Soccer Rules

Start of Play:

• Every player must be on his/her own side of the field.
• A player of one side takes the kickoff
• No player of the opposing team must be closer than 10 yards
• The ball must be kicked into the opponent's half of the field.
• The kicker must not play the ball before it is touched by another player.
• A goal cannot be scored directly from the kickoff.

Offside:

• A player is offside if he/she is nearer his opponent's goal line than the ball at the moment the ball is played.

Exceptions:

• If he/she is in his/her own half of the field
• There are two opponents nearer to their own goal line that he/she is
• The ball was last touched or played by an opponent
• He/she receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a corner kick, a throw-in or when it is dropped by the referee.

Penalty for offside:

• Indirect free kick by a player of the opposing team from the spot where the infringement occurred.

Indirect Kick:

• The ball cannot be kicked at the goal

Direct Kick:

• A goal can result as the kicker does not have to pass the ball first

The Throw-in:

• When the whole of the ball goes over the touch line, a player of the opposite team to that of the player who last touched it will be given the throw-in. 
• The thrower must face the field
• The thrower must use both hands
• Feet must be outside the touch line
• The throw must be from over the head
• The thrower must not touch the ball again until it is touched by another player
• No goal can be the result of a throw-in.

Goal Kick:

• When the whole of the ball has been passed over the goal line by the attacking team other than between the goal posts, a goal kick is taken by the defending team. It must be kicked forward directly into play beyond the penalty area.
• It must be kicked by a member of the defending team.
• The kick must be taken from within the goal area.
• The kicker may not play the ball a second time.

Penalty Kick:

• This is a free kick taken by the attacking team as a result of a foul in the penalty area. All players except the player taking the kick and the goalkeeper shall be outside the penalty area.
• Goalkeeper must be outside the penalty area ( i.e.. on the goal line).
• The ball must be kicked forward towards the goal.
• Rules for kick off apply

Penalties:

• For the infringement by the defending team, the kick is retaken if a goal has not been scored.
• For any infringement by the attacking team the kick is retaken if a goal has been scored.
• For any infringement by the kicker the opposing team takes an indirect free kick.

Free kick:

• Direct-from which a goal can be scored against the defending side. A free kick is awarded against the offending side for: tripping, kicking, striking, holding, pushing, kneeing, charging, or jumping an opponent or handling the ball (the goal-keeper is allowed to handle the ball within his/her own penalty area). 
• Indirect-from which a goal can not be scored unless the ball has been played or touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal. Awarded against the offending side for:
• Offside:
• Player playing a ball a second time following a free kick, corner kick, penalty kick or throw in.
• Ball not kicked forward from a penalty kick.
• Charging the goal keeper when he/she is not in possession of the ball.
• Carrying by the goal keeper ( i.e.. more than four steps without bouncing the ball on the ground).

Defenders may not kick the ball back to the goalie to pick up.