Football is played 11-a-side witha maximium of 3 substitutions.Depending on the rules of the competiton,the substitutes
may be chosen from a pool of not more than 6 nominated players.A player whose part in the game has been taken by a
substitute may no return to the field.
The duration of the game is 90 minutes,split into two halves,with an interval of atleast 5 minutes.The refree must
add time lost for stoppage at the end of each half.Stoppages include substitutions,injuries, and deliberate time-wasting.
At some levels of the game, including under-16 and women's football,
shorter periods of play may be agreed.In some competitons, two extra periods of 15 minutes each may be played at the end
of 90 minutes, in an attempt to break a tie.
The ball is in play at all times, unless the refree stops the game or judges the ball to have completely crossed the goal
line or the touch line.For a goal to be socred, the ball must completely cross the goal line b/w the posts.The side scoring
the greater nuber of goals wins the game.If the two sides have an equal number of goals at end of the game, the result is a
draw.
Starting Play
The team captain winning the toss may choose which goal to defend or may decide to kick off (start the game).At the start of the game,
all players must be in thier own half of the field.The player kicking off must play the ball into the opposing half atleast distance
of its own circumference.The player kicking off may not play the ball again until it has been touched by another player.No opposing player
may be within 9.15m of the ball, as determined by the center circle, until it is in play.
The game is restarted in the same way after a goal has been scored, by the team against which it was scored.At the start of the second half, the game is restarted by
the team that did not kick off at the start.The teams change ends at half time.
The Officials
A single refree controls the game, with the assistanceof two linesmen.The refree patrols the field diagonally, and must be fit enough to keep upwith the fast moving play.
The refree uses a whistle to start and stop the play, and hand signals to indicate decisions.The refree holds up coloured cards to show punishments for players' offences.
A yellow card indicates an official caution, or booking; a red card indicates that the offending player is sent off and must leave the field.
The refree punishes the infringements of the rules by awarding a free kick to the other side.In case of foul play,he or she has to decide whether the foul
(a violation of the rules) was intentional.The refree must also refrain from stopping play, the offending team would gain advantage.However, the refree cannot allow play to
continue, and then blow the whistle for a foul in cases where he or she is satisfied that,by stopping play, the offending team would gain an advantage.However, the refree
cannot allow play to continue, and then blow the whistle for a foul if the offending team is seen to benefit from the infringement.The refree must make a decision immediately.
In addition to enforcing the rules, the refree keeps a record of the game's scores and acts as a timekeeper.
The linesmen patrol the touch lines.The linesmen's chief duties are to flag when the ball goes out of play.The linesman indicates which team is entitled to put theball back into play,
and also informs the refree when either team wishes to substitute a player.Linesmen also helps the refree to control the game, flagging to draw attention to any breach of the rules the refree
might have missed, or when they judge a player to be offside.
Restarts
The game is restarted after the ball has gone out of play, or the refree has stopped play, by a kick, a throw, or a dropped ball.A kick is taken when the ball goes out over the goal line.A throw is
taken when the ball goes out over the touch line.The refree also awards a kick against a side for a foul or for a misconduct.The player restarting play with a kick or throw may not play the ball
again until it has been touched by another player.After a stoppage for some other reason, such as the urgent treatment of an injured player, the refree drops the ball into play between two opposing
players.
Free Kicks are awarded after an infringement by one team.Free kicks may be direct or indirect, according to the infringement.A Player can socre a goal from a direct free kick, but an indirect
free kick must touch, or be touched by, another player before a goal can be scored.A free kick must be taken from the spot where the offence took place.When a player takes a free kick, no opponent
may be within 9.15 metres of the ball.
A Penalty Kick is a direct free kick awarded for an offence such as deliberate foul or handling of the football, committed in a player's own penalty area.A player from other team takes a free
kick at goal from the penalty spot.All other players, except the opposing goalkeeper, must be atleast 9.15metres from the penalty spot and outside the penalty area.The goalkeeper must stand on the
goal line, and must not move his or her feet until the kick is taken.
A Corner Kick is awarded to the attacking team when the ball goes out of play over the goal line, and was last touched by a member of the defending team.the kick must be taken from the quarter
-circle at the nearest corner flag post, and no opposing player may be within 9.15m of the ball.A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.
A Goal Kick is awarded to the defending team when the ball goes out of play over the goal line and was last touched by a member of the attacking team.The kick is taken from the nearer side where
the ball went out of play.No opposing player may be inside the penalty area when a goal kick is taken.The ball must travel outside the penalty area before it is in play again.
Throw-ins are awarded when the ball goes out of play over the touch line.A player from the team opposing that of the player who last touched the ball takes the throw from the point where it crossed
the line.The thrower must use both the hands to deliver the ball from behind and over his head.The player must face the field of play, and part of each foot must be grounded on or behind the touch line.
If the ball is improperly thrown in, or taken from the wrong place, the throw goes to the opposite side.A player cannot score a goal directly from a throw-in.
Dropped Ball.When the refree hs to stop play temporarily, other than to award a kick or throw, the game is restarted by dropping the ball b/w two players from the opposite sides.The refree drops the ball
at the spot where it was when play was stopped.The players may not play the ball until it touches the ground.
Offside
A player is in an offside position if,at the moment the ball is played by a team mate, the player is in the opponents half and nearer to the goal line than the ball, unless atleast two opponents are level
with the player or nearer to the goal line.A player is penalized for being offside only if he or she plays the ball, or if the refree judges that the player is interfering with play or an opponent, or is
seeking to gain an advantage by being in that position.
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