SOCCER

THE FIELD OF PLAY

Circumduction – combination of both internal and external

movement. Where the team’s bench and officials’ bench is
located Where the referee assistants operate from.

Center line
Sub divides the fields into equal
halves.
Substitution takes place a long
this line.
Place kick takes place a long this
line
Indicates when the player is
offside.

Center circle
Where the players are supposed to be during the penalty shots.
Where place kick is taken.

Goal line. (75m)

Forms width of
the field
Confirms the
score
Where goal post is fixed.
Indicates when a corner kick is to be awarded.

Goal area / box (5.5 m x 16.5 m)

This is where the goal keeper can’t be charged while handling the ball.

Penalty area (40.32 x 16.5m)

This is where the goalkeeper enjoys privileges e.g., handling the ball.
The opponents should be outside this area during the goal kick.
The ball is considered to be in play once it moves out of this area during
goal kick.
If a player commits any tense penal offences within this area then penalty
kick is awarded to the opponents.
Penalty area (R – 9.15 M)
Helps maintain the opponents away from the goal area a distance of 9.15 m
during penalty kick.

Penalty spot
Skim form the goal line where the ball is placed during penalty kick.

LAWS OF THE GAME

Ball
The ball
Spherical and made of leather or other suitable materials.

- Circumference between 68cm – 70cm

- Weight between 410 g – 450g

2. Flag posts
- placed in all the 4 corners
- should be 1.5 m high

3. goal posts

Two upright posts measuring 2.44m

Cross bar measuring 7.32 m all the posts should

be painted black and white.
Net should be fixed for the purpose of:
i) confirming the score
ii) avoid a lot of disputes
iii) Avoid wastage of time by
preventing the ball from going far.

LAW: 2
Player’s equipment
A player should not use any equipment or wear anything that is dangerous
of himself or another player. Basic /compulsory equipment include:

 Jersey/shirt
 Shorts
 Stockings
 Shin guards
 Food wear
 Goalkeeper’s gloves
Each goalkeeper wears a color that distinguishes him form other player
and the reference.

LAW 3:
Number of players
A match is played with two teams each consisting of players not exceeding
11 of whom one is designed to be a goalkeeper. A match may not either of
the teams is having less than 7 players. Between 3 & 5 substitutions may
be made depending on the competition. The names of the substitute must
be given to the referee prior at the start of the game.

Any other player may change place with

the goalkeeper provided that:
- The referee is informed the change is
made
- The change is made during a stoppage.

LAW 4:
Officials
Referee
 Enforce the laws of the game.
 Ensures that the ball meets the requirement.
 Controls the match with the assistant referees
 Ensures that the players equipment meet the requirement.
 Acts as a timekeeper and keeps the records of the match.
 Stops, suspends or terminate the match, a his direction because of
outside interference of any kind.
 Stops the match if a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is
removed from the field.
 Allow the play to continue until the ball is out of play or if a player is
slightly injured.
 Punishes more serious offences if a player commits if a player
commits more than one offence a time.
 Take disciplinary actions against a player guilty of caution able and
sending off offences.
  Act on the advice of assistant referee on the incidences that he has no
seen
 Restarts the match after it had been sopped.
NB decisions of the referees regarding facts concerned with the play are
final.

Assistant referees
 Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties include indication
of the following:
 When the ball is out of the field of play, which side is entitled to
corner kick, goal kick and throw in.
 When a player may be penalized for being offside.
 When substitution is requested.
 When misconduct or any other incidence has occurred out of the view
of the referee.

c) Match commission

 He is the representative of the federation /organization organizing the

tournament.
 He writes the report on how the game progressed and incase of any
incident he reports to the federation.

d) Fourth official (substitution referee)

 Assist referee in general administrative duties e.g. inspecting players,
equipment, facilities and registering players.
 He helps to enforce substitution.
 In case the center referee is incapacitated he can take the whistle.

Qualities of a good referee

 Physically fit
 Conversant with the latest rules of the game.
 Good eye sight
 Sympathetic
 Friendly and cheerful
 Firm in decision making  Should not be biased.

LAW 5:
Duration of the match
He matches lasts two equal periods lasting 45 minutes each.
 Players are entitled to a resting interval of 15 minutes during half
time.
Allowances for time lost through:
 Substitution
 Assessment of injuries
 Removal of injured players
 Wasting time
 During penalty kick

LAW 6:
Start and restart of the play
Coin is tossed and the team that wins decides on which goal it will attack
in the 1st half. The other team takes the kick off (place kick). The team
which wins the coin takes the kick in the 2nd half.

Place kick (kick off)

It is administered in the following instances.
 At the start of the match
 After a goal has been scored
 At the start of each period of extra time where applicable.

A goal may be scored directly from a place kick.

