Soccer Rules Explained Simply: Goals, Fouls and Offside

Seven key points for understanding soccer

Know the aim. Two teams compete to score goals by sending the whole ball over the goal line, between the posts and beneath the crossbar. A goal counts only if the scoring team has not committed an offence in the process.
Follow the match clock. A standard adult match has two 45-minute halves, with a halftime interval. The referee adds time at the end of each half to account for delays, such as substitutions, injuries and celebrations. Knockout competitions may use extra time and, if needed, a penalty shootout.
Use the right body parts. Outfield players may play the ball with any part of the body except their hands and arms. The goalkeeper can handle it inside their own penalty area, subject to restrictions such as the rule against handling a deliberate kick from a teammate.
Restart play correctly. Kick-offs begin each half and restart play after goals. Throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks restart the match after the ball leaves the field over a touchline or goal line. Fouls can lead to direct or indirect free kicks, and certain offences in the penalty area can result in a penalty kick.
Recognise fouls and discipline. A referee may award a free kick for offences such as tripping, pushing, holding or deliberately handling the ball. Serious or repeated misconduct can bring a yellow card as a warning or a red card requiring the player to leave the field.
Understand offside. A player is penalised for being in an offside position only if, when a teammate plays the ball, they become involved in active play. Being beyond the second-last opponent is not an offence by itself; position is judged at the moment the teammate plays or touches the ball.
Compare the scores. The team that scores more goals wins. If the score is level, a league match may end in a draw; a competition’s rules determine whether a knockout match goes to extra time or a penalty shootout.

The field, teams and basic flow

Soccer, also called association football, is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. The boundary lines matter: the ball is out only when the whole ball has crossed the whole of a touchline or goal line, either on the ground or in the air. If any part of the ball remains over the line, play continues.

Each team can have up to 11 players on the field, including one goalkeeper. A match cannot begin or continue if a team has fewer than seven players under the standard Laws of the Game. Substitution limits and procedures can vary by competition, so the competition rules determine how many changes are allowed and when they can be made.

The referee oversees the match and applies the Laws of the Game. Assistant referees help judge matters such as whether the ball is out and whether an attacker may be offside. In some competitions, video review systems are also used, but they do not replace the referee’s responsibility for decisions.

How goals, restarts and set pieces work

A kick-off takes place from the centre mark at the start of each half and after a goal. If the ball goes out over a touchline, the team that did not touch it last takes a throw-in. The thrower must deliver the ball with both hands from behind and over the head, with part of each foot on or outside the touchline.

Goal kick: Awarded to the defending team when the attacking team last touches the ball before it crosses the goal line without a goal being scored.
Corner kick: Awarded to the attacking team when the defending team last touches the ball before it crosses its own goal line without a goal.
Free kick: A direct free kick can go straight into the goal; an indirect free kick must touch another player before a goal can count.
Penalty kick: Awarded when a direct-free-kick offence by the defending team occurs inside its own penalty area. The kick is taken from the penalty mark, with the goalkeeper defending the goal.

For many free kicks and corners, defending players must remain at least 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the ball until it is in play. A penalty kick follows its own positioning rules: the goalkeeper stays on the goal line between the posts until the ball is kicked, and other players must remain outside the penalty area and penalty arc, behind the penalty mark, and on the field.

Offside without the confusion

Offside is one of soccer’s most misunderstood rules. A player is in an offside position when part of their head, body or feet is in the opponents’ half and nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The hands and arms do not count when judging position.

That position alone does not bring a penalty. The player must then become involved in active play—for example, by playing the ball, challenging an opponent or gaining an advantage from a rebound. A player level with the second-last opponent or level with the last two opponents is not offside. There is no offside offence directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick.

Fouls, cards and common misconceptions

A foul is not simply any contact between players. The referee considers what happened: careless, reckless or excessive-force challenges can be penalised, while fair shoulder-to-shoulder contact may be allowed. A player who commits a foul can be cautioned with a yellow card or sent off with a red card, depending on the offence and circumstances. Two yellow cards in one match result in a red card.

Another common misunderstanding is that every handball is deliberate. The Laws assess whether a player handles the ball in a punishable way, with considerations including the position and movement of the arm. The goalkeeper’s permission to handle the ball applies inside their own penalty area, not everywhere on the field, and does not override the restrictions on handling a deliberate kick from a teammate or a throw-in from a teammate.

A referee’s whistle does not always mean a foul: it can also signal a stoppage, such as an injury or a substitution. Conversely, play may continue after contact if the referee judges that no offence occurred or applies advantage because the fouled team benefits from continuing.

What to check when watching a match

For a simple way to follow play, watch the ball, the boundary lines and the referee’s signals. When the ball goes out, check which team touched it last and whether it crossed the touchline or goal line. When play stops for a foul, notice where it happened and whether the referee indicates a direct free kick, an indirect free kick or a penalty.

For offside, focus on the attacker’s position at the instant a teammate plays the ball, not where the attacker is when the pass arrives. This timing explains why a player can run beyond a defender after the pass and still be onside, provided they were level or behind the relevant line when the teammate played it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a soccer game?

A standard adult match has two 45-minute halves, plus added time determined by the referee. Some matches also include a halftime interval, and knockout matches may require extra time or a penalty shootout if the competition rules call for a winner.

Can a goalkeeper use their hands anywhere?

No. A goalkeeper may handle the ball only inside their own penalty area, and certain restrictions still apply there, including the restriction on handling a deliberate kick from a teammate.

Is a player offside if they are ahead of the defenders?

Not automatically. The player must be in an offside position when a teammate plays the ball and then become involved in active play. Being beyond the defenders while not interfering with play is not, by itself, an offence.

What happens when the ball goes out over the sideline?

The team that did not touch the ball last takes a throw-in from where the ball crossed the touchline. The thrower uses both hands to deliver it from behind and over the head, following the required foot position.

What is the difference between a yellow card and a red card?

A yellow card is a caution. A red card means the player is sent off and cannot continue in the match; a player can also be sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the same game.

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