Cecil Soccer League Laws of the Game Page

LAWS OF THE GAME Revised 31 Mar 2005 FIELD OF PLAY The field of play shall be rectangular... THE BALL The ball shall be spherical... NUMBER OF PLAYERS No more than eleven per team, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper. Neither team shall continue with fewer than seven players. PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT Compulsory equipment consists of: jersey or shirt, stockings, shinguards, and footwear. Nothing may be worn which is dangerous to another player. The goalkeepers must be distinguishable from the other players and the referee. REFEREES A referee shall be appointed to officiate; his authority commences as soon as he enters the field of play. His decision on points of fact connected with the play shall be final. LINESMEN Two linesmen shall be appointed whose duty is to assist the referee, as the referee desires. DURATION OF THE GAME (C.S.L. has modified the FIFA law - see the Coaches Instructions.) THE START OF PLAY When the referee signals, the team taking the place-kick shall kick the ball into the opponents half of the field of play. All opponents must remain ten yards from the ball until it is kicked off (thus, the referee's signal does not begin play). The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player. The ball shall not be deemed in play until it has traveled its own circumference. A goal shall not be scored direct from a kick - off. BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY The ball is out of play when indicted by the referee or when it wholly crosses a goal line or touch, whether on the ground or in the air. METHOD OF SCORING A goal is scored when the whole of the ball has passed over the goal line within the confines of the goal posts and crossbar unless propelled there illegally. OFF-SIDE A player is in an off-side position if he is nearer to his opponent's goal line than the ball unless: he is in his own half of the field of play or is not closer to his opponent's goal line than two of his opponents. NEW: It is not an offence in itself to be in an off-side position. Thus, a player shall only be penalized if, at the instant the ball is played by his teammate, he is (in the opinion of the referee) interfering with play or an opponent or gaining an advantage. FOULS AND MISCONDUCT Penal (direct kicks): Kicks; trips; jumps at, charges, strikes, pushes, holds, spits at, or handles the ball deliberately. Indirect: dangerous, fair charge off the ball, obstruction, charging the goalkeeper (except when he is holding the ball, obstructing, or is outside his goal area). Goalkeeper exceeds four steps. Players shall be cautioned and shown the yellow card for: enter or leaving without referee's permission; persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game; dissent from a referee decision; or ungentlemanly conduct; serious foul play; foul or abusive language; or receiving a second caution within the same game. FREE KICK Direct: a goal can be scored against the opponent. Indirect; cannot score a goal unless touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal. Ball must be stationary before a free kick is taken, it must not be played by the kicker again before being touched by another player, and it must travel its circumference before being in play. All opponents must be ten yards from the ball unless on their own goal line between the goal posts. PENALTY KICK Taken from the penalty mark by an attacker properly identified as the kicker; ball must travel forward. All players except for the kicker and opposing goalkeeper must remain ten yards from the ball and (new) behind the penalty mark. THROW-IN Restart when ball is out of play on either touch line; player taking throw-in must face the field of play and throw the ball with both hands over and from behind the head. Part of each foot shall be either on the touch line or on the ground behind it. A goal shall not be scored direct from a throw-in. GOAL KICK Restart when the attacking team kicks the ball over the goal line and not in the goal. Ball is not in play until it clears the penalty area and may not played twice by the kicker. A goal may not be scored direct from a goal kick. Players of the opposing team are to remain outside the penalty area. CORNER KICK Restart when the defending team kicks the ball over its goal line outside of the goal. The corner flag may not be moved for taking the kick which shall be taken from a spot within one yard of the corner. Opponents of the kicking team must remain ten yards from the ball. There is no off-side on the initial play, and a goal may be scored from such a kick.

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