Out of play & throw-ins
When a ball is “out of play,” that means the ball has crossed the white boundary lines of the field, and it can apply to a ball on the ground or in the air. When the ball goes out of play (specifically along the sidelines), the referee stops the game and the team that didn’t touch the ball last before it went out is awarded a throw-in to restart the game.
NOTE: If the ball is on the boundary line, it is still considered “in” — there has to be green between the boundary line and the ball to be considered “out.”
The player who does the throw-in will launch the ball from behind and over their head with both feet planted on the ground, resuming gameplay. Once the throw-in is complete, the player receiving the ball can then go on to dribble, pass, or shoot the ball per the regular rules of the game. Notably, throw-ins only happen along the sidelines, or the longer sides of the field.
Corner kicks vs. goal kicks
When the ball goes out of bounds along the shorter sides of the field, or the goal lines, a corner or goal kick is awarded. The key distinction between corner kicks and goal kicks lies in which team is awarded the restart. If the defending team was last to touch the ball before it went out, a corner kick is awarded to the attacking team. If the attacking team was last to touch it, a goal kick is given to the defending team. The positioning of the kicks also differs, as corner kicks are taken from the corner of the field nearest to where the ball went out, while goal kicks are taken from within the defending team’s six-yard box. Gameplay continues after each type of kick is taken.
Goalie rules
On the note of goal kicks, goalkeepers have distinct rules and responsibilities that set them apart from other players on the field. This includes taking goal kicks and the ability to use their hands to save or block from the opposing team while they’re in the goalie box. But, it’s important that goalies don’t touch the ball with their hands outside of the goalie box, as they could trigger a free-kick or penalty kick for the opposing team.
Offside
A player is considered offside if they are closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender when the ball is passed to them. You can think of it as an attacker being too far forward and getting behind all of the other team’s defenders. When the offside rule is called, play is stopped, and the opposing team is awarded an indirect free-kick (more on that later) from the spot where the offside offense occurred. The player who was in the offside position is unable to rejoin play until another player from either team touches the ball, ensuring that the attacking team does not gain an unfair advantage by positioning their players behind the opposition’s defense.
Handballs
As we’ve established, you cannot touch the ball with your hands if you’re a regular player or a goalie outside of the goalie box in the game of soccer. If a player intentionally handles the ball with their hands or arms, a handball offense is called and the opposing team is awarded a free kick or a penalty kick. Within this rule, there’s a distinction between accidental and deliberate handballs. If the ball accidentally grazes a player’s arm or hand, it’s not likely to receive a flag from the referee unless it leads to a goal or serious scoring opportunity. For less severe handball infractions, the opposing team gets an indirect free kick. But for glaring handball infractions, the other team may get a penalty kick.
Two touch rule
The two touch rule basically means that when a player is restarting play, they can’t touch it twice in a row. For example, if a player is performing a throw-in, they can’t be the next person to touch the ball, it has to be a teammate or opponent (this prevents “passing” to yourself). If your player doesn’t follow the two-touch rule, the opposing team is rewarded with an indirect free kick.
Direct vs. indirect free kicks
Speaking of, direct and indirect free kicks are triggered by fouls. When a player commits a minor foul, it results in an indirect free kick, where the ball must be touched by another player before it can go into the net (first the player handling the free kick, then another touch). On the other hand, a more serious foul — like being aggressive to another player or touching the ball with your hands — leads to a direct free kick. These can be kicked directly into the net from the free kick if close enough to the goal.
Allowing for advantage
However, the whistle isn’t blown for all fouls. The “allowing for advantage” rule is used by the referee when a team has been fouled but still has a promising attacking opportunity. When the foul happens, the referee has the discretion to assess whether stopping play would benefit the fouled team more than allowing them to continue in their already advantageous position. If that’s the case, the referee will not blow the whistle and gameplay continues. However, if the fouled team fails to capitalize on the advantage gained within a few seconds, the referee may then call the original foul and award a free kick or penalty.
Penalty kicks
When a defending player commits a foul inside their own penalty area, such as a foul on an attacking player that denies them a clear goal-scoring opportunity, a penalty kick is triggered. During a penalty kick, only the player and the goalie remain inside the penalty area until the ball is kicked, and gameplay resumes as normal after the kick. This rule is not to be confused with free kicks or corner kicks, as penalty kicks often provide a team’s best chances of scoring a goal due to the 1-on-1 nature of the penalty.
