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In order to watch a soccer game and have any idea of what you are watching, it’s important to have a basic grasp on the rules. Here are a short list to clarify any misconceptions.

Number of players
A team can bring 10 outfield players and one goalkeeper onto the pitch. Substitutions allowed in a match vary with the game played. In official matches only 3 substitutions are allowed.

Match Duration
A standard game consists of two 45 minute halves. However, the clock never stops ticking for things like the ball being out of play, injuries, substitutions, etc. To compensate for the lost time, a few minutes of “injury time” is tacked onto the clock at the end of each half.

Offside
Many disagree with the rule and it’s the cause of a lot of complaint and confusion. At the basic level, a player cannot score when offside. If a player is closer to the opponent’s goal than any enemy defender when the ball is past to them, then the player is offside and that team loses the ball.

Ball Out of Play
A ball is considered in play throughout the match’s duration unless it passes a boundary line (goal or touch line), or when play is stopped by a referee for an offence. Substitutions can only be made when the ball is out of play.

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