Why does the referee point at the centre of the field and not the goal to indicate a goal?
The regulation restart method after either team scores a goal is a kickoff by the other team from the centre of the field. That is why the referee points at the centre of the field after a goal. The referee is not indicating a goal, but rather calling for a restart from the centre of the field.
What is the penalty for faking an injury?
Not that this ever, ever happens (ahem!), but any simulating action that is intended to deceive the referee — anywhere on the field — must be sanctioned as unsporting behaviour. This includes Oscar-worthy performances for fake injuries. The penalty is not a golden statue, but a yellow card.
Regulation Method for a Throw-in
1. The player doing the throw-in faces the field of play.
2. The player has part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline.
3. The player uses both hands to throw the ball.
4. The player delivers the ball from behind and over his head.
What is the penalty for showboating?
There is little in sports that is more annoying than watching an athlete — especially one from the opposing team — ungracefully celebrate a goal with showboating. FIFA agrees, because rules state, “While it is permissible for a player to demonstrate his joy when a goal has been scored, the celebration must not be excessive.” In the Laws of the Game, referees are specifically instructed to issue a caution when a goal-scorer makes gestures which are provocative, derisory, or inflammatory, climbs on a perimeter fence, removes his shirt over his head, or covers his head with his shirt.
What is the difference between “impeding” and “obstruction”?
If a player is not playing the ball, but is preventing someone else from moving toward the ball, he is impeding the other player. That is a foul. This used to be called “obstruction,” and often still is, but FIFA prefers that the term “obstruction” be reserved for when a player in possession of the ball blocks another player from getting to the ball, which, when performed in the right manner, is not a foul, but a matter of skill.
When is a player offside?
Provided that he is not in his own half of the field, a player is offside when he is not in possession of the ball and he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent (including the goalkeeper). If an offside infraction is called, the opponent is awarded an indirect free kick (IFK). There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a throw-in, or a corner kick.
Regulation Procedure For a Kickoff
• All players must be in their own half of the field.
• The opponents of the team taking the kickoff must be at least 10 yards (9.15 metres) from the ball until it is in play.
• The ball is stationary on the centre mark.
• The referee gives a signal.
• The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward any amount.
• The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
Should a player always be penalized for being offside?
No. As with so much else on the soccer pitch, it is up to the discretion of the referee whether or not to call a player offside. A player in an offside position is usually only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in that position.
Quickies
Did you know …
• on a dropped ball, the ball is not in play and may not be touched by players until after it touches the ground?
When is offside position determined?
Offside position is not determined at the time the ball is received by an attacker, but rather it is determined at the moment the ball was last played by one of the attacker’s teammates. If, for example, an attacker kicks the ball high in the air toward the opponent’s goal while none of his teammates are in offside position, but then a second speedy attacker penetrates the defence and receives the kick behind the second-last opponent, the speedy one is not offside.
What should the ruling be if the ball simply ricochets off an attacker in an offside position?
Quickies
Did you know …
• to restart the match after play has been temporarily stopped inside the goal area, the ball is dropped on the line of the goal area running parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to the spot where the ball was when play was stopped?
It is not actually necessary to play the ball to be called for an offside infraction. A player in an offside position could be tying his shoelaces and not even watching the play, but if the ball ricochets off him, and, in the eyes of the referee, his team gains advantage from his position, the attacking team should be called for offside.
What happens when a player with a penalty kick, kicks the ball before the referee signals that it is okay to do so?
Only the referee can tell a penalty kicker when it is okay to take the kick. If the kicker takes the kick before that signal and the ball enters the goal, the kick will have to be retaken. If the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is not retaken, and the kicker has lost a chance to score.
Fouls That Will Lead to a Direct Free Kick*
• Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
• Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent.
• Jumping at an opponent in a careless or reckless manner, or with excessive force.
• Charging an opponent in a careless or reckless manner, or with excessive force.
• Striking or attempting to strike an opponent.
• Pushing an opponent.
• Making contact with the opponent before the ball when tackling.
• Holding an opponent.
• Spitting at an opponent.
• Handling the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).
* If any of these are committed by a player inside his own penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded.
