| |
Admin
 
St.Catharines Concord Soccer Referees
Ron Sutherland
905-682-1955
16 Melbourne Ave.
St.Catharines, Canada
L2P 3J8
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 Great Soccer Rules Links |
|
Great Websites for Referees
Ontario Soccer Referees Association
 | | Is this A Legal Wall ? | |
Ontario Soccer Association Laws
FIFA
Laws of the Game
What's the Call Ref ?
 | | A Very Young Referee Critic !!! |
Yellow Card
Kick Off
Direct Free Kick
6 Yard Kick
Basic Laws of The Game
Note: The following is a condensed version of the Laws of The Game, with notes added. Anyone seeking further detail should refer to www.fifa.com.
Law 1: The Field of Play
Law 4: Players Equipment
The basic compulsory equipment of a player shall consist of a jersey, shorts, stockings; all players must wear shin guards and soccer cleats. The shin guards must be covered entirely by stockings.
A player must not wear anything that is dangerous to another player. Therefore, players may not wear jewellery no watches, rings, earrings, necklaces etc.
Law 8: The start and restart of play
At the beginning of the match, a coin is tossed and the team that wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match. The team that wins the toss takes the kick-off to start the second half of the match. In the second half, the teams change ends and attack the opposite goals.
The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward. The kicker cannot touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player. A goal can be scored from the kick-off. The opponents of the team taking the kick-off must remain 6 metres from the ball.
Law 9: The ball in and out of play
The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the touchline, goal line (not between the two inside goal posts this would be a score on goal) whether on the ground or in the air, or when the play has been stopped by the referee.
The ball is in play when it rebounds from a goal post, crossbar, corner-flag post and remains in the field of play, or it rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when they are on the field of play.
Law 10: The method of scoring
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar either on the ground or in the air, provided that the team scoring the goal has committed no infringement of the Laws of the Game previously.
Law 11: Off-side
It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in offside position if:
· he/she is nearer to the opponents goal line than both the
ball and the second last opponent.
A player is not in offside position if:
· he/she is in his/her own half of the field of play or
· he/she is level with the second last opponent or
· he/she is level with the last two opponents.
A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his/her team, he/she is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:
· interfering with play or
· interfering with an opponent or
· Gaining an advantage by being in that position.
There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:
· a goal kick or
· a throw-in or
· a corner kick.
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any one of the six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be reckless, careless or excessive force:
1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
3. Jumps at an opponent
4. Charges an opponent
5. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
6. Pushes an opponent.
A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offences:
1. Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball.
2. Holds an opponent.
3. Spits at an opponent.
4. Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area).
Penalty kick is awarded if any of the above ten offences is committed by a player inside his/her own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play.
Indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his/her own penalty area, commits any of the five offences:
1. Takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his/her hands before releasing it from his/her possession.
2. Touches the ball again with his/her hands after it has been released from his/her possession and has not touched any other player.
3. Touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a team-mate.
4. Touches the ball with his/her hands after he/she has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate.
5. Wastes time.
Indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:
1. Plays in a dangerous manner.
2. Impedes the progress of an opponent.
3. Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his/her hands.
4. Commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player.
Disciplinary Sanctions
A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he/she commits any of the following seven offences:
1. Is guilty of unsporting behaviour.
2. Shows dissent by word or action.
3. Persistently infringes the Laws of the Game.
4. Delays the restart of play.
5. Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a free kick or corner kick.
6. Enters or re-enters the field of play without the referees permission.
7. Deliberately leaves the field of play without the referees permission.
A player is sent-off and shown the red card if he/she commits any of the following seven offences:
1. Is guilty of serious foul play.
2. Is guilty of violent conduct.
3. Spits at an opponent or any other person.
4. Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area).
5. Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the players goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick.
6. Use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gesture.
7. Receives a second caution in the same match.
Law 13: Free Kick
Free kicks are either Direct or Indirect. For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
In the event that a free kick has been awarded to the defending team in their own penalty area, the ball must leave the penalty area before it is considered in play.
If an indirect free kick has been awarded to the attacking team, in the defenders goal area, the referee shall place the ball on the six-yard line, parallel to the goal-line nearest to where the offence occurred.
Direct free kick
If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents goal, a goal is scored.
If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the teams own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.
Indirect free kick
A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal. If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents goal, a goal kick is awarded. If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the teams own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.
