Setup and Control Laws

The Rulebook of Soccer: Your Guide to the Beautiful Game ⚽

Imagine soccer is like a really fun board game. Before you can play, everyone needs to agree on the rules. These first 8 laws tell us HOW to set up the game and WHO is in charge. Let’s explore!

🏟️ Law 1: The Field of Play

Think of It Like This:

The soccer field is like a giant rectangle-shaped playground with special lines that tell players where they can and cannot go.

The Big Picture

The field is called a pitch. It’s a big rectangle made of grass (or artificial turf). Every field has:

• Touchlines (the long sides)
• Goal lines (the short sides where goals are)
• A center circle (where the game starts)
• Penalty areas (the big boxes near each goal)
• Goal areas (smaller boxes inside the penalty areas)

Key Measurements

Example:

When a player kicks the ball over the touchline, the other team gets a throw-in. When it goes over the goal line (but not in the goal), it’s either a corner kick or a goal kick.

graph TD
    A["Soccer Field"] --> B["Touchlines - Long sides"]
    A --> C["Goal Lines - Short sides"]
    A --> D["Center Circle - Game starts here"]
    A --> E["Penalty Area - Big box"]
    A --> F["Goal Area - Small box"]

⚽ Law 2: The Ball

Think of It Like This:

Every game needs its special toy! In soccer, it’s a round ball that bounces and rolls perfectly.

What Makes a Soccer Ball Official?

The ball must be:

• Spherical (perfectly round like an orange)
• Made of leather or similar material
• 68-70 cm in circumference (about as big as a basketball)
• Weight: 410-450 grams (lighter than a bag of sugar)
• Pressure: 0.6-1.1 atmospheres

Example:

If the ball bursts during a game, the referee stops play and drops a new ball where the old one broke. No team gets an advantage from a broken ball!

Fun Fact:

In the World Cup, they use special balls with cool names. The 2022 World Cup ball was called “Al Rihla” which means “The Journey”!

👥 Law 3: The Players

Think of It Like This:

A soccer team is like a superhero squad. You need exactly the right number of heroes, and each one has a special role!

The Magic Numbers

• 11 players maximum per team on the field
• 7 players minimum - if a team drops below this, the game stops
• 1 goalkeeper - the only player who can use hands (in their own penalty area)
• Substitutes - extra players waiting on the bench

Substitution Rules

In most matches:

• Professional games allow 5 substitutes
• Once a player leaves, they cannot come back
• Substitutions happen when play stops
• The new player enters at the halfway line

Example:

If a team starts with 11 players and 5 get red cards, leaving only 6 players, the referee must stop the match because 7 is the minimum required.

graph TD
    A["11 Players Start"] --> B["1 Goalkeeper"]
    A --> C["10 Outfield Players"]
    B --> D["Can use hands in penalty area"]
    C --> E["Cannot use hands"]

👕 Law 4: The Players’ Equipment

Think of It Like This:

Just like superheroes wear special costumes, soccer players have their own uniform that keeps them safe and helps referees tell teams apart!

The 5 Required Items

Every player MUST wear:

1. Jersey/Shirt - with sleeves, different colors for each team
2. Shorts - same color as teammates
3. Socks - must cover shin guards completely
4. Shin guards - protective plastic that saves your legs from kicks
5. Footwear - boots or cleats (studs help grip the grass)

The Goalkeeper Exception

The goalkeeper wears different colors from:

• Their teammates
• The other team
• The referee

This helps everyone know who the goalkeeper is!

What’s NOT Allowed?

• ❌ Jewelry (rings, necklaces, bracelets)
• ❌ Dangerous equipment
• ❌ Electronic devices
• ❌ Anything that could hurt others

Example:

If a player’s shirt rips during a slide tackle, they must leave the field to get a new shirt. They can only return when the referee waves them back in!

🎯 Law 5: The Referee

Think of It Like This:

The referee is like a fair teacher on the playground. They make sure everyone plays nicely and follows the rules.

The Referee’s Superpowers

The referee can:

• Start and stop the game
• Give yellow cards (warnings) and red cards (send players off)
• Award free kicks, penalties, and throw-ins
• Add extra time for delays (injury time)
• Make final decisions - even if they’re wrong, it stands!

