Playing a match to instructions under the Laws of the Game 2026–27

25 min

From drills to a real match

Drills are only useful if the skills appear in a match. At S3 you play full games in which the teacher, acting as coach, gives each team instructions, a referee applies the Laws, and you are judged on how well you carry out the plan, not only on the score. That means knowing the Laws as they stand now: the International Football Association Board (IFAB) changes them every year, and the 2026–27 edition, in force since 1 July 2026, added several new rules against time-wasting.

Definition

Laws of the Game: the 17 laws of football, written and updated each year by the IFAB and used by FIFA and every national association, including FERWAFA in Rwanda.

Game plan: the coach's instructions for a match: formation, each player's role, how to attack, how to defend and what to do at set pieces.

Restart: any way of restarting play after it stops: kick-off, throw-in, goal kick, corner kick, free kick, penalty kick or dropped ball.

The field of play (Law 1)

Key Laws for a school match

Law	What it says
2 The ball	Size 5 for adults and senior school: 68 to 70 cm round, 410 to 450 g.
3 The players	11 per team, one a goalkeeper. A match may not start or continue if a team has fewer than 7 players (new in 2026–27). Competitions decide the number of substitutes; in many senior competitions it is up to five, used in no more than three stoppages plus half-time. A player being substituted must leave the field within 10 seconds of the board being shown, or the substitute must wait until the first stoppage after one minute of play.
5 The referee	New in 2026–27: a player whose injury stops play or who is treated on the field must leave and stay off until one minute after the restart. The goalkeeper is an exception, and so is a player injured by an opponent who is cautioned or sent off for it.
7 Duration	Two halves of 45 minutes for adults; school and youth competitions agree shorter halves before the match.
12 Goalkeepers	A goalkeeper who holds the ball in the hands for more than 8 seconds concedes a corner kick. The referee counts down the last 5 seconds with a raised hand.
15 and 16 Throw-in and goal kick	New in 2026–27: if a team deliberately delays a throw-in or a goal kick, the referee counts down 5 seconds. If it is still not taken, the opponents get the throw-in, or a corner kick instead of the goal kick.
Captains	Competitions may use the "only the captain" protocol, in which only the captain may approach the referee; it becomes compulsory for all competitions from 1 July 2027.

Following instructions on the pitch

Before the match, the coach names the formation (for example 4-4-2), each player's position and two or three key instructions, such as "full-backs overlap on the right", "press when their goalkeeper has the ball", "switch play when the left side is crowded".
During the match, the captain passes on instructions and keeps team-mates calm. Use short, clear calls: "Man on!" (an opponent is behind you), "Time!" (no one near you), "Turn!", "Keeper's!" (the goalkeeper is coming for the ball), "Away!" (clear the ball).
At half-time, the coach reviews what worked and changes one or two instructions.
After the match, each player says which instruction he or she carried out well and which needs more work.

Video: "Former Premier League Referee Explains New Football Rules for 2026–27", A-Leagues. Listen for the countdown on throw-ins and goal kicks and the new rule on injured players; compare them with the table above.

Worked example

Worked example: does the school pitch meet Law 1? A school field is marked 95 m long and 58 m wide. Can it be used for a non-international match? Can it be used for an international?

Law 1 allows touchlines of 90 to 120 m and goal lines of 45 to 90 m for ordinary matches. 95 m and 58 m are inside both ranges: yes.
For international matches the limits are 100 to 110 m and 64 to 75 m. 95 m is too short and 58 m too narrow: no.
The touchline must also be longer than the goal line: $95 > 58$ , so that condition is met.

Tip

Learn the new rules by their numbers. 8 seconds for a goalkeeper (corner), 5 seconds for a delayed throw-in or goal kick, 10 seconds to leave when substituted, 1 minute off after injury treatment, 7 players minimum.

Warning

Fair play and safety. Shin guards are compulsory under Law 4. Remove watches and jewellery. Shake hands before and after the match, accept the referee's decisions without arguing, and stop play at once for a head injury or a player who collapses.

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Practice

Give the length and width of the penalty area, and the distance of the penalty mark from the goal line.
What is the radius of the centre circle, and why is it that size?
What happens if a goalkeeper holds the ball for 10 seconds?
A team keeps delaying a throw-in near the end of a match. What does the referee do under the 2026–27 Laws?
A midfielder is treated on the field after being hurt in a collision in which no foul was given. When may he come back on?
Two players are sent off from a team that already has only 8 players. What happens to the match?
At half-time your team is losing because opponents keep running into the space behind your full-backs. Write one new instruction for the second half.
Plan a 40-minute class match for 30 pupils so that everyone plays and someone referees.

Show answersHide answers

The penalty area reaches 16.5 m from each goalpost along the goal line and 16.5 m into the field, so it is 40.32 m wide and 16.5 m deep; the penalty mark is 11 m from the goal line.
9.15 m: opponents must be at least 9.15 m from the ball at a kick-off, the same distance as at free kicks.
A corner kick is awarded to the other team (the limit is 8 seconds).
The referee counts down 5 seconds with a raised hand; if the throw-in is still not taken, it is given to the opposing team.
Only one minute after play has restarted, because he was treated on the field and no opponent was cautioned or sent off for the injury.
The team would have only 6 players, fewer than 7, so the match cannot continue and that team forfeits it.
Example: "Full-backs stay deeper and do not overlap at the same time; the defensive midfielder drops in to cover the space behind them."
Example: three teams of 10 (two play, one rests and provides a referee and two assistant referees), 3 games of 12 minutes, rotate so each team plays twice and referees once, with 2 minutes for instructions between games.

Remember

Penalty area 16.5 m; goal area 5.5 m; penalty mark 11 m; centre circle 9.15 m; goal 7.32 m × 2.44 m.
2026–27: 5-second countdown on delayed throw-ins and goal kicks; 10 s to leave when substituted; 1 minute off after on-field treatment; 7 players minimum.
Goalkeeper: more than 8 seconds with the ball in hand concedes a corner.
Follow the plan, communicate with short calls, and review at half-time.

1From drills to a real match

2The field of play (Law 1)

3Key Laws for a school match

4Following instructions on the pitch

From drills to a real match

The field of play (Law 1)

Key Laws for a school match

Following instructions on the pitch