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10 Basic Rules of Football Game

Kick off right here with the top 10 rules of football game for beginners. Check out ten of the most important and basic football rules and regulations played in English soccer leagues. This is only a simple snapshot of the basic fundamentals. But, it is an ideal place to start if you want to learn how to play football in 5 to 10 minutes of reading.

SIMPLE SOCCER RULES: This guide is for anyone who enjoys playing and watching soccer.

In fact, football is one of the world’s most popular and competitive outdoor ball games.

Some of the most famous players play for top Premier League Clubs at the highest peak of the game.

Whereas others join in a friendly kick around of ‘lads and dads’ in the park on a Sunday morning.

Even so, these top 10 football rules are the essential start for all footy fans and newcomers to the sport.

Football is a game combining agility, physical fitness, and superior ball-striking skills. Players use the same skills and techniques taken from these 10 basic rules of English football UK.

10 Football Rules for Beginners

This top ten football rule guide for beginners is only a summarized snapshot of FIFA 17 Laws of Football. You will find the codified descriptions in the FIFA Rule Book (PDF) according to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

English football games are played at all levels around the United Kingdom. So it does not matter whether you are a novice at soccer or getting up to date with the golden footy rules.

So, let’s get you started by kicking off with these top ten football basics.

1. Aim of Football Game

The first and most basic in 10 rules of football is understanding the aim of the game. Thus, the main objective in soccer is to score more goals than the opposing team.

2. Football Players

Every player must wear appropriate soccer equipment for the game. Football equipment must include a jersey, footwear, shorts, and stockings with shin guards.

You should play the game with a round ball. FIFA football ball specifications govern the circumference to a measurement of 68-70 centimetres.

Football balls are usually made from leather (or a similar composite material), and inflated to an appropriate pressure for kicking.

3. Soccer Equipment

The 10 basic rules of football state that a competition should consist of two teams.

The number of players and positions in each team should not exceed eleven (11). But, there must be one player nominated as a goalkeeper in each team.

4. Starting the game

Soccer starts with a coin toss carried out by match referees and team captains. Winning the coin toss means your team gets to choose the initial direction of play.

The team that loses the toss starts the match with the first kick-off. This award switches after half time before the second half play.

5. Football Basics: General play

The match (game) consists of playing two separate halves. The duration of each half should be forty five (45) minutes of normal playing time. A rest interval between the two halves should not exceed fifteen minutes.

The football referee rules whether to add extra playing time – or not. Adding extra time compensates for player substitution stoppages or injuries during each half.

6. Restarting the Game

The game resumes with a kick-off after the scoring of every goal. All players should be in their team’s half before each kick-off.

A single player kicks the stationary ball in a forward direction from the center spot. The team which concedes a goal restarts play with a new kick-off.

7. Scoring Goals

A goal results when the ball enters the goalmouth and crosses the goal line. FIFA Law 12 covers the directives on unsporting and inflammatory behaviour. That includes the regulations for football goal celebrations taken from the rule book.

8. Basic Soccer Regulations

  • All the outfield players can only use their feet, chest, or head to play the ball around. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use their hands. But, they must be inside their designated goal area to handle the ball.
  • There is one main purpose of the soccer offside rule. It is to ensure there are opponents between the attacking player receiving the ball and the goal.
  • Those opponents are usually the defending goalkeeper and at least one other player.
  • Play could encourage repeated long balls forward to the opponent’s goal area without the offside rule.
  • The attacking player in contact with the ball commits an offside offence if the ball or second-last opponent is closer to the goal.
  • Generally, a foul is the use of excessive force or an outfield player handling the ball. Fouls and misconduct during the game usually result in disciplinary action. The referee uses caution cards to administer disciplinaries.
  • A yellow card shown by the referee cautions the player for the offence committed. Serious offences (or two yellows during the match) receive a red card. This results in a sending off. The player discontinues further involvement in the game.
  • Following a foul or misconduct the referee may award a free kick. Free kicks get taken from a stationary position (either direct or indirect).
  • Direct free kicks allow for a direct shot at goal. An indirect free kick means the ball must make contact with at least one other player before scoring a goal. Before taking the free kick, opposing players must be a minimum distance of 9.15 metres from the ball.
  • Soccer penalty kicks result from a serious offence committed inside the goal area. Instead of awarding a direct free kick, the foul results in a penalty kicked from the penalty spot.

9. Football Referee and Officials

The match referee rules and regulations enforce the Laws of the Game. They officiate the most complex laws of the game. Referees are also responsible for maintaining respect and sportsmanship from the players.

Note: As a rule, the maximum number of assistant referees per game is two (2). The elite games will also have extra scrutiny in the form of a video assistant referee (VAR).

10. Winning the Game

The most basic regulation in our 10 rules for football is all about winning the game. You win the football match if you have scored more goals than your opposition at the end of play.

If neither of the teams score a goal, or both have the same number of goals, the match would end as a drawn game. Some would go to penalties or be replayed at a later date to determine a winner.

Advanced Football Guides

Note: The short video contains some useful information and tips about the fundamentals of football for beginners.


Robot Laws:Ten Rules of Football: Soccer Basics Simplified for Beginners