Soccer Rules for Beginners: How the Game Works

Seven basic soccer rules to know

Play with two teams. Each side has up to 11 players on the field, including a goalkeeper. A match cannot begin or continue if a team has fewer than seven players under the standard Laws of the Game; youth and recreational competitions can set their own arrangements.
Use your feet, head, or body—not your hands. Outfield players must not deliberately handle the ball with a hand or arm. The goalkeeper may use hands inside their own penalty area, subject to restrictions such as the rule against picking up a deliberate kick from a teammate’s foot.
Score by getting the whole ball over the goal line. A goal counts only when the entire ball passes over the line between the posts and beneath the crossbar, provided the scoring team has not committed an offense. The ball can go in on the ground or in the air.
Stay onside when involved in play. A player is not penalized merely for standing in an offside position. Offside applies when a teammate plays or touches the ball and that player, in the opponents’ half, is nearer the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent, then becomes involved in active play. Being level with the second-last opponent is onside.
Restart play according to how it stopped. A ball wholly over a touchline is put back into play with a throw-in. If it wholly crosses a goal line, the restart is usually a goal kick or corner kick, depending on who touched it last and whether a goal was scored. Fouls can lead to free kicks or penalty kicks.
Avoid fouls and reckless contact. Kicking, tripping, pushing, holding, or charging an opponent carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force can result in a direct free kick. Serious misconduct can bring a yellow card (a caution) or a red card (dismissal).
Play for the allotted time. A standard adult match has two 45-minute halves, with a half-time interval. The referee adds time for delays, and competition rules may provide for extra time or a penalty shoot-out when a winner is required.

The field, players, and match officials

Soccer, also called association football, is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. Touchlines run along the long sides; goal lines run across the ends. The halfway line divides the field, and each goal is surrounded by a penalty area. The Laws of the Game specify the field’s layout, while permitted dimensions vary by competition and venue.

Players take different roles, but positions do not change the basic rules. Defenders help prevent goals, midfielders connect play, and forwards often try to create scoring chances. The goalkeeper protects the goal and is the only player normally allowed to handle the ball, and only within their own penalty area. The referee applies the rules and signals decisions; assistant referees help judge matters such as offside and whether the ball has gone out.

Offside: the rule beginners find tricky

Offside is about a player’s position when a teammate plays the ball, not simply where the player is when they receive it. The halfway line matters: a player cannot be offside in their own half. Nor is a player in an offside position penalized if they are level with the ball or the second-last opponent at that moment.

For example, if an attacker runs beyond the defenders after a teammate passes the ball, the assistant referee may flag offside if the attacker was already in an offside position and then interferes with play. A player may stand beyond the defenders without an offense if they do not become involved in active play. There is no offside offense directly from a goal kick, throw-in, or corner kick.

Fouls, free kicks, and cards

A foul is an offense against an opponent, not every instance of contact. Soccer allows fair challenges for the ball, but careless or reckless actions—including pushing, tripping, or an illegal tackle—can give the other team a free kick. A direct free kick can be kicked straight into the goal; an indirect free kick requires another player to touch the ball before a goal can count.

If a player commits an offense punishable by a direct free kick inside their own penalty area, the opposing team is generally awarded a penalty kick. It is taken from the penalty mark, with the goalkeeper defending the goal and other players following the restrictions set for the kick. A yellow card cautions a player; a red card sends them off, leaving their team with one fewer player.

Restarts, throw-ins, and the goalkeeper

The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed a touchline or goal line, or when the referee stops play. A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball before it crossed a touchline. The thrower must use both hands to deliver the ball from behind and over the head, with part of each foot on or outside the touchline, according to the Laws.

When the defending team last touches the ball before it crosses their goal line without a goal being scored, the attacking team gets a corner kick. If the attacking team last touches it, the defending team generally restarts with a goal kick. Goalkeepers may handle the ball inside their own penalty area, but cannot pick it up after a teammate deliberately kicks it to them or after receiving it directly from a teammate’s throw-in. They may still play the ball with their feet.

What to check before playing or watching

The core Laws are the same worldwide, but competition rules can vary, especially for children, school games, and informal matches. Before a game, check the local rules for match length, substitutions, squad size, field dimensions, and how ties are decided. Some youth competitions use modified formats, so do not assume every match has 11 players per side or two 45-minute halves.

For a first game, it helps to focus on three questions: Is the ball in play? Which team touched it last? Did the referee stop play for a foul or another offense? Those answers usually explain the next restart. A common misconception is that any hand contact is automatically a foul: the referee judges whether an outfield player committed an offense, while accidental contact is not always punishable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players are on a soccer team?

Under the standard Laws, each team can have up to 11 players on the field, including a goalkeeper. Competitions may allow fewer players, particularly in youth or recreational formats.

Can a goalkeeper use their hands anywhere?

No. A goalkeeper may handle the ball only inside their own penalty area, and specific restrictions apply, including when a teammate deliberately kicks the ball to them or throws it in.

What happens when the ball goes out?

A ball over a touchline results in a throw-in for the team that did not touch it last. Over a goal line, the restart is typically a goal kick or corner kick, depending on who touched the ball last and whether it crossed between the posts and beneath the crossbar.

Is a player offside just for standing near the opponent’s goal?

No. The player must be in an offside position when a teammate plays or touches the ball and then become involved in active play. Position alone is not an offense.

How long is a soccer match?

A standard adult match is 90 minutes, divided into two 45-minute halves, plus time added by the referee for delays. A competition may add extra time or use a penalty shoot-out if it needs a winner.

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