After a team scores a goal, the other team takes the kick off.

Procedure
 All players at their respective halves of the field of play.
 Ball at the center spot.
 The team staring lines up along the center but within he centers circle.
 Opponents outside the centre circle and must maintain a distance of
9.15 m from the ball.
 Ball considered being in play once it moves forward.
 A player cannot pass the ball to himself.

Drop ball
This is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage. The
referee drops the ball at the point where it was located.

Cases when awarded

 When there is technical problem e.g. basting of the ball.
 External interference e.g. spectator invading the court.
 When the referee is uncertain of the player who has committed, the
offence.
 When the game was stopped when lowering national flag
 Stoppage in cases of injuries.
 When there is simultaneous offence.

Procedures
 Done at the point where the incident occurred.
 Two opposing players stand facing each other and hands straight
alongside their body.
 Referee drops the ball down considering the waist of the shorter player.
 The ball is considered to be in play once it touches the ground.

LAW 7:
Ball in and of play
Ball out of play
 If it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline whether in
air or on ground.
 When the play has been stopped be the referee.
Ball in play
 The moment referee blows the whistle for the game to
commence during place kick and throw in.
 When the ball hits the ground during drop ball.
 When the ball moves forward during corner kick
 When ball hit goal post, corner flag, referee or referee
assistant who is standing in the field.
 When the ball moves out of the penalty area during the goal
kick.

LAW 8:
Method of scoring
A goal is scored when the whole ball passes over the goal line in between
the upright post and under the cross bar.
If both teams score equal number of goals or no goals scored, the match is
drawn.
For matches ending in draw, competition rules may state provisions
involving extra time or other procedure to determine the winner.
LAW 9:
OFFSIDE
Offside position
It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.
A player is in offside position if he is nearer to this opponents’ goal line
than the ball and the 2nd last opponent.  A player is not in offside
position if:
 He is in his own half of the field of play.
nd
 He is in level with the 2 last opponent.
 He is in level with the last 2 opponents.

Offences
A player in offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball
touches or is played by one of his teammates, the is in the opinion of the
referee involved in active play by:
Interfering with the play
 Interfering with the opponent.
 Gaining an advantage by being in that position.

No offences
A player is no offside offence if a player receives a ball directly from:
 Goal kick
 Corner kick
 Throw in
For any offside offence the referee awards an indirect free kick at the place
where the infringement occurred.

LAW 10:
Fouls and misconducts
Fouls- these are offences due to a player breaking the law of the game.
Misconduct - these are offences due to a player displaying
unsportsmanlike like behaviors or playing contrary to the game to the
spirit of the game.
They are penalized as follows:

a) Direct free kick

Awarded to opposing team if a player commits any of the
following offences (ten penal offences)
Kicking or attempt to kick an opponent
Tripping or attempt to trip an opponent.
 Jumping at an opponent
 Charges at an opponent
 Strike or attempt to strike an opponent.
 Pushes an opponent.
 Handles he ball deliberately (except goalkeeper)
 Tackles an opponent making contact with the opponent first before
touching the ball.
 Holds an opponent.

Penalty kick
This is awarded if any of the above offences are committed inside a
player’s penalty area intentionally.

Procedure
 Ball is placed at the penalty spot.
 All other players outside a penalty area expect the kicker.
 Goalkeeper remain stationary along the goal line until the kick is taken.
 the ball should be kicked once and in forward direction.

c) indirect kick
This is awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the
referee, commits any of the following offences.
 Plays in dangerous manner
 Impedes the progress of an opponent.
 Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball
From his hands.
 It also awarded to the opposing team, if a goalkeeper inside his own
penalty area commits any of the following offences:
 Take more than 4 steps or 6 seconds while controlling the ball again
with his hands before releasing it from his possession.
 Touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from
his possession and has not been touched by any other player.
 Touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to
him by a teammate.
 Wastes time.

d) yellow card
His is shown when a player commits any of the following:
 Is guilty of unsporting behavior.
 Shows dissent by word or action.
 Persistently the restart of the play.
 Fails to respects the distance required when play is restarted a corner
kick or free kick.
 Enters or re-enters the field of play without referee’s permission.

e) Sending – off offences.

Red card
This is shown to a player who commits any of the following offences.
 Is guilty of serious foul play.
 Is guilty of violent conduct.
 Spits at an opponent a goal or an obvious scoring opportunity by
deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to goal keeper within
his own area)
 Denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving
towards the players’ a goal by an offence punishable by free kick or
penalty kick.
 Use offensive, insulting or abusive language
 Receive a second caution. (yellow card) in the same match.

