SOCCER
1. Interchange:
Up to five substitute players are permitted. Players are permitted to interchange during the game
when the ball is out of play, or during the interval. In both situations the Referee must be notified
of the intended change prior to it occurring. A child replaced is permitted to return to the field at
a later stage.
2. Ball: A size 4 ball shall be used.
3. Referees:
The Referee enforces the laws of the game and their decision is final.
Order-Off Rule:
A Referee may order a player to leave the field. The offending player cannot resume in that match.
The offending player may be replaced. A Referee may order a player to leave the field for:
 Fighting or unduly rough play;
 Persistent or deliberate breaking of the rules;
 Disputing the umpire’s decision; and
 Objectionable language, remarks or behaviour.
In the event of a player being order off the field, the referee shall submit a written report to the
appropriate Committee (District, Zone or Management Committee). After consideration of the
report, the designated Committee will be expected to take up the matter with the Principal of the
school concerned.
4. Linesman:
 Where possible the Linesmen appointed shall be adults
 Two linesman can be appointed whose duty is, subject to the decision of the Referee, to
assist in controlling the game in accordance with the laws, (eg. Out of bounds and off
side ruling)
5. Duration of the Game:
This law remains unaltered except that the duration of a game shall be two equal periods of 25
minutes. The Referee will be in sole charge of the game and will be responsible for the time
keeping.
6. Start of Play:
 The choice of ends and kick-off shall be decided by the toss of a coin
 After the referee signals the start of play, the ball must be kicked from the centre spot
into the opposing team’s half of the field. Every player shall be in his/her half of the field
before the kick-off and every player of the opposing team shall be 9.15 metres from the
ball.
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The player taking the kick-off shall not play the ball a second time, until it has been
played by another player.
At the resumption of play, after half time, ends will be changed and the kick-off shall by
taken by the opposite team to that which started the game.
7. Ball in and Out of Play:
The ball is out of play when the referee decides that is has wholly crossed the goal line or touch
line and therefore stops play.
8. Scoring:
A goal is scored when the entire ball passes over the line between the goal posts and under the
cross bar provided it has done so legally (ie Not with the aid of the hand or arm).
NB: An own goal can be scored by a defending team if a player makes the ball enter his/her own
goal.
9. Off-Side:
A player is off-side when there is only one defender between him/her and the goal s/he is attacking
at the moment that the ball is played.
Unless:
 He is in his own half of the field
 The ball last touched an opponent or it was played by him
 He received the ball direct from a goal-kick, corner-kick, throw-in, or when it was
dropped by the referee
NB: The goal-keeper counts as a defender
10. Free Kicks:
 Free kicks can be classified as either direct or indirect.
 Direct – from which a goal can be scored directly
 Indirect – from which a goal cannot be scored directly
 Players on the opposing team must stand 9.15 metres or more away from the ball when
a free kick is taken (this also applies to corner kicks) or a penalty kick if the offence is
committed in the penalty area:
 If s/he kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
 Trips an opponent
 Jumps at an opponent
 Charges an opponent in a dangerous manner
 Charges or tackles an opponent from behind
 Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
 Holds and opponent with any part of his hand or arm
 Pushes an opponent with any part of his arm or hand
 Intentionally handles the ball with his hand or any part of the arm
 An indirect free kick, from which a goal cannot be scored directly, shall be awarded
against a player committing any of the following:
 Playing in a dangerous manner
 Charging when the ball is not within playing distance
 Intentionally obstructing the goal-keeper when he is not holding the ball
 When the goal-keeper takes no more than four steps while in control of the ball
before releasing it into play.
11. Back Pass:
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On any occasion when a player deliberately kicks the ball to their own goalkeeper, the goalkeeper
is not permitted to touch it with his hands. If, however, the goalkeeper does touch the ball with his
hands, he shall be penalised by the award of an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing team
from the place where the infringement occurred.
12. Penalty Kick:
 A penalty kick shall be taken from the penalty mark, and all other players except the
opposing goal-keeper shall stand outside the penalty area (including outside the semi
circle marking the distance of 9.15 metres around the penalty spot) until the penalty kick
has been taken.
 A goal keeper must stand on his goal line and may move his feet along the goal line
before the ball is struck
 As with a free kick, the player taking the penalty kick is not allowed to play the ball again
until it has been touched or played by another player.
13. Throw In:
 When the whole of the ball has passed over the touch line, it must be thrown back into
play by a player from the team opposite to that which last touched it.
 The thrower should use both hands and deliver the ball from behind and over his head.
Both feet should be touching the ground on or behind the line at the moment of
delivery. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in.
 An improper throw shall result in a throw in for the opposing team.
14. Corner Kicks:
 A corner kick shall be taken at a distance of twenty five (25) metres form the centre of
the goal i.e a distance of three (3) metres from the appropriate edge of the penalty box.
(Penalty box being a fixed distance of twenty two (22) metres from the centre of the
goal)
 An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, in his own penalty
area takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before
releasing it from his possession.
15. GOAL KICKS:
A goal kick will be awarded when the whole of the ball crossed the goal line between the goal post
and the corner flag having last been touched by a member of the attacking side. In this instance the
ball is placed on the 7 metre line running across the front of the goal and the ball is kicked back into
play by a member of the defending team. The ball must clear the penalty area before it can be
played again by another member of either team.
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