| A foul in any sport is a violation of that sport's code of | | | | The rules do not define precisely what is meant by |
| conduct in some form, and each sport punishes foul | | | | "playing in a dangerous manner," except to defer to |
| play in its own unique way. Soccer defines a foul as | | | | the referee's of the referee. Commonly accepted |
| an unfair action a player commits against an opposing | | | | notions of "dangerous play" include high kicking near |
| player or the opposing team during the course of a | | | | other players, kicking wildly on the ground with players |
| match. The punishment varies depending upon the | | | | nearby, tackling for the ball with the cleats exposed or |
| nature of the infraction, but will be either a direct or | | | | when it is in the keeper's possession--even, on |
| indirect free kick. To be a foul, the act must occur on | | | | occasion, exposing oneself to the risk of harm, if it |
| the field, while the ball is in play. Otherwise, it may | | | | causes someone to refrain from playing the ball for |
| constitute a misconduct, and may even warrant a | | | | fear of injuring his overly adventuresome opponent. It is |
| caution or send-off, but it will not be a foul. | | | | only a foul if it places an opponent at risk, however. A |
| For some minor infractions the punishment is an indirect | | | | high kick alone in mid-field endangers no one, while the |
| kick, meaning that the ball must be touched by a | | | | same kick in a crowded penalty area very well may. |
| second player before the attacking team can score. | | | | And while many spectators become agitated when a |
| These fouls are often called "technical fouls" because | | | | player on the ground kicks at the ball, it is only a |
| most are not the direct result of foul play, but are | | | | "dangerous play" when doing so places the legs and |
| violations of one of soccer's procedural rules, which | | | | feet of opposing players at risk. |
| are generally designed to keep play flowing or prevent | | | | At higher levels of play, where gifted players are used |
| penal fouls from happening. One such "technical foul" is | | | | to taking greater chances during the course of a |
| the offense of playing in a dangerous | | | | match, this infraction is usually called only if it causes |
| manner--commonly known as "dangerous play." | | | | the opponent to react by trying to avoid the contact. |
| Playing in a dangerous manner | | | | At most youth games, and many amateur adult |
| Among the referee's chief concerns is the safety of | | | | games, everyone looks to the referee to impose a |
| the players. As a result, a referee will punish penalize | | | | greater level of sanity on the players than their |
| dangerous play by awarding an indirect kick to the | | | | enthusiasm might otherwise suggest is present. |
| other side. | | | | |