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 1-
History & Object
2- The Essentials
3- Field
Diagram and Positions
4- Glossary
of Soccer Terms
The Essentials
Game Length
A standard game is 90 minutes, split
into equal halves. The clock does
not stop, so the referee adds bonus
time at the end of each half to account
for breaks in the action. Players,
coaches, and fans alike never know
how much time is left, as the referee
is the only keeper of time. The team
with the most points at the end of
the game wins. In most cases, when
the score is tied at the end of regulation
play, the game is considered a draw.
If a match cannot end in a tie, the
first team to score in overtime wins.
If neither team scores during overtime,
teams can use a penalty-kick
tiebreaker to determine the
winner.
Start of the game
To start each half, and following
a goal, all players must be positioned
on their own side of the field before
play can begin with a kick-off.
The action starts once the ball is
kicked in the direction of the opponents’
goal.
Offense and Defense
Offense:
The team in possession of the ball
seeks agood shot at the goal. Teamwork
is critical as players dribble
and pass the ball around the opposition.
Teammates run into open space, where
they can receive a pass or distract
defenders. The highest success rate
comes from shots attempted within,
or just beyond,the penalty area; this
is why attackers often choose to cross
the ball to a teammate to create
a scoring opportunity.
Defense:
Regaining possession of the ball
by intercepting passes or stealing
the ball from dribbling players is
the essence of defense. Therefore,
the defense aligns itself across width
of the field to cover more of the
field, cut down passing angles, and
deter long passes. Defenders want
to keep opponents in front of them
and the ball out of the middle of
the field, especially when the ball
is close to goal. Consequently, when
the ball nears the goal, defenders
will often clear
the ball either downfield or toward
the sidelines to prevent scoring opportunities.
Scoring
A goal, worth one point, is scored
when the entire ball passes over the
goal line and through the goal.
Equipment
There is minimal equipment in soccer.
Players wear a uniform, including
shorts, a jersey or tee shirt, shoes
with cleats for better traction, and
shin guards to protect the front of
the shin during play. Goalkeepers
wear gloves and a different colored
jersey with protective padding built
in. The soccer ball is usually made
of synthetics or leather and is slightly
smaller at the youth level.
Common Referee Signals
One referee makes all decisions
related to rules, and two linesmen
aid the referee by making calls, mostly
for balls that go out of bounds. The
referee calls fouls against players
to ensure fair and safe play. If a
player commits a foul, the opposing
team is awarded a free
kick, which results in an
unguarded kick from the spot of the
foul. A free kick is either a direct
kick or an indirect
kick, depending on the type
of foul. Sometimes, a referee uses
his discretion and allows play to
continue through a foul if the offense
retains possession of the ball and
is on the attack when the foul was
committed. In this case, he will call,
“Advantage, play on,” and
swing his arms upward in front of
his chest. In cases of dangerous play
or unsportsmanlike conduct, a yellow
or red card is given to a player,
depending on the severity of the foul.
A red card signals ejection from the
game.
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