Soccer: Rules of the game
There are seventeen laws established for the game; aside from these official Laws, numerous IFAB decisions and other directives contribute to the regulation of football. These laws can be found on the official FIFA website.
Composition
Normally, each team is composed of a maximum of eleven players (excluding substitutes), one of whom should be the goalkeeper. Competition rules sometimes state a minimum number of players (usually seven players) required to constitute a team. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to play the ball with one’s hands or arms; however they are only allowed to do so within the penalty area in front of their own goal. The maximum number of substitutions in most competitions is 3, although it could vary depending on the league or match.
The referee has "full authority to enforce the laws of the game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed" (Law 5), and his decisions are final. The referee is assisted by two assistant referees.
The Playing Field or the “Pitch”
The playing field usually ranges 100-110 m (110-120 yards) in length and ranges 65-75 m (70-80 yards) in width. These dimensions are specified in international adult matches, and mostly differs with non-international matches and indoor leagues. These however, aren't specifically required by football laws. The front of each goal, an area known as the penalty area, is marked by the goal-line, two lines beginning on the goal-line 18 yards (16.5 m) from the goalposts and extending 18 yards into the pitch perpendicular to the goal-line, and a line joining them.
Duration
A standard adult football match is composed of two periods of 45 minutes each, known as halves. Half-time breaks usually last for 15 minutes. The end of the match is known as full-time. The referee, the official timekeeper for the match, may add an extension time for time lost due to substitutions, injured players and other stoppages. In games ending in a draw, extra time is allowed which consists of two further 15-minute periods and if the score is still tied after the extra time, some referees bring the game into a period of penalty kicks, known officially as “kicks from the penalty mark.”
Ball in and out of Play
Under the official laws, the two basic states of play during a game are ball in play and ball out of play. From the start of each playing period with a kick-off (a set kick from the centre-spot by one team) until the end of the playing period, the ball is in play at all times, except when either the ball leaves the field of play, or play is halted by the referee. When the ball becomes out of play, play is restarted by one of eight restart methods, the method used depending on the reason for the ball going out of play.
• Kick-off: succeeding a goal by the opposing team or to start each period of play.
• Throw-in: when the ball has completely crossed the touchline; rewarded to the team opposing the one that last touched the ball.
• Goal kick: when the ball has completely crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by an attacker; rewarded to the defending team.
• Corner kick: when the ball has completely crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by a defender; rewarded to attacking team.
• Indirect free kick: rewarded to the opposing team succeeding "non-penalty" fouls, certain technical infringements, or when play is halted to caution/send-off an opponent without a specific foul having occurred.
• Direct free kick: rewarded to fouled team succeeding certain listed "penal" fouls.
• Penalty kick: rewarded to the fouled team succeeding a "penal" foul occurring in their opponent's penalty area.
• Dropped-ball: occurs when the referee has halted play for any other reason (such as a serious injury to a player, interference by an external party, or a ball becoming defective).
Penalties
A foul happens when a player commits a specific offence listed in the laws of the game when the ball is in play. The offences that represent a foul are listed in Law 12. Handling the ball, pushing an opponent, or tripping an opponent, are some examples of "penal fouls,” punishable by a penalty kick or direct free kick depending on where the offence occurred. Other fouls are punishable by an indirect free kick.
The referee can punish a player's misconduct by a caution (yellow card) or sending-off (red card). Misconduct can occur at any time, and while the offences that represent misconduct are listed, the definitions are broad. In particular, the offence of "unsporting behaviour" even if they are not listed as specific offences, may well be used to deal with most events that violate the spirit of the game.
Rather than halting play, the referee can allow play to continue when its continuation will benefit the team against which an offence has been committed. This is basically known as "playing an advantage.” The referee can "call back" play and penalize the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not follow within a short period of time, typically taken to be four to five seconds. Even if an offence is not penalized as the referee plays an advantage, the offender can still be sanctioned for any associated misconduct at the next stoppage of play. Offside
The offside law effectively limits the ability of attacking players to remain forward (like closer to the opponent's goal-line) of both the ball as well as the second-last defending player.
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