The rules of association football are known as the Laws of the Game and are based on efforts made in the mid-19th century to standardize the rules of the widely varying games of football played at the public schools of England. The first set of rules resembling the modern game were produced at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1848, at a meeting attended by representatives from Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester and Shrewsbury, but they were far from universally adopted. A number of rival and/or revised sets of rules were subsequently proposed, most notably by the Sheffield football club (formed by former pupils from Harrow) in 1857 and the rules of JC Thring in 1862.
These efforts culminated in the formation of The Football Association (FA) in 1863 which first met on the evening of 26 October 1863 at the Freemason's Tavern in Great Queen Street, London. The only school to be represented on this occasion was Charterhouse. The Freemason's Tavern was the setting for five more meetings between October and December, which eventually produced the first comprehensive set of rules. At the final meeting, the first FA treasurer who was the representative from Blackheath, withdrew his club from the FA over the removal of two draft rules at the previous meeting, the first which allowed for the running with the ball in hand and the second, obstructing such a run by hacking (kicking an opponent in the shins), tripping and holding. Other English rugby clubs follow this lead and did not join the FA but instead in 1871 formed the Rugby Football Union.
Today the laws of the game are determined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). The Board was formed in 1882 after a meeting in Manchester of The Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, and the Irish Football Association. The Federation International de Football Association FIFA, the international football body, was formed in Paris in 1904 and declared that they would adhere to the rules laid down by the IFAB. The growing popularity of the international game led to the admittance of FIFA representatives to the IFAB in 1913. Today the board is made up of four representatives from FIFA and one representative from each of the four British associations.
The Laws of Football (soccer)
The Laws of Soccer (officially the Laws of the Game) are the rules governing the play of Association football (soccer). They were first drawn up at a meeting of The Football Association (FA) on 8 December 1863.
Today the Laws of the Game are determined by the International Football Association Board. The board was established on 6 December 1882 when representatives from the Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Irish Football Association (IFA) (now the governing body in Northern Ireland and not to be confused with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) the governing body in the Republic of Ireland) were invited to attend a meeting in Manchester by the FA. When the international football body FIFA was founded in Paris in 1904 it immediately declared that it would adhere to the rules laid down by the IFAB. The growing popularity of the international game led to the admittance of FIFA representatives to the IFAB in 1913. Today the board is made up of four representatives from FIFA and one representative from each of the British associations.
Current Laws of the Game
Law 1: The Field of Play
Law 2: The Ball
Law 3: The Number of Players
Law 4: The Players' Equipment
Law 5: The Referee
Law 6: The Assistant Referees
Law 7: The Duration of the Match
Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play
Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play
Law 10: The Method of Scoring
Law 11: Offside
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
Law 13: Free Kicks
Law 14: The Penalty Kick
Law 15: The Throw-In
Law 16: The Goal Kick
Law 17: The Corner Kick
The Original Laws of the Game
The original Laws of the Game were established by the FA in December of 1863 and are shown below:
- The maximum length of the ground shall be 200 yds. and the maximum breadth shall be 100 yards. The length and breadth shall be marked off with flags. The goals shall be defined by two upright posts 8 yds. apart, without any tape or bar across them.
- The winner of the toss shall have choice of goals. The game shall be commenced by a place-kick from the center of the ground by the side losing the toss. The other side shall not approach within 10 yds. of the ball until it is kicked off.
- After a goal is won, the losing side shall kick off, and the goals shall be changed.
- A goal shall be won when the ball passes between the goal-posts or over the space between the goal-posts (at whatever height), not being thrown, knocked on, or carried.
- When the ball is in touch, the first player who touches it shall throw it from the point on the boundary line where it left the ground in a direction at right angles with the boundary line, and it shall not be in play until it has touched the ground.
- When a player has kicked the ball any one of the same side who is nearer to the opponent's goal line is out of play and may not touch the ball himself, nor in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so until the ball has been played, but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked from behind the goal line.
- In case the ball goes behind the goal line, if a player on the side to whom the goal belongs first touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick from the goal line at the point opposite the place where the ball shall be touched. If a player of the opposite side first touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick (but at the goal only) from a point 15 yds. from the goal line opposite the place where the ball is touched; the opposing side shall stand behind their goal line until he has had his kick.
