Articles Featured Articles

How to Play Football?: Football Rules, Regulation, Equipment 2023

By Write a Comment on How to Play Football?: Football Rules, Regulation, Equipment 2023

How to Play Football?: Football is an outdoor game that requires absolute athleticism as the players have to run and run across the field with the ball throughout the game.

The name of this game is derived from the way it is played. This game took its shape in the 18th century. China being the mother of football may raise some eyebrows.

In the early days, this game was played by children in China and was later taken up by senior peers. Despite its origin in Asia, the game was well received and adapted by people in Europe and South American countries.

Brazil, Spain, Italy, Argentina, and England are some of the most suitable football-playing nations. At that exact time, international tournaments are held in Europe in which many companies participate and contest for a prestigious cup.

Objective (How To Play Football?)

There are two goalposts at either end of the width of the field. Both teams collide with each other and compete for the ball and try to hit the ball into the opponent’s goalpost.

The goalkeeper can only stop the ball with his hands in a restricted area around the goalposts. Players can use any part of their body to score a goal, but not their hands.

Team Size

One of them is the goalkeeper, who is vital to the success of the team. He is skilled in intercepting the ball before a goal is scored by a player of the opposing team.

Additional players are seated on the side as an alternative to replace on-field players. The coach is an integral part of the team who trains each and every member of the team and prepares plans and strategies to score goals and win matches.

Football: Participating Countries

Football has its roots in China; However, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and America play this game very fondly. People in these regions love sports and follow their national teams and favorite clubs.

Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia are other countries with national teams represented in international events. 

The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of the 47 nations’ member organizations. It was formed in 1954 and its headquarter is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Some are transcontinental countries such as Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Israel. Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 before being a member of the OFF (Oceania Football Federation).

There are 5 governing bodies that control football beyond the Asia. All the independent football bodies of different countries are affiliated with these five federations.

Here is the list of various federations and their affiliated member countries –

  • Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) – The governing body for the participating countries which are Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria.
  • The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) – the governing body for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, along with Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
  • CONMEBOL – The South American Football Confederation is the governing body for association football in South America and its affiliated countries are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay.
  • Union of European Football Associations – It is the governing body for football associations (FA) across Europe. A total of 54 countries come into these and some of them are Croatia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.

Football: Playing Environment

Football is the only sport that draws more crowds than any other sport. Two teams dribble, pass and tackle the ball to score a goal.

Boxes are drawn around the goalposts to indicate the goalkeeper’s area. A line is drawn in the center of the football pitch, which is called the halfway line.

For every football match, there are four referees on the field who check whether the equipment and conditions are suitable before the start of the game.

Dimensions Of The Football Field

Given below is a diagram of a football field showing the various markings on the field. Professional football stadiums must be 105 meters long and 68 meters wide, with an area of just over 7 square km. The outline of the field is called the touchline.

There is a circle in the center of the pitch (football field) which indicates the distance of the opponent from the ball during the kick-off. The radius of this circle is 9.15m.

The circle has a center spot where the ball should be placed at the start of a new session or after a goal has been scored. The line along the width of the field is called the goal line. Goal posts are placed between the field and the goal line.

The distances between the inner and outer edges of the goalposts are 7.4 m and 2.4 m respectively. There are two boxes from the goal line to the goalposts at each end. (How To Play Football?)

The smaller one is a box of 5m and the bigger one is 18m. All free-kicks by the attacking team are to be taken from the 5m box. The 18-meter box indicates the area where the goalkeeper is allowed to stop the ball with his hands.

Direct free kicks or penalty kicks may be taken from a white mark within the 18-meter box. To keep with the tradition, a smaller semicircle is drawn outside the larger box.

There are small arcs in the corners of the football field that indicate where the ball should be placed for a corner kick.

Football: Equipment

Players also do not require much gear to play the game. Cleat shoes, socks, shin guards, and headgear are some of the equipment used by the players. In this section, we will learn about these tools in detail.

  • Cleats or turfs – A very important piece of gear for every football player. These are specially designed shoes that have spikes on the bottom which provide great traction on the grass.
  • Socks – The socks made for football are very long and they are meant to cover the shin guard.
  • Shin Guards – These are used to protect the shin of the player. While playing football, rival players try to injure players by kicking in the shin area. This can be an act done intentionally or unintentionally by the player. Therefore, shin guards are a protective device.
  • Soccer Ball – This is the main equipment of the game and the whole game revolves around it. A football is made of vulcanized rubber with a plastic bladder and is covered with a plastic cover.
  • Football: Popular Terms

This chapter explains all the popular words used in the play. These are some of the important rules that every football player should know about.

Those who follow the game closely will find this chapter interesting.

