This is from the American Youth Soccer Organization:
THE VERY BASIC RULES OF THE GREAT GAME OF SOCCER
Rules in soccer are called Laws and there are seventeen (17) of them. [if you'd like a full listing of the rules, visit the FIFA Laws of the Game page]
We won't get into all seventeen here, but give you a general outline so that you can get a feel for how the game is played. Generally, the Laws require that referees stop the game when something has happened which is unfair or unsafe.
THE OBJECT The object of soccer is for players to get the ball into their opponent's goal using any part of their body except their arms and hands. Only goalkeepers may use their hands while inside their own penalty area.
KICKOFF A kickoff is taken from the center circle at the beginning of the game, beginning of the second half and after each goal.
THROW IN After the ball has completely crossed the side boundary lines - called touchlines - a throw in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball. The throw in is taken from where the ball left the field and must be thrown with two hands from behind and over the head, while both feet are on the ground and on or behind the touchline.
GOAL KICK The goal kick is taken by the defending team each time the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by an attacking player. The ball may be placed anywhere in the goal area and is not considered back in play until it has been kicked out of the penalty area.
CORNER KICK The corner kick is taken by the attacking team each time the ball is kicked by the defense over its own goal line. The ball is placed within the three-foot arc in the corner of the field (nearest to where the ball went out of play) and kicked into play by the attacking team.
PENALTY KICK The penalty kick is awarded when a defending player commits one of the 10 penal (major) fouls within their own penalty area while the ball is still in play. The penalty kick is taken by a player from the offended team from a spot 12 yards from the goal. All players must remain outside the penalty area, 10 yards from the ball, and behind the penalty-kick mark until the kick is taken, except for the kicker and the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper's feet must remain stationary on the goal line until the ball is kicked. At the referee's signal, the kicker attempts to kick the ball into the opponent's goal and the goalkeeper tries to stop the ball from scoring.
MISCONDUCT There are two kinds of misconduct:
Actions resulting in a caution (yellow card) from the referee.
Actions resulting in a player being sent off or ejected from the field (red card).
A referee may also warn a player to improve his or her conduct (or unsportsmanlike behavior) before a caution is issued.
OFFSIDE A player is offside if they are ahead of the ball, except if they:
are in their own half of the field.
have two opponents even with or between him and the opponent's goal line. The referee's "moment of judgement" is the instant the ball is played, not when it is received.
are the first to receive the ball from a throw in, corner kick or goal kick.
are not involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with and opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in that position.
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