Laws of Association Football

Introduction

The laws of the game are authorised by The International Football Association Board (IFAB). The Board consists of the following Associations each of which are entitled to be repesented by four delegates.

The Football Association (England)

The Scottish Football Association

The Football Association of Wales

The Irish Football Assocation and

The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

1

The Field of Play

The pitch must be rectangular . The touch line must always be longer than the goal line.

Length (touch line)
Maximum: 130 yards ( 120 metres)
Minimum: 100 yards (90 metres)

Width (goal line)
Maximum: 100 yards (90 metres)
Minimum: 50 yards (45 metres)

The ptich must be clearly marked out with lines not more than 5 inches (12 cm) wide.

2

The Ball

The ball must be a sphere; the outer casing of leather or similar approved material with a circumference of not more than 28 inches and not less than 27 inches. At the start of the game the ball must not weigh more than 16 oz nor less than 14 oz.

Only the referee can change the ball.

3

The Number of Players

A match shall be played by two teams of not more than eleven players. One must be a goal keeper. Any player may change places with the goalkeeper. The referee must be told before the change is made

Substitutes may be used in any match played in an offical competition. A player who has been ordered off after play has started may not be replaced.

4

The Players' Equipment

A player must wear a jersey or shirt, shorts, stockings, shinguards (completely covered by the stockings) and footwear. A player must not wear anything which is dangerous to himself or to another player (including any kind of jewellery).

Goalkeepers must wear colours dfiferent from those of other players, the referee, and assistant refereees.

5

The Referee

A referee is appointed for each game. His authority starts as soon as he enters the field of play. He enforces the Laws and allows no one except players and assistant referees on the pitch. He keeps a record of the game and acts as timekeeper. His decision is final as far as the result of the game is concerned.

6

The Asssistant Referee

Two must be appointed for each game to help the Referee. They signal:
* when the ball is out of play
* Which team should have a corner-kick, goal-kick or throw-in
* when a player is in an off-side position
* when an incident has happened out of sight of the referee
* when a substitute is desired

7

The Duration of the Match

The game must be played in two equal periods of 45 minutes with an interval (usually 15 mins) after the first period. Allowance must be made in either half for all the time lost through substitution, removing an injured player, or time wasting. The amount of time added is decided by the referee.

8

The Start and Restart of Play

Choice of ends and kick-off is decided by tossing a coin. Players must be in their own half of the field. The ball must be kicked into the opponents’ half and the kicker must not play the ball again until it has been touched by another player.

9

The Ball In and Out of Play

The ball is IN play if:
* it rebounds from a goal-post, cross-bar or corner-flag post into the field of play.
* it rebounds off the referee or assistant referee when they are in the field of play
* a law is supposed to have been broken until a decision is given by the referee.

The ball is OUT of play when:
* the ball crosses the goal-line or touch-line either on the ground or in the air.
* the game is stopped by the referee

10

The Method of Scoring

Provided no other Law is broken: a goal is scored when

the ball has passed over the goal-line,

between the goal-posts and

under the cross-bar

— as long as it has not been thrown, carried or hit by a hand or arm.

In drawn matches competition rules may make provision for extra time, or other ways to determine the winner of the match.

11

Offside

A player is off-side if he is nearer to his opponents’ goal-line than the ball, unless:

* he is in his own half of the field, or
* he is not nearer to his opponents’ goal-line than at least two of his opponents.

A player will not be declared off-side just by being in an off-side position.

12

Fouls and Misconduct

Fouls and misconduct are penalised by the referee awarding, to the opposing team. either a Direct or Indirect Free Kick, (Law 13) or A Penalty Kick (Law 14).

There are seven offences for which a player can be cautioned and shown the Yellow Card.

There are seven other offences for which a player can be shown the Red Card and sent off the field of play.

13

Free KIcks

There are two types of free-kick:

* DIRECT from which a goal CAN be scored and
* INDIRECT from which a goal CANNOT be scored unless the ball has been touched by another player before it passes under the cross-bar ad between the goal-posts.

14

The Penalty Kick

A penalty-kick must be taken from the penalty-spot. All players (except the kicker and the goalkeeper) must be outside the penalty-area and at least 10 yards from the penalty-spot. The goakeeper must stand still on his goal-line, between the goalposts, until the ball is kicked. The kicker must not play the ball again until it has been touched by another player.

15

The Throw-In

A throw-in is taken from the point where the ball crossed the touch-line, by a player of the opposite team to the one who last touched the ball. The thrower must face the pitch. Part of each foot must be either on the touch-line or on the ground outside the touch-line. Both hands must be used to throw the ball from behind and over the head. A goal cannot be scored direct from a throw-in.

16

The Goal Kick

When the attacking team kick the ball over the goal-line outside the goal-posts, it must be kicked into play beyond the penalty-area from any point in the goal-area by a defending player. If the ball is not kicked into play beyond the pentalty-area, the kick must be taken again.

17

The Corner Kick

When the ball cosses the goal-line outside the goal-posts after last being played by the defending team, one of the attacking team takes a corner-kick.
* The ball must be placed in the quarter circle of the nearest corner flag-post.
* The opposing team must not stand within 10 yards of the ball until it is in play.
* A goal may be scored direct from a corner-kick.