| Outside of the United States, the game of soccer is | | | | consider is discipline. The game is mediated by one |
| regarded as the most popular sport in the world. Many | | | | referee on the pitch and two further officials known as |
| of the top teams and top soccer players attract huge | | | | linesman on either side of the pitch. |
| admiration from millions of fans and boast huge multi | | | | If a player attempts to take the ball from an opponent |
| million dollar salaries. | | | | but misses and instead makes contact with the player, |
| The Rules of the Game: Soccer is very simple to | | | | the referee will regard this as a foul and stop the |
| understand. Each team can field eleven players at any | | | | game and award a free kick to the fouled team. |
| one time and they can make substitutions at any point | | | | Dependent up on the severity of the foul, the referee |
| in a game. The number of changes is dependent on | | | | can issue the player with either a yellow or a red card. |
| the league, but in the current era three substitutions is | | | | A yellow card indicates to the player that they risk |
| the accepted norm across the leagues. | | | | being issued with a red card later in the game. The red |
| A game of soccer will last for two separate periods, | | | | card indicates that the player must leave the game |
| each lasting forty-five minutes. The time between the | | | | immediately. In these circumstances they are not |
| periods is called half-time and lasted for approximately | | | | allowed to return for the remainder of the game. |
| ten minutes. | | | | On each side of the pitch the defense protects the |
| Each team defends one half of the pitch in order to | | | | goal. Directly in front of the goal is a marked |
| prevent the opposing team from scoring a goal in the | | | | rectangular area. If the referee deems that a foul has |
| net at the end of the pitch. Soccer coaches have | | | | occurred in this area by a member of the defense, a |
| developed various methods to create ways to | | | | penalty kick is awarded. When this occurs, a member |
| improve the offensive and defensive tactics of the | | | | of the offense is given the opportunity to score a goal |
| game. | | | | against the opposition goalkeeper without the defense |
| Generally modern teams will defend the goal using | | | | able to assist. |
| four defenders and a player who protects the goal, | | | | Finally, perhaps the most confusing law is the offside |
| known as the goal keeper. Offensively, the coach | | | | rule. At its simplest interpretation, an offensive player |
| selects four players in midfield and two strikers to | | | | cannot be ahead of the defense as the play develops. |
| create and score the goals. | | | | This is regarded as attempting to gain an unfair |
| With the exception of the goal keeper, the players can | | | | advantage and if seen by any of the referees will |
| not handle the ball. Instead, good play is developed by | | | | result in a free kick for the defense. |
| passing the ball in various ways to attempt to breach | | | | This rule is responsible for many of the debates and |
| the opponent's defense. Goal scoring is low in the | | | | controversies that surround the game of soccer. The |
| professional soccer game with most matches decided | | | | referee's interpretation ultimately can decide who wins |
| by just one or two goals. | | | | a game. At present, despite calls to introduce video |
| There is a lot of terminology used during a game of | | | | technology to assist the officials nothing has been |
| soccer that is very specific. To the casual viewer this | | | | forthcoming. |
| can appear confusing. The most important factor to | | | | |