Playing a football game following instructions

1Why this matters

A game of football follows two kinds of instructions. The Laws of the Game, the same 17 Laws for everyone from a school match to the World Cup, are enforced by the referee. The coach's instructions tell each player what the team is trying to do. A player who knows both plays fairly, avoids giving away free kicks and helps the team's plan work.

2The Laws you need for a school match

• Players: two teams of 11, each with a goalkeeper. A match cannot continue if a team has fewer than 7 players.
• Duration: two halves of 45 minutes, with a half-time break. Youth and school competitions may shorten the halves and use smaller pitches and teams; this is allowed by the Laws for young players.
• Kick-off: starts each half and restarts play after a goal. Every player must be in their own half, and opponents at least 9.15 m from the ball.
• Ball out of play: only when the whole ball has crossed the whole line, on the ground or in the air.
• Goal: when the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.
• Restarts:
  • over a touchline: a throw-in to the team that did not touch it last;
  • over the goal line, last touched by an attacker: a goal kick;
  • over the goal line, last touched by a defender: a corner kick.
• Fouls: kicking, tripping, pushing, holding, charging carelessly or deliberately handling the ball give a direct free kick to the other team. If a defender commits one of these fouls inside their own penalty area, the attackers get a penalty kick.
• Cards: a yellow card is a caution; a red card sends a player off, and the team plays on with one fewer. Two yellow cards in one match make a red.
• Offside, simply: you are in an offside position if, in your opponents' half, you are nearer their goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (usually the last defender, as the goalkeeper is normally the last). It is only an offence if you then become involved in play when a teammate passes. You cannot be offside from a throw-in, goal kick or corner kick.

3Following the coach's instructions

Coaches often set a condition, a special rule for a practice game that makes players use a skill. Examples:

• "Three passes before you may shoot" (keep possession).
• "Stay in your third of the pitch" (hold your position).
• "Every goal must come from a cross" (use the wings).
• "When we lose the ball, the nearest player presses within 3 seconds" (win it back quickly).

Good players also communicate: calling a teammate's name before passing, shouting "Time!" (you have time, no opponent is near) or "Man on!" (an opponent is close behind you), and the goalkeeper shouting "Keeper!" when coming for the ball.

Fair play: shake hands before and after, accept the referee's decisions without arguing, kick the ball out of play if a player is injured, and return it to the other team at the restart.

Worked example: refereeing a practice match

Uwase referees a 7-a-side class game between Blue and Red. Her decisions:

Each decision follows from two questions: which line did the whole ball cross, and who touched it last? or what foul, and where?

Practice

Solution. No. It is out only when the whole ball has crossed the whole line.

Solution. A corner kick to the attacking team.

Solution. Two yellow cards make a red: the player is sent off and the team continues with one player fewer.

Solution. To make the team keep possession and build attacks with passing, instead of shooting hopefully from long range.

Solution. No. A player cannot be offside directly from a throw-in.