  • Advantage Rule – This rule applies when there is no need to stop play when the referee sees a foul.
  • Aggregate Score – This is the average score scored by teams playing in club competitions. These clubs usually organize games on a knockout basis. The teams will be paired up to play each other twice, one each at the home grounds of both teams. Then the score is destroyed by adding the scores in both matches.
  • Attacker – A term used to refer to a striker and anyone close to the goalposts of the opposing team.
  • Ball in and out of play – The ball to be put out of play must be found outside the edge or goal line. It can also be played while on the sidelines. Play continues as long as the ball is in play.
  • Bicycle kick – This is a style of volley where the player hits the ball over his head while somersaulting. Both the feet of the player are attached to the ground and kick the ball together while somersaulting.
  • Booter – A term used in sports that means to kick the ball. 
  • Clear – This is used when there is a situation in play or a chance to score a goal. The player must clear the ball immediately or kick the ball away from the goal mouth to prevent a goal. Sometimes they even pass the ball or start an attack and sometimes they put the ball out of play.
  • Captain – A player who is selected to lead the team in the match and decide the toss before the match.
  • Chip – A long and high shot that takes the ball straight over the goalkeeper’s head and into the goal.
  • Dead Ball – When the players are stopped and the ball is not moving then it is called a dead ball. Such a situation arises when there is a chance of a free kick and a penalty kick.
  • Extra time – This is an extra time of the game whenever there is a tie and is played in two halves of 15 minutes each to decide the winner.
  • Foul – A term used to describe a breach of the Laws of Football by a player and may be punishable by a free kick or penalty.
  • Free Kick – The giving of an unrestricted kick to a stationary ball, especially when the opposing team commits a foul.
  • Goalkeeper – A special player who is also called a goalkeeper. The job of the goalkeeper is to prevent the ball from reaching the goalpost behind him.
  • Hand Ball – This term is used when players use their hands or arms while playing or passing the ball. This is considered offensive in the game.
  • Head – Head to ball means playing the ball with the forehead, whether it is to clear, pass or score a goal.
  • Mark – When play is in a man-to-man position, the defender is called upon to mark the attacker. The farther he is from him, the lower his marking, and the closer he plays to him, the stricter the marking.
  • Own Goal – A situation where a player inadvertently kicks the ball into his own goal is considered an own goal.
  • Pass – An action in which a player kicks the ball to a teammate.
  • Period – The football game is divided into two parts time; the First half and the second half.
  • Pitch – The football field is called a pitch for ease of use.
  • Referee – The official in charge of the game. The referee is the final decision-maker in the game; He is the one who checks the time and stops it when the game is over. Players cannot enter or exit the field without their consent. It is the responsibility of the referee to see that the game, the ball, and the players all conform to the Laws of the Game. 
  • Red Card – A decision by the referee where he decides that a player has committed an offense and then asks him to leave the game for the remainder of the period.
  • Scoreline – An indication of the score of both the teams, which also contains information about the home ground. 
  • Tackle – A term used when a player uses his body to take the ball from an opponent, this could be a shoulder charge. Clean tackling means successfully taking the ball from an opponent without committing a foul.
  • Time – The football game is divided into two halves and each half is strictly devoted to 45 minutes as in any professional game.
  • Yellow Card – This is a show to the player, warning him that he has committed a serious offense in the match. This is followed by another yellow card and then a red card in case of another offense.
  • Football: Players & Their Positions

There are 11 players in each football team and one of these players is the goalkeeper. Be it an offensive or a defensive team, the player’s responsibility is to score a goal for the team and prevent the opposing team from scoring.

  • Goalkeeper – The main objective of the goalkeeper is to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. The goalkeeper is confined to a rectangular penalty area 18 yards from the goal and is the only player in the game who can use his hands to stop the ball.
  • Outside Fallback – They play on the left and right flanks and make sure the ball doesn’t pass over them. They rarely move from their positions.
  • Midfielders – They are the link between the defenders and the attackers. They need to be fit and physically much stronger than the other players on the field as they are the players who drive the maximum amount of playing time around the field. Their responsibility is to enter the opposing team’s territory and see that they defend when the opposing team retains possession of the ball.
  • Center Forward – The game’s smartest, most dangerous, and strongest player. They are also called strikers. Strikers are basically the leading goal-scorers in the game.
  • How To Play Football?

The most basic and most important requirement to be a good football player is to be fit, energetic, and well-mannered. The game requires a lot of running and technical skills in handling the ball and the opponent.

To become a football player, you have to work hard and learn to be faster than your opponent.

Football kick-off

Football match starts with the toss of a coin. The match referee and the two captains meet in the center of the field. The captain of the team winning the toss decides which goalpost to attack in the first half, while the team losing the toss takes the kick-off to start the match.

