Football

Question 1

Who is in charge of the football game?

Answer 1

The referee. It’s the referee’s job to ensure that the game is played by the rules and the players are safe

Question 2

How many players are on a team?

Answer 2

There are 11 players on a team. This can be different for different age groups or competitions. For example 5 aside competitions only have 5 players in a team. A year 8 team would have 7 or 9 players on a team. One player from each team must be the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper can only use their hands inside the penalty area

Question 3

What are linesmen and women?

Answer 3

Linesmen and women help the referee in controlling the game. Their job is to:
• signal to the referee when the ball is out
• indicate a corner kick
• indicate a goal kick
• decide which team gets the throw-in
They may also signal offside, fouls or misconduct, if a goal has been scored or when substitution is desired

Question 4

How long does a game usually last for?

Answer 4

It depends on the competition. The official length of a match is 2 halves of 45 minutes

Question 5

Explain the kick off

Answer 5

A kick off is taken to start a game, to restart play after a goal has been scored or to start the second half. At kick off all players must be on their team’s half of the field. The ball is placed on the centre spot in the middle of the centre circle. The ball must be kicked forward into the opponents’ “half of the field”. After a goal, the team that did not score starts the kick off. For new halves, the team which did not kick off the previous half will kick off

Question 6

Explain scoring

Answer 6

A goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the goal line

Question 7

Explain the throw-in

Answer 7

A throw-in is taken to restart a game after the ball goes out of play over the side line. A throw-in is taken by a player from the team, which did not touch the ball last. The player throwing the ball in must have both feet on the ground and both hands on the ball over his head. Both feet must remain on or behind the sideline. The thrower must throw the ball with equal strength from both hands from the back of the head and over the top of the head.

Question 8

Explain the goal kick

Answer 8

A goal kick is taken when the attacking team last touches the ball before it crosses over the back line. The defending team is awarded a goal kick. A goal kick is taken by any player on the defending team. This is normally the goal keeper. The opposing team must remain outside of the penalty area until the ball completely leaves the goal area

Question 9

Explain the corner kick

Answer 9

A corner kick is taken if a ball goes over the back line and is last touched by the defending team. The attacking team is then awarded a corner kick. The corner kick is taken from within the corner on the side of the field where the ball went out of play. The corner kick may be taken by any player on the attacking team, the kicker is allowed to score a goal by kicking the ball directly into the goal. The opponents must be 10 yards back from the ball on a corner kick

Question 10

What kinds of fouls are there in football?

Answer 10

There are 2 kinds of fouls in football:
• Major Fouls
• Minor Fouls

Question 11

Explain major fouls

Answer 11

They are committed intentionally and may result in a Red Card. These include:
• kicking a player
• jumping up at a player
• charging a player in a rough way
• pushing a player
• holding a player
If one of these penalty fouls is committed and the referee blows his whistle and calls a foul, the opposing team gets a direct free kick. If the player committing the major foul receives a “red card” from the referee, he must leave the game and is not allowed to return

Question 12

Explain minor fouls

Answer 12

The player may receive a yellow card.
Minor fouls include:
• dangerous play (e.g. high kicking near another player’s head/trying to play a ball held by a goalie)
• illegal obstruction (when a player intentionally takes a position between the ball and an opponent, when not within playing distance of the ball)
• charging the goalkeeper in the goal area
• goalkeeper playing the ball with his hands when the ball is kicked by a teammate
• intentionally wasting time
When the referee stops play by blowing his whistle for a minor foul, the opposing team is awarded a free kick

Question 13

Explain free kicks

Answer 13

A free kick is given when a team commit a foul (minor or major). A free kick is taken from where the foul occurred. All defenders must be 10 yards from the ball at the free kick

Question 14

Explain direct free kicks

Answer 14

On a direct free kick, the ball may be kicked directly into the goal for a score by the player taking the kick

Question 15

Explain indirect free kicks

Answer 15

A goal can be scored only if the ball is touched by one or more players from either team, after it is kicked into play and before it enters the goal

Question 16

Explain penalty kicks

Answer 16

A penalty kick is awarded when a defender commits a major foul within the penalty area. The team that was fouled is given a penalty kick from the penalty mark. All players except the goalkeeper must remain outside the penalty area and penalty arc until the kick is taken

Question 17

Explain offside

Answer 17

An attacking player must have two opponents including the goalkeeper between himself and the goal line at the moment the ball is passed to him. Offside is determined when the ball is passed to the player, not when the player receives the ball

Question 18

What are the exceptions for offside?

Answer 18

A player in an offside position is not to be called offside if he receives the ball directly from a throw-in, a corner kick or a goal kick