A Brief Summary of the Laws of the Game

The following is a summary of the Guidelines and Recommendations by the Federation International de Football Association.

1. Field of Play

The field must be rectangular. Goals must be securely anchored.

2. The Ball

See Section 3:07:01 of the CYSA Constitution.

3. Number of Players

Maximum: 11. Minimum: 7.

4. Players’ Equipment

Player cannot wear anything, including any kind of jewelry, dangerous to himself/herself or another player. (See section 3:08:01 of the CYSA Constitution)

5. The Referee

A. Enforces the Laws.

B. Decisions regarding facts connected with play are final, including whether a goal is scored.

C. Keeps a record of the game.

D. Allows no person other than players and assistant referees to enter field without permission.

E. Takes disciplinary action against players and team officials guilty of cautionable and sending-off offenses.

6. Assistant Referees

Assists referee in officiating the game.

7. Duration of the Game

Varies with the age group. (See section 3:07:01 of CYSA Constitution)

8. Start of Play

A. The winner of the coin toss determines which goal that team will attack in the first half. The other team takes the kick-off.

B. Play begins with a kick-off. All players must be on their own side of the field and players of the team not taking the kick must remain outside the Center Circle until the ball is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward.

9. Ball in And Out of Play

A. The ball is out of play when all of the ball has completely crossed over the touch line or goal line or when the referee has stopped play.

B. The ball is in play at all other times.

10. Methods of Scoring

A goal is scored when all of the ball has completely crossed over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar, provided that the Laws of the Game were not infringed by the team scoring the goal.

11. Off-Side

An attacking player is off-side only if the player is (1) in the opponents half of the field, (2) in front of the ball, (3) closer to the opponent‘s goal line than the second last opponent, and (4) is in the opinion of the referee involved in active play at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of the player’s teammates.

12. Fouls and Misconduct

A. There are ten major fouls. It is a major foul if, in the opinion of the referee, a player carelessly, recklessly or with excessive force:

1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent.
2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent.
3. Jumps at an opponent.
4. Charges an opponent
5. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent.
1. Pushes an opponent.
2. It is also a major foul if a player does any of the following regardless of whether the act was done carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force:
6. Makes contact with the opponent before touching the ball while tackling an opponent for possession of the ball.
7. Holds an opponent.
8. Spits at an opponent.
9. Deliberately handles the ball (except for goalkeeper within own penalty area.)

B. The punishment for a major foul is a direct free kick from the point where the foul occurred. If the foul is committed by a defender within the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded.

C. There are four minor fouls that may be committed by any player and five that may be committed by goalkeepers. A player commits a minor foul if the player:

1. Plays in a dangerous manner.
2. Impedes the progress of an opponent.
3. Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the goalkeeper’s hands.
4. Commits any other offense, not previously mentioned, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player.

A goalkeeper commits a minor foul if the goalkeeper, within his or her own penalty area, does any of the following:

1. Takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his or her hands before releasing it into play.
2. Touches the ball again with his or her hands after releasing it into play before it has been touched by any other player.
3. Touches the ball with his or her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a teammate.
4. Touches the ball with his or her hands after the goalkeeper has received the ball directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate.
5. Wastes time.

D. The punishment for a minor offense is an indirect free kick from the place where the offense occurred.

E. A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if the player:

1. Is guilty of unsporting behavior.
2. Shows dissent by word or action.
3. Persistently infringes the Laws of the Game.
4. Delays the restart of play.
5. Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted.
6. Enters or re-enters the field without the referee’s permission.
7. Deliberately leaves the field without the referee’s permission.

F. A player is sent off and shown the red card if the player:

1. Is guilty of serious foul play.
2. Is guilty of violent conduct.
3. Spits at any person.
4. Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (does not apply to goalkeeper within own penalty area).
5. Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick.
6. Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.
7. Receives a second caution in the same game.

13. Free Kicks

A. Direct free kicks are awarded for the ten major fouls. A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick.

B. Indirect free kicks are awarded for other offenses, infractions, and misconduct. A goal cannot be directly scored from an indirect free kick; the ball must be touched by any player other than the kicker before a goal can be scored from an indirect free kick.

14. Penalty Kicks

A. A penalty kick is awarded when one of the ten major fouls is committed by a defender against an opponent in the defender’s own penalty area while the ball is in play.

B. The ball is placed on the penalty mark. The defending goalkeeper remains on the goal line between the goal posts until the ball is kicked. All players other than the kicker and the defending goalkeeper must stay outside the penalty area and arc and behind the penalty mark until the ball is kicked. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.

15. Throw-in

A. When all of the ball passes completely over the touch line on the ground or in the air, play is restarted with a throw-in taken by a player of the team opposite to that of the player who last touched it. A throw-in requires that the player taking the throw-in face the field, have part of each foot on or outside the touch line, use both hands, and deliver the ball from behind and over his or her head.

B. The penalty for an improper throw-in is for a throw-in to be taken by a player of the opposing team.

16. Goal-Kick

When the ball is last touched by an attacking player before going completely over the goal line and a goal is not scored, play is restarted by the defending team kicking the ball from anywhere within its goal area. Defending players may be anywhere on the field. Attacking players must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. The ball is in play when it is outside of the penalty area.

17. Corner Kick

When the ball is last touched by a defending player before going completely over the goal line and a goal is not scored, play is restarted by the attacking team taking a kick from within the corner arc on the side of the field where the ball went over the goal line. Defenders must be at least ten yards away when the corner kick is taken. The ball is in play when it has been kicked and moves.