LAW 11:
Throw in
This a method of restarting a play awarded when a whole ball passes over
the touchline either on the ground or on the air. It is awarded to opponent
of the player who lastly touched the ball. A goal cannot be scored
directly from throw in.
Conditions of be observed
 Should be taken at the point where it crossed the touch line.
 Opponents should be 9.15 m away from the ball.
 The player cannot pass the ball to himself.
 Ball must be delivered from behind and overhead.
 The thrower should not enter the field of play before releasing the ball.

LAW 12:
Goal kick
This is a method of restarting a play.
It is awarded when the whole ball, having lastly been touched by a player
of the attacking team and passes over the goal line either on the ground or
in air and the goal is not scored as per law 8.

Procedure
The ball is placed on top of the goal area line.
All the opponents outside the penalty area.
A goal may be scored directly from the goal kick.

LAW 13:
Corner kick
This method of restarting a play.
It is awarded when the whole ball having last been touched by a player of
the defending team passes over the goal line and a goal is not scored in
accordance with law 8.

Procedure
 The ball is placed at the corner area.
 Opponents 9.15 m away from the ball.
 Flag should not be removed.
 A player can’t be offside during corner kick.
 A player cannot pass a ball to himself.

LAW 14:
Kicks from penalty mark (penalty shootout)
Taking kick from a penalty mark is a method of determining a winning
team where the competition requires a winning team after the match have
been drawn.

Procedure
 Referee chooses the goal at which the kicks shall be taken.
 Referee tosses a coin and the team for the winning captain takes the
first kick.
 Referee keeps a record of kicks taken.
 Each team takes 5 kicks and one has scored more goals than the other
could score even if it were to complete 5 kicks no more kicks are taken
 If after both teams have taken 5 kicks, both have scored same number
of goals, kicks continue until one team has scored a goal more than the
other from the same number of kicks.
 Each kick is taken by a different player and all eligible players must
take a kick before a player takes a second kick.
 All players except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers
must remain within the center circle.

BASIC
SKILLS

1. GOAL
KEEPING
A good goalkeeper should have knowledge on the following:
 punting – this is when a goalkeeper catches the ball and does not
take 4 steps or 6 seconds before tossing the ball in air and
kicking it.
 Narrowing the angle – this is moving from the goal line towards
the attacker with the ball.
 Other skills required of a goal keeper are diving and grip.

2. HEADING
Heading skills that can be used by a player include:
 side head
 forward head
 back head

Reasons for heading

To score
To give a pass
To control the ball

3. PASSING
this he application of small amount of force on the ball in order to reach
the other teammate. parts of the foot used in passing include:
 inside the foot
 instep
 toe
 heel
 outside of the foot.

Types of passes
 Wall pass
 Through pass
 Square pass
 Diagonal pass
 Inter pass

KICKING
This the application of great force on the ball using your foot to go to the
field or to shoot.

Types of passes
a) banana / curve /swerve
b) scissors /orthodox
c) volley kick
half …. Ball lands first, bounce and then hit.
Full …. Ball is hi before it hands.
d)chip/loft: raising over the goalkeeper.

5. TACKLING
This involves getting the ball away from an opponent.

Styles of tackling
 Linear tackling
 Sliding
 Frontal
 Heading
 Rear

6. DRIBBLING
this is moving with the ball under control by short controlled taps.

Types of dribbling
 Single leg/open
 Double leg/closed
7. SHIELDING /SCREENING
This is putting the ball away from the opponents by leaning on the ball
without causing obstruction.

8. BALL CONTROL
a) trapping
This is applied when controlling aerial balls though the ball is not
completely controlled. Parts used in trapping the ball include: head,
shoulder, high heel, instep and sole

b) used to control the ball completely dead.

Part used include; shoulder, instep, inside of the and outside of the foot.

9 JUGGLING
Tapping the ball in air using several parts of body.

10. DODGING/FEINTING /FAKING

This is anticipating the opponent to go in the wrong direction

PLAYING POSITION

1. goal keeper
2. right full back
3. left full back
4. left half back
5. center back
6. right half back
7. outside right
8. inside right
9. center forward
10. inside left
 11. outside left

Formations (playing systems)

i.classic formation 2 - 3 - 5
ii.MW formation: 3 – 2 – 2 - 3
iii.4 – 2- G
iv.sweeper
systems 1-4
-3- 2
v.5- 3- 2
vi.4- 4 – 2

Qualities of a
good
goalkeeper
]Reasonably
tall.
 Good reaction time
 Courageous
 Swift
 Good grip
 God eye sight
 Strong

Qualities of mid fielders

 Good ball dribbling
 God ball distribution/passing

 Should be swift.

Qualities of full back

 Good timing / reaction time
 Enduring
 Good tackling technique
 Strong shots /kicks

Qualities of forward players

 Very fast
 Good accurate shots
 Good reaction time
 Good ball control