trip
H. handles the ball deliberately (except for the
goalkeeper within their penalty area)
I. holds an opponent
J. impedes an opponent with contact
K. spits at an opponent
If you stand with a supporter during a match and
you see a referee whistle after a slide tackle, you
will hear some version of the refrain “they got the
ball!” While slide tackles and challenges are part of
the game, they must be going for the ball- not the
player. It is erroneously assumed that if a player
gets the ball, they have carte Blanche to take out the
player as well. This is simply not the case, as many
considerations are taken into account by the referee
around judging challenges, with speed, position,
where the challenging