Here’s a clear, compact summary of association football (“soccer”) rules in English, based on the IFAB Laws of the Game. I’m focusing on what actually matters in real matches, from kick-off to full time.

Basic setup

• Teams: 11 players per side (10 outfield + 1 goalkeeper). A match may not start or continue if a team has fewer than 7 players on the field.

• Substitutions: Usually up to 5 in most competitions (used across three “windows” plus halftime). Youth/amateur rules can allow more.

• Equipment: Shirt with numbers, shorts, socks, shinguards under socks, and footwear. Goalkeepers must wear colors distinct from other players and match officials.

• Ball: Spherical, size 5 for adults.

Field & markings

• Key lines: Touchlines (long), goal lines (short), halfway line, center circle (10 yd/9.15 m radius), penalty areas, goal areas, and corner arcs.

• Goals: Located at the center of each goal line; a goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the whole of the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.

Match duration

• Length: Two halves of 45 minutes (90 total), plus time added on (stoppage time) for substitutions, injuries, VAR checks, delays, etc.

• Halftime: Up to 15 minutes.

• Ties: Depending on competition rules, matches can end drawn, or proceed to extra time (2×15 minutes) and then kicks from the penalty mark.

Starting and restarting play

• Kick-off: Starts each half and after every goal. Ball is in play once it’s kicked and clearly moves; it can be played backward.

• Dropped ball: Used when play is stopped for a reason not otherwise covered (e.g., serious injury with no foul). Given to a single player of the team that last touched the ball (or to the goalkeeper if last touched in the penalty area); all others 4+ m away.

• Throw-in: Awarded when the ball wholly crosses a touchline. Two hands, over the head, both feet on/behind the line. Opponents at least 2 m away. You can’t score directly from a throw-in.

• Goal kick: Awarded when attackers last touch the ball over the goal line without a goal scored. Ball is in play once kicked and clearly moves; it no longer has to leave the penalty area. Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the kick is taken.

• Corner kick: Awarded when defenders last touch the ball over their own goal line. Ball is placed in the corner arc and is in play once kicked and clearly moves.

Ball in and out of play

• Out of play: When it wholly crosses a touchline/goal line, or the referee stops play.

• Everything else is in play: Including if the ball rebounds off a match official and remains on the field (unless this creates a promising attack, changes possession, or a goal is scored—then a dropped ball).

Scoring

• A goal counts when the entire ball crosses the entire goal line between the posts and under the bar, provided no law has been breached by the scoring team.

Offside (the big one)

You’re offside if, at the moment a teammate plays or touches the ball, you are:

1. in the opponents’ half, and

2. nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (usually last field player), and

3. you then become involved in active play (interfering with play/opponent, or gaining an advantage from being in that position).

Not offside if:

• You’re level with the second-last opponent or the ball.

• You receive the ball directly from a goal kick, corner, or throw-in.

• You don’t interfere with play or an opponent.

Fouls & misconduct

Direct free kick (DFK) fouls—careless, reckless, or excessive-force actions against an opponent:

• Kicks or attempts to kick, trips or attempts to trip, jumps at, charges, strikes/elbows or attempts, pushes, tackles/challenges (including with hand/arm) in a careless/reckless manner or using excessive force.

• Holding, impeding with contact, spitting or biting, handball offense (see below).

Penalty kick if a DFK foul is committed by a defender inside their own penalty area.

Indirect free kick (IFK) offenses include:

• Dangerous play without contact, impeding without contact, preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball, offside offense, or goalkeeper’s technical offenses (e.g., holding the ball longer than 6 seconds, second touch after release in some situations).

Disciplinary cards:

• Yellow card (caution): Unsporting behavior, dissent, persistent infringement, delaying restart, failing to respect distance (10 yards/9.15 m), entering/re-entering/leaving the field without permission, tactical shirt removal in celebration, etc.

• Second yellow = red.

• Red card (send-off): Serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting/bite, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) by handball or a foul, offensive/abusive language/gestures, or receiving a second yellow.

Handball (summary of the modern interpretation)

• It’s an offense if a player deliberately touches the ball with the hand/arm, or if the hand/arm makes the body unnaturally bigger and the ball strikes it. Goals scored directly by hand/arm (even accidental) are not allowed.

• The shoulder is not handball; the boundary is roughly the bottom of the armpit.

• Considerations include arm position relative to expected movement, distance, deflections, and player’s action.

Free kicks: direct vs. indirect

• Direct free kick (DFK): You can score directly. Opponents must be 10 yards (9.15 m) away.

• Indirect free kick (IFK): Must touch another player before a goal counts; referee raises arm until the ball is touched by someone else.

• Quick free kicks are allowed unless the referee is managing a caution/card or has explicitly delayed the restart.

• Walls: When three or more defenders form a wall, attackers must stay at least 1 m away from the wall until the ball is in play.

Penalty kicks (during normal play or extra time)

• Ball on the penalty mark (11 m/12 yd). Only the identified kicker and the opposing goalkeeper are inside the penalty area; all other players outside the area and arc, behind the mark, at least 10 yards away.

• Goalkeeper must have at least one part of a foot on (or in line with) the goal line at the moment the kick is taken.

• Ball is in play when kicked and clearly moves forward. Re-takes and infractions depend on who infringed and whether a goal was scored.

Goalkeepers: key points

• May handle the ball inside their own penalty area (but are still subject to handball rules if they handle after an illegal deliberate kick or throw-in from a teammate in some competitions unless touched by another player).

• Six-second guideline: Once in control with the hands, the keeper should release the ball within about six seconds.

• No challenging the keeper while they are in the process of releasing the ball (IFK if prevented).

Advantage

• The referee may allow play to continue after a foul if this benefits the non-offending team. If the advantage does not materialize within a short moment, the referee can bring play back for the original offense.

Off the field and external factors

• A player off the field (with the referee’s permission or momentarily across a boundary during play) is still considered “on the line” for offside/discipline in certain cases.

• Outside agents (e.g., a second ball) interfering with play lead to a stoppage and a dropped ball.

VAR (where used)

• Video Assistant Referee may recommend on-field reviews for: goals (and offenses in the buildup), penalty decisions, direct red cards (not second yellow), and cases of mistaken identity. Only “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents” should be changed.

Common youth/amateur modifications

• Shorter halves, smaller fields/goals, rolling substitutions, and build-out lines (to encourage playing from the back). Always check your competition’s local rules of competition (ROC).

If you need a “one-page memory” of the essentials:

• 11v11, two 45-minute halves, offside applies, DFK for contact/handball, IFK for technical offenses, penalties for DFK fouls in the box, 10-yard distance on free kicks, throw-ins with both hands over the head, corner/goal kicks restart the ball into play, and the whole ball must fully cross the line to score.