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Spring has officially arrived which means that the dark and cold winter has left and instead we are starting to see the sun more often which allows us to spend more time outdoors. This is very convenient since most people continue to be in lockdown at the moment and therefore a change of air is much needed from time to time. Spending more time outside is a good opportunity to be more active and to get some more exercise. It’s also an opportunity to learn a new sport, like football. Perhaps, you’re a gymnast at the moment, but also always wanted to play football – now’s the time to replace your airtrack with a football, and get started. This article will serve you the rules of football for beginners, so fear no more – this will help you.
What is football?
First and foremost you need to know some basic things about football – so here is a list:
- Football is a team sport that can be played outside – Football can also be played indoors, but then there are some different rules for number of players and substitutions, and so on. This article focuses instead on football as an outdoor sport.
- The soccer field is rectangular and is either made of natural grass or artificial grass.
- Soccer is about scoring the most goals by kicking the ball into the opponent’s goal.
- On each team there is 1 goalkeeper and 10 field players.
- Playing time per match depends on the age group playing. The size of the ball also depends on the age group.
The role of the players
Like there’s some basic rules in general, you also need to know the basic rules for players in the field and the rules for goalkeeping. The players out in the field, also referred to as ‘fielders’, are allowed to use all parts of the body, except hands and arms. The 10 fielders have to help the goalkeeper defend the goal and make sure to score in the opponent’s goal. The goalkeeper must make sure that the opponent does not score. The goalkeeper may touch the ball with his hands – but only in the penalty area. The goalkeeper isn’t allowed to pick up a setback from his teammates.
Equipment
A football player plays with special equipment, this includes e.g. football boots that have knobs on them, so the player is better stuck when running out on the field. You also need leg shields that protect the shins from being kicked and injured. On top of your leg shields, you need football socks, so the leg shields are covered. The goalkeeper needs gloves, to protect his hands from being injured, when a player out in the field hits the ball at a high speed. Now you’ve been introduced to some of the simple rules of football, which makes you ready to start playing a bit.
