Understanding Soccer Rules: Following this Fast-Moving Game

If you have ever watched a youth soccer game, you will find two teams of kids playing their little hearts out and a group of parents totally perplexed about the last call. Although the same can be said for any sport, soccer has many rules that are confusing at best. The reason: Soccer is a game of almost constant motion. This makes it hard for the average observer to follow the game closely enough to see the actual causes of the calls as they are happening.

The most difficult rule for people to understand and see is the "off sides" calls. A player is considered off sides, if there are less than two defenders between him and the other team's goal at the time that the ball is kicked. There are many aspects of this rule that make it so difficult to pinpoint. First off, often depends on the player's position at the time the ball is kicked. Another thing that confuses parents and the casual observer is that the goalie counts as one of the defenders. Also, off sides is only called in outdoor soccer. There is no off sides rule for indoor soccer. Then there are house rules. You may run into an area, club, or tournament where they choose not to call off sides. To a person totally unfamiliar with soccer, the off sides rule is designed to keep teams from posting a player up at the opponent's goal and waiting on the ball.

The pass back rule is not one that's as hard to grasp as the off sides rule. However, it is one that is easily forgotten. This is the rule that prevents the goalie from using his hands to pick up the soccer ball if it is passed to him from his own teammate's feet. However, the goalie can use his hands if the ball is headed to him from his own teammate.

An improper throw in is very common among young players. This happens when player does not throw the ball in correctly. On a throw in, the player should make sure that their feet do not leave the ground. And, that they are using both hands going over their head.

Other rules are much simpler to point out. Obstruction is when a player intentionally blocks the progress of their opponent instead of playing the ball. A handball is not hard to understand but sometimes it can be difficult to catch. A handball is exactly what it sounds like. It is when any player other than the goalie touches the ball with their hands or forearms.

Again, the most important thing to remember is that rules change as a result of the age of the players, the experience of your referees, and the league in question.