Hints_and_Tips_for_frequently_asked_Soccer_questions

Hints and Tips for frequently asked Soccer questions.
• Where can I find the Official Soccer Rule Book..
http://www.fifa.com/documents/fifa/laws/LOTG2006_e.pdf
A brief description of the 12 rules.
1. Describes what the field should look like.
2. What is a ball? It is round and has air in it. Not too hard , not too soft.
3. How many players make up a team, and you must have a goal keeper.
4. No shirt, No shoes, No service. All players have to wear a uniform including shirt,
pants, shoes and shin guards.
Notice the rule only says “Footwear”. The footwear must be safe for everyone on the
field. High heels or flip flops do not qualify as safe.
5. What is a referee and what is their job?
6. What is an assistant referee and what is their job?
7. How long does a game last and how do you start a game?.
8. How do you restart play from a stoppage?
9. When is a ball in play, and how do you get it back in play.
10. How do you know if a goal has been scored.
11. The most difficult rule, what is offside.
12. Have fun and play nice! No hitting, kicking, spitting or other rude behavior.
Coaches and parents included.
All if this is subject to interpretation by the referee. Coaches if you are the referee,
discuss your interpretation with the other coach and reach an agreement. Base your
decisions on the fun and safety of the game for the kids.
• Is it a foul every time the ball touches someone’s hand or arm?
No the infraction is “Handling the ball” not “ Hand ball”.

If the ball travels to the hand it is not “Handling the ball”. It does not matter if the ball is
kicked by the player or someone else, if it is inadvertent contact, it is not a foul.
If in the opinion of the referee the player played the ball with their hand or arm it is
“Handling the ball” and a foul. The key is hand to the ball, not ball to hand.
• What is the purpose of the “Small Box”?
The Goal Area defines the closest the ball can be to the goal for any free kick. With the
exception of a goal kick, the ball can never be closer to the goal than the 6 yard line (
goal area line) for a free kick. For a goal kick the ball can be anywhere within the
boundary defined by the goal area line including on the line. On the line means some
portion of the ball is touching the line.
• What is the purpose of the “Big Box”?
The Penalty Area serves several purposes.

First, it defines the area the goal keeper is permitted to use their hands.
Second, a goal kick must leave the penalty area before anyone can play the ball. If the
ball is played before the ball leaves the penalty area, the kick is retaken. The ball is not
in play until the ball leaves the penalty area.
Third, any contact foul committed by a defending player in the penalty area results in a
penalty kick.
• Who can be in the penalty area during a goal kick?
No one on the attacking team, but everyone on the defending team.

Take notice of the second statement above.
• When does the goal keeper have control of the ball?
When the goal tender has stopped the motion of the ball and is in contact with the ball.
This contact could be 1 finger. Until the ball is under control of the goal keeper all
players have equal opportunity to play the ball. The only special power / protection a goal
keep has is the ability to use their hands inside the penalty area.
• What is “offside”
I wish this was a simple situation to describe. The FIFA rule book gives a number of
good examples to look at.
At the moment the ball is passed to a team member, a player is in an offside position if
they are closer to the goal than the ball and the second last defender. Normally the last
defender is the goal keeper, but not always.
The player in the offside position becomes offside when they become involved in play.
This could be by playing the ball or influencing play by their position ie screening the
goal keeper.
If the player is away from play, or takes themselves out of play, they are not offside.
If a player is in an offside position and a shot on goal bounces off the goal post or is
deflected by the goal keeper, and the player in an offside position plays the ball, the
player is offside. This is because the player has gained advantage by being in an offside
position.
This description of offside situations could go on for several pages and still not cover all
of the possibilities.
• Throw in basics
Both feet must be in contact with the ground.

Both hands must be on the sides of the ball (what is the side).
The ball release must start from behind the head and be released in front of the head in a
single motion.
Because of the previously mentioned motion the shoulders will be square to the direction
of the throw in on a correctly thrown ball. The feet do not have to be pointing the
direction of the throw, but it is easier to make the throw if they are.
An opponent can not interfere with the throw. This means an opponent can not stand in
front of the thrower and wave their arms like they do in basketball.
• What is a slide tackle?
If the player is on the ground sliding toward a player or ball like they are sliding into
second, that is a slide tackle. VAA does not allow slide tackles for two reasons.
One, most kids are not skilled enough to do a slide tackle without risking injury to
themselves or another player.
Second, from a tactical stand point, a player on the ground has taken themselves out of
the play and placed themselves in harms way. Kids will end up on the ground often
enough with out doing it intentionally.
• When can the Goal Keeper NOT play the ball with their hands inside the penalty
area?
On a pass by the foot from a team mate.

On a throw in from a team mate.
After releasing ball from their hands. Note bouncing the ball on the ground is not
considered releasing the ball. Rolling the ball on the ground or throwing the ball up in
the air is considered releasing the ball.
• What is the difference between a direct and indirect free kick?
Direct kick:
The result of a Penal foul. Which means one of the play nice rules was broken, contact is
involved. An other way to remember penal fouls is they end in “ing”, pushing, hitting,
kicking, handling etc. A penalty kick is the result if commited by the defending team in
the penalty area.
A goal can be scored directly from the kick.
Indirect kick:
The result of a non-contact foul, such as offsides, dangerous play or obstruction.
A goal can not be scored until the ball has been touched by a second player. The player
can be from either team. As an example, the ball is kicked directly at the goal and the
goal keeper tips the ball and the ball goes in the net, a goal is scored. In same situation, if
the goal keeper does not touch the ball, the result is a goal kick.

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Hints and Tips for frequently asked Soccer questions.

• Where can I find the Official Soccer Rule Book..

• Is it a foul every time the ball touches someone’s hand or arm?

No the infraction is “Handling the ball” not “ Hand ball”.

• What is the purpose of the “Small Box”?

The Penalty Area serves several purposes.

• Who can be in the penalty area during a goal kick?

No one on the attacking team, but everyone on the defending team.

• When does the goal keeper have control of the ball?

Both feet must be in contact with the ground.

• What is a slide tackle?

On a pass by the foot from a team mate.

• What is the difference between a direct and indirect free kick?

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