Soccer Rules and Gameplay: How the Game Works

Time · 5 min · Steps · 1 · Level · Easy

At its core, soccer (called football outside North America) is a simple game: kick a ball into the other team’s net more times than they kick it into yours. But the official Laws of the Game, maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), spell out dozens of rules that govern everything from the size of the field to when a goal counts. Here’s a clear breakdown of how the game actually works.

The Field and the Ball

A standard soccer field is rectangular, between 100 and 130 yards long and 50 to 100 yards wide for international matches. The goal is 8 yards wide and 8 feet tall, set in the middle of each goal line. A penalty area (the “box”) extends 18 yards from each goal, and a smaller goal area (the “six-yard box”) sits directly in front of the goal. The center circle has a radius of 10 yards, and the penalty spot is 12 yards from the goal line.

The ball must be spherical and made of leather or another suitable material. For adult matches, it has a circumference of 68 to 70 cm (about 27 to 28 inches) and weighs between 410 and 450 grams at the start of play. A properly inflated ball is essential: too hard and it becomes difficult to control, too soft and it won’t travel properly.

Players and Positions

Each team fields 11 players: one goalkeeper and 10 outfield players. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use hands and arms, and only within their own penalty area. Outfield players are typically arranged in three groups:

Defenders — protect the goal and stop opposing attackers. Center-backs stay central, full-backs cover the flanks.
Midfielders — link defense and attack. They win the ball, keep possession, and create chances for forwards.
Forwards (attackers) — the main goal-scorers. Strikers play closest to the opponent’s goal, while wingers stay wide.

Teams can make between 3 and 5 substitutions per match (the exact number depends on the competition), and substituted players cannot return to the field. Each team must always have a goalkeeper on the pitch; if a goalkeeper is sent off, another player must take the gloves, and the team plays with 10 men.

The Match Structure

A standard match lasts 90 minutes, split into two 45-minute halves with a 15-minute halftime break. The referee may add “injury time” (also called stoppage time) at the end of each half to compensate for time lost to substitutions, injuries, goal celebrations, or other delays. The amount is at the referee’s discretion and is announced by the fourth official.

If a match ends in a tie, the rules depend on the competition:

League matches — the game ends as a draw, and each team gets one point.
Cup knockout matches — extra time (two 15-minute halves) may be played, followed by a penalty shootout if still tied.
Penalty shootout — five players from each team take alternating penalty kicks; if still tied, it goes to sudden death.

In some competitions, the away-goals rule has been used to decide ties, but most major tournaments have abolished it in recent years.

How Play Starts and Restarts

The game starts with a kickoff from the center circle. The team that wins the coin toss chooses which goal to attack, and the other team takes the first kickoff. A kickoff also restarts play after a goal is scored, with the team that conceded taking the kick.

Other common restarts include:

Throw-in — awarded when the ball goes out over the sideline. The opposing team throws the ball in with both hands, from behind the head, with both feet on the ground.
Goal kick — awarded when the attacking team plays the ball over the goal line without scoring. The defending team kicks the ball from inside the six-yard box.
Corner kick — awarded when the defending team plays the ball over its own goal line. The attacking team kicks the ball from the corner arc.
Free kick — awarded for fouls and certain other infringements, taken from the spot where the offense occurred.
Penalty kick — awarded for a direct free-kick offense committed inside the defender’s own penalty area. The kick is taken from the penalty spot, with only the goalkeeper defending.

Fouls and Cards

Not all contact is a foul, but certain actions are penalized. A direct free kick is awarded for offenses like kicking, tripping, pushing, holding, or handball. An indirect free kick is awarded for less serious offenses like offside, dangerous play, or impeding an opponent without contact.

The referee can issue cards to discipline players:

Yellow card — a formal warning for reckless fouls, dissent, delaying the restart, or persistent infringement. Two yellows in one match result in a red card (sending off).
Red card — immediate dismissal for serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting, or denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by handball or a foul. A red-carded player’s team must play with one fewer player for the rest of the match.

Offside Rule

Offside is one of the most misunderstood rules in soccer. A player is in an offside position if they are closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (usually the last outfield defender) at the moment the ball is played to them. Being in an offside position is not an offense by itself — the player is only penalized if they become involved in active play by touching the ball or interfering with an opponent.

There are three key exceptions: a player cannot be offside from a goal kick, a throw-in, or a corner kick. The assistant referees (linesmen) flag for offside, and in professional matches, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) can review decisions.

VAR and Technology

The Video Assistant Referee system was introduced to help referees make correct decisions on four match-changing situations: goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. The VAR team watches video replays and can recommend that the referee review an incident on a pitch-side monitor. The final decision always rests with the on-field referee.

Goal-line technology is also used in top competitions. It sends a signal to the referee’s watch within one second when the whole ball has crossed the goal line, resolving the “was it a goal?” question with certainty.

Common Misconceptions

Several rules are widely misunderstood by casual fans:

“He was offside because he was behind the defender” — a player can be behind the last defender and still be onside if they are level with the second-last opponent.
“The ball has to cross the line” — correct: the whole ball must cross the whole line for a goal to count.
“Handball is always a foul” — the ball touching a hand is not automatically a foul; it depends on whether the arm was in an unnatural position and whether the contact was deliberate.
“A red card means the team plays with 10 men” — correct, and the player cannot be replaced.
“The goalkeeper can handle the ball anywhere” — only inside their own penalty area, and not when the ball is deliberately kicked to them by a teammate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a soccer game?

A standard match is 90 minutes, divided into two 45-minute halves with a 15-minute break. Stoppage time is added at the referee’s discretion, and knockout matches may go to extra time (30 minutes) and a penalty shootout.

Can you be offside from a throw-in?

No. A player cannot be penalized for offside directly from a throw-in, a corner kick, or a goal kick. The ball must be played by a teammate from open play for offside to apply.

How many players are on a soccer team?

Each team has 11 players on the field: 1 goalkeeper and 10 outfield players. Teams may have substitutes on the bench, usually between 3 and 12 depending on the competition, and can make 3 to 5 substitutions per match.

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

A direct free kick can score a goal directly without another player touching the ball. An indirect free kick requires a second player to touch the ball before a goal can be scored. The referee signals an indirect free kick by raising one arm.

What happens if a goalkeeper gets a red card?

The goalkeeper is sent off, and the team must substitute an outfield player to put another goalkeeper on, or an outfield player must take over in goal. Either way, the team plays with 10 players for the rest of the match.

Does a goal count if the ball hits the crossbar and bounces down?

Only if the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. If the ball bounces on the line, it is not a goal. Goal-line technology and VAR help determine this in professional matches.

Sources: IFAB Laws of the Game. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.