Players take positions on their side of the field. Once the referee blows the whistle, the player of the team losing the toss takes the kick-off and the ball advances. This player cannot touch the ball again until another player from either team touches the ball. During the second half, the teams square off, and the team winning the toss goes to kick-off.

Football: Essential Skills

We have listed here some essential skills that a player must acquire in order to become a professional footballer.

  • Learn to dribble – This is the most important task while playing the game. Dribbling means controlling and possessing the ball while running. To dribble is to keep the ball with you and in possession of your team, you need to dribble well so that you touch the ball well enough to carry it forward but you must also see that it is not far enough away from you. does not go away.
  • Learn to pass – Passing the ball means getting the ball exactly where you want it to be. To pass a ball, you have to kick the ball in the direction you want it to move. Passing the ball can be done using the inside of your foot, this will give good accuracy and require less power. After learning how to pass the ball you can master the act by slicing and hooking to pass the ball to your teammates.
  • Learn to shoot – Shooting the ball comes into view when you are close to a goal and you need to score. This would require a lot of power and precision. You need to set your plant foot and aim at the target and shoot the ball.
  • It is very important to take the right place on the field. Sometimes a player needs to run a lot when not near the ball, in which case the player needs to anticipate his partner’s next move and take a position where his partner expects him to be.
  • Learn to defend the goal – The player tries to clear the ball away from the opponent player using the skill. The player needs to concentrate and dispose of the ball quickly depending on the moves of the other player. In some situations, the opposing player can cheat, but the player must constantly keep an eye on the ball and the player’s movements. In this way, a player can save the opponent from scoring a goal.
  • Learn to head the ball – A player uses his forehead to guide the ball in the desired direction and passes it to his partner. Heading the ball often happens when scoring a goal after a corner kick.
  • Learn to juggle – Juggling is not an easy task, but it is necessary for a player to learn to juggle when needed. It helps to control the ball when it comes in the air as the ball will not be on the ground every time.
  • Learn to use the non-dominant foot – It is very important for a player to learn how to use his non-dominant foot as it can be an advantage for the opposing team if mastered. Not there. Playing with only the dominant foot is playing handicapped. That’s why learning to use your non-dominant foot is so important.
  • Learn to be spontaneous and keep your originality – this is the key to mastering the game. Having your own style of play is a huge asset. One must learn to be either tough, fast, powerful, or defensive.
  • Football: Rules & Regulations

Let us also understand the rules of the game which have to be followed while playing the game. Listed here are some of the major rules and regulations of the game.

The offside offense is one of the most important rules to follow in football. It is basically designed so that players do not cherry-pick or bunch near the opponent’s goal.

A player can be said to be in an offside position when he is in the opponent’s half and behind the last defender.

A throw-in comes into play when the ball is either kicked or completely out of bounds. The throw-in is awarded to the team that did not touch it last. (How To Play Football?)

The throw-in may be made from a point where the ball is outside the ground. Throw-in means catching the ball with both hands behind the head and throwing it inside the ground.

The yellow card rules – When a player commits a mistake, a yellow card is issued to the player by the referee. The referee shows yellow to the player and warns him of his first offense. If a player is shown a yellow card twice, he must leave the game permanently. Reason for showing a yellow card by the referee −

  • Players who play the game in defiance of the rules of the game.
  • Dangerous play ie hitting on the head of members of the opposing team.
  • Intentionally hitting the ball at any player.
  • The goalkeeper violates the Laws of the Game by passing the ball through his hands when kicked by his teammates.
  • Intentionally wasting game time.

The red card rules – A red card is issued when a player is shown the yellow card twice and then commits a mistake. Reasons for showing a red card to a player by the referee are –

  • Intentionally causing bodily injury to a player by kicking.
  • Intentionally jumping over a player.
  • Hitting a player or rough charging a player.
  • Pushing or grabbing a player.
  • Incorrect handling of the ball. (How To Play Football?)

Free kick – It is given as a penalty for the players of the team when the opposing team fouls. There are two types of free kicks –

  • Direct Free Kick – In this the ball can be kicked directly into the goal and it does not need to be passed or touched by the kicker’s teammate.
  • Indirect kick – In this, the ball must be touched by another teammate of the player who kicks it before the goal is scored.

The rules of penalty kick – The penalty kick opportunity arises when a player of the defending team commits a foul in the penalty box of the opposing team. All players except the goalkeeper must line up outside the penalty area. The goalkeeper must stand on the goal line. The ball must be placed on the penalty spot and then kicked.

Corner kick – A corner kick opportunity is created when the ball goes over the goal line but does not go into the goal and is last touched by a member of the defending team.

Goal kick – When the ball goes over the goal line but does not go into the goal and is last touched by the attacking team, the ball shall be taken into possession of the defending team and the goalkeeper kicks the goal.

Read More Articles (How To Play Football):

Tagged In

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *