Guide to the Laws of the Game
The Laws that decide most matches, explained with examples and with exercises to practise each one.
- Law 11 Offside: when it's a position and when it's an offence A clear guide to Law 11: what an offside position is, when it becomes an offence, the exceptions and the most common mistakes. Read →
- Law 12 Handball: when touching the ball with the arm is an offence What Law 12 says about handball: where the arm starts, deliberate handball, the unnaturally bigger body and goals scored with the hand. Read →
- Law 12 Fouls and cards: careless, reckless or excessive force How to judge a foul under Law 12: the difference between careless, reckless and excessive force, and which offences are direct or indirect free kicks. Read →
- Law 12 Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and stopping a promising attack When a foul denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) or stops a promising attack, which sanction applies and how it changes inside the penalty area. Read →
- Law 5 Advantage: letting play continue without losing control How and when to play advantage under Law 5, how long to wait and what happens to the cards when play is allowed to continue. Read →
- Law 13 Direct and indirect free kicks The difference between direct and indirect free kicks, the 9.15 m distance, the wall, the quick free kick and when a goal can be scored directly. Read →
- Law 14 The penalty kick: positions, taking it and offences How a penalty kick is taken under Law 14: the goalkeeper's and players' positions, the kicker's feint and what happens when someone commits an offence. Read →
- Laws 12 and 16 The goalkeeper: hands, back-passes and the 8-second rule What the goalkeeper can and can't do: the deliberate kick back, the new 8-second rule, when they control the ball and how they can be challenged. Read →
- Law 12 Unsporting behaviour, dissent and celebrations Which behaviours earn a yellow card under Law 12: dissent, simulation, time-wasting, celebrations and the distance at restarts. Read →
- Laws 8, 9, 15, 16 and 17 Ball in play and restarts: throw-in, goal kick, corner kick and dropped ball When the ball is out of play and how play restarts: throw-ins, goal kicks, corner kicks and dropped balls, with their distances and when a goal can be scored. Read →
- Law 3 Players and substitutions How Law 3 works: the substitution procedure, changing the goalkeeper, entering without permission and what happens if there's an extra person on the field. Read →
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Take a 10-play exam and find out which Laws you've mastered and which ones you need to review.