Introduction to Football
Primary 4 · Physical Education
Introduction to Football
3 lessons
Lesson 3 of 3
Playing a Football Game
16 min
Let's begin
It is Friday afternoon, and P4 is playing a five-a-side match. Gatete shoots, and the ball hits a defender's hand. Everybody shouts at once: "Handball!" "No, it wasn't!"
Who is right? Every game needs rules, so it is fair and safe for everybody. Today you will learn the main rules of football, and how to play with fair play.
The main rules
- Two teams play. In a full match each team has 11 players, and one of them is the goalkeeper. At school you often play smaller games, such as 5 against 5, so everyone touches the ball more.
- You score a goal when the whole ball goes over the goal line, between the posts and under the bar.
- Only the goalkeeper may touch the ball with the hands, and only inside their own penalty area. If any other player touches the ball with a hand or arm on purpose, it is a handball, and the other team gets a free kick.
- The team with more goals wins. If both teams have the same score, it is a draw.
- A full match has two halves of 45 minutes, with a break at half-time. School games are much shorter.
When the ball goes out
- Over the sideline: the other team takes a throw-in. Use both hands, bring the ball from behind your head, and keep both feet on the ground.
- Over the goal line, last touched by an attacker: the defending team takes a goal kick.
- Over the goal line, last touched by a defender: the attacking team takes a corner kick.
Fouls and cards
You may not trip, push, kick or hold another player. That is a foul. The referee blows the whistle and gives the other team a free kick. For a bad foul the referee shows a yellow card, which is a warning. For a very bad foul, or a second yellow card, the referee shows a red card, and the player must leave the field.
Fair play
- Shake hands with the other team before and after the game.
- If a player is hurt, kick the ball out so they can get help. When play starts again, give the ball back.
- Accept the referee's decision, even when you do not agree.
- Pass to everyone in your team, not only your best friend.
- Win without showing off, and lose without getting angry.
After the game: cool down and clean up
Walk slowly and stretch your legs for a few minutes, so your heart slows down gently. Then drink clean water, wash your hands and face with soap, and change out of sweaty clothes if you can.
Tip
Side = throw. End = who touched it last?
Out at the side? Throw-in. Out at the end? If an attacker touched it last, goal kick. If a defender touched it last, corner kick.
✦
Try it yourself
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
1
Keza kicks the ball out over the sideline. What does the other team get?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A throw-in.
2
A defender kicks the ball out over his own goal line. What happens?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: The attacking team takes a corner kick.
3
Who is the only player allowed to touch the ball with the hands, and where?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: The goalkeeper, inside their own penalty area.
4
Habimana falls and hurts his knee. Your team has the ball. What is the fair thing to do?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: Kick the ball out so he can get help, then give the ball back when play starts again.
5
The game is over. Name two things you should do.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: Any two of: shake hands, cool down and stretch, drink water, wash your hands and face, change your clothes.
What you learned today
- Only the goalkeeper may use hands, and only in the penalty area. Fouls give the other team a free kick.
- Sideline: throw-in. Goal line: goal kick or corner kick.
- Fair play means respect for everyone. Cool down, drink water and wash after the game.
Sources and credits
- Association football, by Simple English Wikipedia contributors, Simple English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The rules (players, goalkeeper, halves, throw-ins, corner and goal kicks, fouls and cards) adapted and simplified by Ganzaa.
- Children playing football (photo), by Endikuemmy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, used unchanged.
- Skill steps, games, diagrams, "Try it yourself" and the practice questions written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.