Soccer Rules and Regulations

Offside and Restarts

• Offside position: when a player is closer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.
• Four ways to restart play: free kick, penalty, corner, and goal kick.

Fouls and Cards

• Free kick: awarded to a team after a foul, can be direct or indirect.
• Penalty: awarded when a foul is committed inside the penalty area, taken from the penalty spot.
• Yellow card: caution given to a player for unsporting behavior, dissent, or other infractions.
• Red card: shown to a player who has committed a serious offence, resulting in ejection from the game.

Game Play

• Throw-in: method of restarting play when the ball crosses the touchline, taken by opponents of the player who last touched the ball.
• Header: when a player directs the ball with their head.
• Dribble: controlling and moving the ball with the feet while keeping it away from opponents.
• Cross: a pass from a wide area towards the centre or goal area.
• Tackle: attempting to take the ball away from an opponent using the feet.

Players and Roles

• Goalkeeper: player positioned to defend the goal, allowed to use their hands within the penalty area.
• Assist: a pass or contribution by a player that helps set up a goal.

Game Structure

• Formation: arrangement of players on the pitch, varying depending on team strategy.
• Attack: team or players trying to score a goal.
• Defence: team or players trying to prevent the opposition from scoring.
• Midfield: area and players positioned between defence and attack, playing both defensive and attacking roles.

Game Intervals

• Half-time: interval between the two halves of a football match.
• Full-time: end of the match, after 90 minutes of play (plus additional stoppage time).
• Injury time: additional time added at the end of each half to compensate for time lost due to injuries, substitutions, or other interruptions.

Match Officials

• Referee: official who enforces the rules during the game.
• Assistant referee: officials who assist the referee, particularly by signaling offsides and out-of-bounds.
• Kick-off: method of starting or restarting play at the beginning of each half and after a goal is scored.