17th June 2026
what are the 5 basic rules in football?
Put on your England shirt, gather your family and friends, find the nearest big screen and get ready to shout "offside!" at the referee. The World Cup is here!
Whether you're a lifelong football fan or you're only tuning in for the tournament, it's always handy to know the basics. So, before kick-off, let's take a look at 5 basic football rules everyone should know.
1. hands Off! (literally)
Football is mainly played with your feet, no volleyball involved here! So, incase you didn't read that right, players aren't allowed to touch the ball with their hands or arms during play. The only exception of course is the goalkeeper, who can use their hands inside their own penalty area to 'save' the ball.
2. football offside rule explained
One of football's most talked-about rules is offside, and one that gets most people riled up or most confused. In simple terms, players can't just stand near the opposition's goal waiting for a pass. To stay onside, an attacking player must have at least two opposition players (usually including the goalkeeper) between themselves and the goal when the ball is played to them.
3. football fouls & cards
Football is a physical game, but there are limits as with any other sport. Tripping, pushing, holding, or making dangerous tackles are considered fouls. When a foul occurs, the opposing team may be awarded a free kick or penalty. More serious offences mean a yellow or red card, which could lead to the offending player being sent off and most likely in a bit of a mood...
4. what happens when the ball goes off the pitch?
When the ball leaves the field of play, the game restarts in different ways depending on who touched it last. A throw-in is awarded when the ball crosses the sideline. If it goes over the goal line, the defending team gets a goal kick if the attacking team touched it last, while the attacking team earns a corner kick if it came off a defender.
5. how long does a match last?
A standard football match is played over two 45-minute halves with a 15-minute break in between. So plenty of time to refuel. The referee can add extra time at the end of each half to make up for stoppages caused by injuries, substitutions, or other delays.
There we have it, the 5 basic rules for football! Now you should be all sorted to play or watch football - whichever you fancy and have a great time doing so.
If you want to put your research into action we have football pitches here to book!
refs -
https://www.sportmember.co.uk/en/sports-rules/football-soccer-rules
https://thehigh5tribe.com/football/football-rules/
