FIFA Standard Soccer Rules & Regulations

FIFA's official rules and regulations are called the Laws of the Game. As of 2010, there are 17 laws and some have multiple subsections. These laws are often modified each season and regulate everything from field markings to player conduct. The FIFA website includes detailed explanations of the rules, including an interactive rule guide.

  1. Start of Match

    • Each team must have at least seven but no more than 11 players including one goalkeeper.

      The match lasts for two 45-minute periods unless both teams and the referee agree to some other arrangement before the start of play.

      At the start of the match, a coin is tossed and the winning team decides which goal it will attack for the first half of the match. The opposing team takes the kickoff to start the first half of the match and the coin-toss-winning team takes it to start the second half.

    Start of Play

    • A kickoff signals the start of play. Kickoffs are taken at the start of the match and at the start of the second half, after a goal is scored and at the start of a period of extra time.

      To start the kickoff, all players must stand on their team's half of the field of play. The opponents of the team kicking off must remain at least 10 yards from the ball until it is in play. The ball is placed stationary on the center mark, and when the referee signals for the start, a player kicks the ball to put it in play. The kicker may not touch the ball again until another player has touched it.

      After the kickoff, the ball remains in play. This includes when it rebounds off a goalpost, crossbar, corner flag post or a referee on the playing field.

      The ball is out of play when it crosses the goal or touch line. It does not matter whether the ball crossed while in the air or on the ground. The ball is also out of play when the referee stops play.

      Players can score a goal directly from a kickoff. After a goal is scored, the non-scoring team performs the kickoff.

    Scoring & Winning

    • A team scores a goal when the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar. The team that has scored the greatest number of goals wins. If neither team scores or the teams score an equal number of goals, the match is a draw.