Law 11 – Offside

Law 11 – Offside

In the case that one is in an offside position attempts to play the ball after a shot on goal, the goal is disallowed irrespective of whether they touched the ball or not. It is usually known that offside is awarded when a player is ahead of the ball and the last outfield player (Popelazo Fútbol, 2016). However, an offside should be awarded if a goalkeeper is acting as the second last defender, and it follows that an attacking player is beyond the defending outfield player. An offside is given if an attacking is offside and distracts the goalkeeper to give his or her team an advantage upon a shot on goal (Popelazo Fútbol, 2016). No offside is given if a player is inside his or her own half. No player is deemed offside, as well, after a throw-in or corner kick. Furthermore, if the ball is not from a teammate (for example, a back pass, deflection, or rebound), no offside is given. This is despite the player being in an offside position originally.

Law 12 – Fouls & Misconduct

A direct freekick is often awarded against a player that commits at least one of the seven offenses below. It is important to note that all these actions must be perpetrated either carelessly, recklessly, or using excessive force (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). The seven offenses are actual kick or attempted kick of an opposing player, tripping an opponent or attempting to do so, jumping at an opposing player, charging an opponent, striking or attempted striking with, for example, an arm, pushing an opponent, and tackling a player. Additionally, a direct freekick is awarded where a player commits any three misconducts or fouls, including handling a ball deliberately, holding the player of the other team, or spitting an opposing player  (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). If any of the ten misconducts/fouls occur inside the errant player’s penalty region, then the referee awards a penalty.

Furthermore, the referee awards an indirect free kick where the goalkeeper takes the ball in their hands for at least six seconds handles the ball after a teammate kicks it deliberately towards them, and touches the ball with their hands after he or she releases it and does not touch another player (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). If the ball is thrown to the goalkeeper by a teammate during a throwing, he or she cannot touch the ball with their hands. Furthermore, if the ball is headed by a teammate and the goalkeeper handles it, no freekick is awarded.

It is also worth noting that a direct freekick is awarded if a player is guilty of dangerous play in the opinion of the referee, impedes the progress an opponent, or averts release of the ball by the goalkeeper from his or her hands (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). Additionally, play is stopped when a player is being sanctioned for committing any of the misconducts or fouls discussed previously. Yellow or red cards can also be given to substitutes or players already substituted (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). However, if a coach is expelled from the technical area, the referee does not give him or her a red card.

There are usually seven offenses that trigger caution from the referee and another seven foul plays that warrant sending off (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). A player is cautioned if he or she engages in an unsporting behavior, failing to keep the appropriate distance during the play restart, dissent or discord by action or word, and delaying the restart. A player is also cautioned for continued infringement, entering or reentering the playing field without authorization from the ref, coming out of the playing field deliberately in the absence of the referee’s permission (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). Unsporting behavior includes simulation to deceive the referee, holding, reckless challenges, delaying the restart, covering the face with a mask and similar items to celebrate a goal, excessive celebrations, removing the shirt, and showing dissent by word or action. Other unsporting behaviors include persistently infringing the laws, running forward from the defensive wall before a freekick is taken, entering, reentering, or leaving the field without referee permissions (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). All these behaviors are cautioned with a yellow card.

A red card is given under seven circumstances. These are violent conduct, denying a clear goal-scoring chance by touching the ball with the hands, spitting at opponents, using offensive language and gestures, preventing a clear goal-scoring chance through an offense bookable by a penalty or free-kick, and receiving a second yellow card (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014a). Violent conduct involves using excessive force when one is challenging or not challenging for the ball while in play and punching. A person is also sent off if he or she fouls a player clear on goal, receives two cautions in the same match.

Law 13 – Free Kicks

Free kicks are indirect or direct. A player can score from an indirect free-kick but not from a direct one. In case the referee awards an indirect free kick against the attacking team, every player must be outside the penalty region. Indeed, they should stand 9.15 meters or more from the ball (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014b). Furthermore, the ball is only in play when it moves out of the penalty region. A freekick given against the attacking team inside the penalty region can be taken at any place within the area. If the attacking team is awarded a freekick outside the penalty region, it is taken at the point where the infringement took place. The opponents defending the freekick must stand five meters from the ball’s location. The ball is only in play when it is kicked by the attacking player and moves (Ken Aston Referee Society, 2014b). An indirect free kick can be awarded inside the penalty region. If this happens, the defending players must be at least 5m from the ball, unless they are standing on their goal line. The referee indicates an indirect freekick by raising his or her arm.

The reason the coach should have a good understanding of the laws of the game

It is paramount that the coach understands the laws of the game particularly well. Such knowledge allows the coach to emphasize good intentions among the player. The understanding also helps the coach to elicit proper respect for the game and everyone in and out of the field of play among the players. Overall, knowing the laws helps the coach to ensure that his or her team is disciplined, which is the key to success.