The Cards

Example:

If a player argues angrily with the referee, they get a yellow card. If they keep arguing, they get a second yellow = automatic red = they must leave!

VAR - The Referee’s Helper

In big matches, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) watches cameras and can help correct clear mistakes for:

• Goals
• Penalties
• Red cards
• Mistaken identity

graph TD
    A["Referee Decision"] --> B{Needs Review?}
    B -->|Yes| C["VAR Checks Video"]
    C --> D{Clear Error?}
    D -->|Yes| E["Referee Changes Decision"]
    D -->|No| F["Original Decision Stands"]
    B -->|No| F

👨‍⚖️ Law 6: Other Match Officials

Think of It Like This:

The main referee has a team of helpers, like a teacher with assistants! They work together to make sure nothing is missed.

The Official Team

1. Two Assistant Referees (Linesmen)

   • Stand on the sidelines with flags
   • Watch for offsides
   • Signal throw-ins, corners, and goal kicks
   • Help spot fouls the referee might miss

2. Fourth Official

   • Manages substitutions
   • Holds up the board showing added time
   • Stands between the two team benches
   • Can replace a referee if injured

3. Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

   • Watches multiple camera angles
   • Only used for “clear and obvious errors”
   • Communicates through headset with main referee

4. Assistant VAR (AVAR)

   • Helps the VAR review footage
   • Second pair of eyes for video review

Example:

When the assistant referee sees a ball cross the touchline, they raise their flag and point in the direction of the throw-in for the team that gets it!

⏱️ Law 7: Duration of the Match

Think of It Like This:

A soccer game is like two TV episodes back-to-back, with a snack break in the middle!

The Basic Structure

Stoppage Time (Added Time)

The referee adds extra time for:

• Substitutions - players entering/leaving
• Injuries - when players need medical help
• Time-wasting - players deliberately slowing down
• VAR reviews - checking video footage
• Goal celebrations - especially long ones!
• Drinks breaks - in hot weather

Example:

If there were 2 injuries (3 minutes each), 3 substitutions (30 seconds each), and a VAR check (2 minutes), the referee might add 7-8 minutes of stoppage time!

Extra Time (Knockout Matches Only)

When a winner is needed:

• Two periods of 15 minutes each
• If still tied → Penalty shootout!

graph TD
    A["Match Starts"] --> B["First Half - 45 min"]
    B --> C["Half Time - 15 min"]
    C --> D["Second Half - 45 min"]
    D --> E{Score Tied in Cup?}
    E -->|Yes| F["Extra Time - 30 min"]
    E -->|No| G["Match Ends"]
    F --> H{Still Tied?}
    H -->|Yes| I["Penalty Shootout!"]
    H -->|No| G

🎬 Law 8: Start and Restart of Play

Think of It Like This:

Every game needs a “ready, set, GO!” moment. Law 8 tells us all the different ways to start or restart the action!

The Kick-Off

Used at:

• Start of each half
• After a goal is scored

Rules:

• Ball placed in the center of the field
• All players in their own half
• Opponents must be 9.15m from the ball
• The team that kicks off is decided by coin toss
• You CAN score directly from kick-off!

The Dropped Ball

Used when:

• Play was stopped for something unusual (injury, ball bursting, outside interference)
• No team clearly had the ball

How it works:

• Referee drops the ball to one player
• All other players must be 4 meters away
• If stopped in penalty area → dropped to goalkeeper

Example:

If a dog runs onto the field (yes, this happens!), the referee stops play. Once the dog is caught, they restart with a dropped ball to the team that last touched it.

All the Restarts

Throw-In Rules

The only restart where players USE THEIR HANDS:

• Both feet on the ground
• Both hands on the ball
• Ball thrown from behind and over the head
• Thrower faces the field

Example:

If you do a flip throw-in (which some players are famous for!), your feet must still touch the ground at the moment you release the ball!

🌟 Quick Summary: The Setup & Control Laws

🎯 Remember This!

“Soccer is simple: 22 players chase a ball for 90 minutes, and at the end, the team with more goals wins. These 8 laws just make sure everyone agrees on HOW to chase that ball fairly!”

Now you know the foundation of soccer! These laws set up the stage before the action begins. Next, you’ll learn about what happens during the actual play!

Keep kicking, keep learning! ⚽