how to play soccer for beginners

Try to develop your own playing style, one that suits you. Are you a tricky player who relies on juking out other players? Are you fast enough to beat everyone with sheer speed? Are you great at using your body and power to blast goals? Are you expert at keeping opponents from getting off shots? Find out what kind of player you are, set goals for yourself on how you can become a more rounded player, and remember to have fun. Soccer isn t the most popular sport in the world for no reason.

The object of the game is to score more goals than the opponent scores. A goal is scored when any part of the ball passes the goal line. Goalies in their own penalty area are the only players on the pitch who can use their arms. All other players may use any part of their bodies except their hands.

There are 11 total players on the pitch to start the game. Although the positions can be rearranged however the coach sees fit, there is usually one goalie, four defenders, four midfielders, and two strikers.

Goalie: this person protects the net and is the only one on the field who can use their hands in the penalty area. The goalie has to be flexible, quick to anticipate, and good at communication.

Defenders. Defenders usually stay behind the half way line in an effort to help prevent goal from being scored against them. They make good outlet passes and are usually bigger physically than other players.

Midfielders. Midfielders do the most running, as they play a combination of defense and offense They usually orchestrate the attack. They re exceptionally good at holding onto the ball and passing.

Forwards/strikers. These are the ones who get the most cracks at shooting the ball. They need to be quick, agile, and able to shoot a stunning shot. They also need to be excellent headers.

One team starts the game by kicking off. The opposite team gets to kick off after halftime. At the time of kickoff, each team s players need to be entirely on their half of play. Once the whistle has blown and the ball is kicked, the players can move freely into both halves of play, provided they are not offside.

Offside is one of the more crucial rules in soccer, and it s designed to keep soccer players from cherry picking, or bunching a lot of their players near the opponent s goal at all times.

A player is offside when s/he is:

Ahead of the ball, as well as

In the opponent s half, as well as

Behind the last defender when the ball is passed to him by one of his teammates

Offsides is negated on:

Throw ins

Corner kicks

Goal kicks

Throw ins happen when the ball fully travels outside the area of play. Possession goes to the team who wasn t the last to touch it. This team gets to throw the ball in from the place where it went out of bounds.

A player throwing can get a running start, but must generally stop near the area where the ball went out of bounds.

A player must bring the ball up with both hands behind his or her head and release the ball over his head with both hands.

A player cannot lift his or her feet off the ground while they are throwing the ball. Both feet must stay on the ground.

A referee issues a yellow card as a warning to a player. Two yellow cards result in a red card, after which that player must leave the game permanently. Reasons for yellow cards include:

Dangerous play. High kicking near a player?s head, for example.

Illegal obstruction. This happens when a player intentionally takes a position between and an opponent when that player isn t within playing distance of the ball.

Charging the goalkeeper in the goal area.

Goalkeeper playing the ball with his hands when the ball is kicked by a teammate.

Goalkeeper Infringements. Unsafe play such as charging the goalie.

Goalkeeper taking more than four steps while controlling the ball.

Intentionally wasting time at the end of a game.

A red card can be given out before a yellow card if especially dangerous play is involved, although a red card usually results from two yellow cards. Reasons for red cards include:

Kicking a player intentionally.

Jumping up at a player and making contact.

Charging a player in a rough way, especially if hands are involved.

Charging a player from behind.

Tripping a player.

Hitting, pushing, holding, or spitting at a player.

Handling the ball by a non goalie.

A direct free kick is when you can kick the ball directly into the goal for a score without the ball touching another teammate first. An indirect free kick must be touched by another teammate before counting as a score.

A penalty kick happens when a defender fouls an opponent in his or her own penalty box. All other players except the goalie and the player taking the penalty kick line up outside the penalty area. The goalie must stand on the goal line and cannot move off of it before the ball is struck. The ball is placed on a designated area called the penalty spot. After the ball is hit, it is live, meaning that if it ricochets off the goalie or post, it can be played by either team.