- If a player makes a fair catch, he shall be entitled to a free kick, provided he claims it by making a mark with his heel at once; and in order to take such a kick he may go back as far as he pleases, and no player on the opposite side shall advance beyond his mark until he has kicked.
- No player shall carry the ball.
- Neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed and no player shall use his hands to hold or push an adversary.
- A player shall not throw the ball or pass it to another.
- No player shall be allowed to take the ball from the ground with his hands while it is in play under any pretence whatever.
- A player shall be allowed to throw the ball or pass it to another if he made a fair catch or catches the ball on the first bounce.
- No player shall be allowed to wear projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha* on the soles or heels of his boots.
*gutta-percha is an inelastic natural latex, produced from the resin of the Isonandra Gutta tree of Malaya. It was used for many purposes (e.g. the core of golf balls; the insulation of telegraph cables) before the discovery of superior synthetic materials.
Duration
A standard adult football match consists of two periods (known as halves) of 45 minutes each. There is usually a 15-minute break between halves, known as half-time. The end of the match is known as full-time.
Officials
A game is presided over by a referee, who has "full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed" (Law 5), and whose decisions regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee is assisted by two assistant referees (formerly called linesmen). In many games there is also a fourth official, who assists the referee and may replace another official should the need arise.
Referee
A referee presides over a game of association football (soccer). The referee has "full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed" (Law 5), and the referee's decisions regarding facts connected with play are final, so far as the result of the game is concerned.
The referee's numerous powers and duties are described by Law 5 of the Laws of the Game. Amongst other things, these include: Enforcing the Laws of the Game; Controlling the match in co-operation with the assistant referees (and fourth official where applicable); stop/suspend/terminate the match if appropriate; Controlling the restart of play; Acting as the timekeeper and recordkeeper of the game; Disciplining players and officials as required; etc.
The referee is assisted by two assistant referees (formerly known as linesmen), and in some matches also by a fourth official. The match officials utilize a positioning system known as the diagonal system of control.
The vast majority of referees are amateur, though may be paid a small fee and/or expenses for their services. However, in some countries a limited number of referees - who mainly officiate in their country's top division - are employed full-time by their national associations and receive a retainer at the start of every season plus match fees.
Referees officiating adult competitive international games are required to be selected from the FIFA panel of referees; this restriction does not necessarily apply to non-competitive (so-called friendly) games or youth games.
Assistant referee
In Association Football (Soccer), two Assistant Referees (previously known as linesmen) assist the Referee in controlling the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game.
Law 6 of the Laws of the Game outlines their general duties, which are subject to the decision of the Referee. These duties typically include indicating: when the whole ball has passed outside the field of play; which side is entitled to return to the ball into the field of play; when a player may be penalized for an Offside offence; when offences have been committed which the Referee does not have as good a view of; etc. The Assistant Referee may be called upon by the Referee to provide an opinion on matters which the Referee requires clarification on. The Assistant Referees also usually assist the Referee with preparatory and administrative functions.
An Assistant Referee indicates matters to the Referee, which the Referee may then act upon; they do not actually make binding decisions.
Assistant Referees were formerly called Linesmen. The name change was primarily to better reflect the modern role of these officials, and secondarily to become non-gender specific. They are also sometimes incorrectly referred to as "Referee's Assistants".
A regulation soccer field is between 100 and 130 yards long and between 50 yards and 100 yards wide. For younger players a good rule of thumb is to make the length of the field their average age X 10. (Until it’s bigger than regulation, of course) For instance for 8 year olds, the field would be 80 yards long. The width of the field should be approximately 2/3rds of the length. The size of the goal is a square, feet high X yards wide, that is. For 6 to 8 year olds, the goal should be 6 feet high X 6 yards wide. For 9 to 12 year olds the goal should be 7 feet high X 7 yards wide. For 13 and up, the goal should be 8 feet high X 8 yards wide. These are suggestions and may vary by the field requirements of your association.
History and Development of the Rules