When the referee blows the whistle to indicate an offence, the first thing that must be established by every player on the field is which team takes the kick (attacking team) and which team is defending. Generally the referee indicates this by pointing with an extended arm towards the goal of the team that just committed the foul (now the defending team). However, some fouls are just obvious as to who committed them. The referee is not required to make a signal.
Probably the most important thing to know when there is a free kick is if the ball can be kicked directly-i.e., without being touched by another player-into the defending goal. If it can't, this is called an indirect free kick (IFK) and the referee is required to put one arm straight up in the air and hold it there until the ball touches a player other than the kicker or goes out of play. This is the only hand signal a referee is required by the law to make.
The ball must be played from the point where the infringement occurred, unless it occurs within one of the goal areas. If the spot is inside the kicking team's goal area, the ball may be placed anywhere inside the goal area. However, if it is inside the defenders' goal area, the ball is placed on the six yard line (running parallel to the goal line) at the point closest to the infraction. The ball must be stationary before it can be kicked. As with any other restart of play, the kicker cannot touch the ball again until it has touched another player or goes out of play.
Prior to the 1997 laws, the ball had to move its circumference (about 27" for a #5 ball). Defenders (illegally) would start moving as soon as the ball was touched, giving the defence an advantage. Now teams can design plays, such as a player just stepping on the ball as he runs over it, to put the ball into play; this would allow the next player to kick the ball directly at goal, or even start dribbling the ball.
Interestingly, there are no goals awarded if a free kick of either type is kicked directly into the kicking team's own goal. If this happens, it would be treated just as if the ball was kicked over the goal line giving the defending team a corner kick. Here again, if the ball is being played from within the attacking team's penalty area, the ball is not in play until it wholly crosses the boundary line (other than the goal line).
There is a reason these kicks are called free. The attackers can kick the ball into play whenever they want (within a reasonable time period), without being pressured by the defending team. The defending team must be at least 6 metres from the ball in all directions (including behind the ball). If the ball is placed inside the kicking team's penalty area, the defenders must be outside the penalty area and at 6 metres from the ball. If the ball is placed inside the defensive team's penalty area, the defenders must be at least 6 metres from the ball or standing on the goal line between the goalposts.
If defender is closer than these requirements when the kick is taken, the referee may decide to retake the kick and possibly caution the player for either failing to respect the required distance of a free kick. It should be noted that it is the defending team's responsibility to retire the appropriate distance immediately after the offence was signalled. The referee is there to help facilitate this separation, but would be within his legal right to sanction any player that does anything to delay or harass the kick.
When the referee signals for a free kick, the fouling team does not have to be allowed time to recover before the attacking team can put the ball back into play. The fouling team essentially has no rights at this time and should have none. When asked (and sometimes on his/her own), the referee may stop play to set up the defence a proper distance from the ball. In general, once the offence is signalled, the attacking team can put the ball back into play as soon as they want, even if the defenders are not the required distance. The laws are written to encourage a continuous game flow with a minimal length of stoppage time.
Law 14: Penalty Kick
A penalty kick shall be awarded if a player of the defending team, in his/her own penalty area and the ball is in play, commits any one of the ten offences
mentioned in Law 12 for which a direct free kick is awarded.
The ball is placed on the penalty mark.
The player taking the penalty kick is properly identified.
The defending goalkeeper remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goal posts until the ball is kicked.
The players other than the kicker are located inside the field of play, outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark and at least 6 metres away from the kicker.
The player taking the penalty kicks the ball forward, he/she does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player and the ball is in play when it is kicked and moved forward.
Law 15: Throw-in
A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
A throw-in is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, either in the air or on the ground, from the point where it crossed the line and to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball.
The thrower must face the field play, has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line, uses both hands and delivers the ball from behind and over the head.
The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. The ball is in play immediately it enters the field of play.
The goalkeeper could not deliberately handle the ball if the ball is thrown to the goalkeeper.
Law 16: Goal Kick
A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team.
A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either in the air or on the ground, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.
Goal kick:
· Is taken from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team.
· Opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
· Kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
· The ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area.
Law 17: Corner Kick
A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.
A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having been last touched by the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.
For corner kick:
· The ball is placed inside the corner arc at the nearest corner flag post,
· The corner flag post is not moved,
· Opponents remain at least 6 metres from the ball until it is in play,
· The ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team,
· The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves,
· The kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
|
|
