Skip to main content
151 Dairy Avenue, Napanee, ON, K7R 4B2| Office: 613-354-2255| Toll free: 1-800-581-1116 |Career Opportunities Staff Links
Athletics - East

Soccer Rules


Start of Play:

  • Every player must be on his/her own side of the field.
  • A player of one side takes the kickoff
  • No player of the opposing team must be closer than 10 yards
  • The ball must be kicked into the opponent's half of the field.
  • The kicker must not play the ball before it is touched by another player.
  • A goal cannot be scored directly from the kickoff.

Offside:

  • A player is offside if he/she is nearer his opponent's goal line than the ball at the moment the ball is played.

Exceptions:

  • If he/she is in his/her own half of the field
  • There are two opponents nearer to their own goal line that he/she is
  • The ball was last touched or played by an opponent
  • He/she receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a corner kick, a throw-in or when it is dropped by the referee.

Penalty for offside:

  • Indirect free kick by a player of the opposing team from the spot where the infringement occurred.

Indirect Kick:

  • The ball cannot be kicked at the goal

Direct Kick:

  • A goal can result as the kicker does not have to pass the ball first

The Throw-in:

  • When the whole of the ball goes over the touch line, a player of the opposite team to that of the player who last touched it will be given the throw-in. 
    • The thrower must face the field
    • The thrower must use both hands
    • Feet must be outside the touch line
    • The throw must be from over the head
    • The thrower must not touch the ball again until it is touched by another player
    • No goal can be the result of a throw-in.

Goal Kick:

  • When the whole of the ball has been passed over the goal line by the attacking team other than between the goal posts, a goal kick is taken by the defending team. It must be kicked forward directly into play beyond the penalty area.
  • It must be kicked by a member of the defending team.
  • The kick must be taken from within the goal area.
  • The kicker may not play the ball a second time.

Penalty Kick:

  • This is a free kick taken by the attacking team as a result of a foul in the penalty area. All players except the player taking the kick and the goalkeeper shall be outside the penalty area.
  • Goalkeeper must be outside the penalty area ( i.e.. on the goal line).
  • The ball must be kicked forward towards the goal.
  • Rules for kick off apply

Penalties:

  • For the infringement by the defending team, the kick is retaken if a goal has not been scored.
  • For any infringement by the attacking team the kick is retaken if a goal has been scored.
  • For any infringement by the kicker the opposing team takes an indirect free kick.

Free kick:

  • Direct-from which a goal can be scored against the defending side. A free kick is awarded against the offending side for: tripping, kicking, striking, holding, pushing, kneeing, charging, or jumping an opponent or handling the ball (the goal-keeper is allowed to handle the ball within his/her own penalty area). 
  • Indirect-from which a goal can not be scored unless the ball has been played or touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal. Awarded against the offending side for:
    • Offside:
      • Player playing a ball a second time following a free kick, corner kick, penalty kick or throw in.
      • Ball not kicked forward from a penalty kick.
      • Charging the goal keeper when he/she is not in possession of the ball.
      • Carrying by the goal keeper ( i.e.. more than four steps without bouncing the ball on the ground).

Defenders may not kick the ball back to the goalie to pick up.

Hand Ball:
  • Direct free kick, but if a hand ball inside the penalty area then a penalty kick will be awarded. Referees will be instructed to yell "play on" if a ball is kicked at someone's hand at the side or if a player is simply protecting themselves from facial injury. Players purposefully sticking out their hands will be called for a hand ball. Referees will be using their discretion for this call. 
Substitutions:
  • There will be unlimited substitutions but only on goal kicks, goals or injury (and throws in at the refs discretion). There will be unlimited substitutions but only on goal kicks, goals or injury (and throws in at the refs discretion).

PLAYERS CANNOT wear watches or rings.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Throw-in: is a throw taken by a player of the team opposite to that of the player who last touched it when the whole ball passes over a touch line

Touch Line: 
either side line.

Goal Kick: is a kick taken by the defending side when the whole of the ball has been passed over the goal line by the attacking team other than between the goal posts.

Corner Kick: is a kick taken by the attacking team from the nearest corner when the ball has been passed over the goal line by the defending team other than between the goal posts.

Penalty Kick: is a free kick taken by the attacking team as a result of a foul in the penalty area. 

Free kick: from which a goal can be scored from which a goal can not be scored unless the ball has been played or touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal.

Handling: carrying, striking or propelling the ball with the hand or arm.

Tackling: attempting to get the ball away from an opponent by using legs or feet. Heading Using the head to propel a ball above the shoulder.

Dribbling: a player moving the ball up or down the field using his/her feet.

Offside: this is a violation called when the ball is passed to and received by a teammate who is in the opponent's half of the field with less than two defenders between him/her and the goal. The offside does no apply for drop balls, or balls coming off a goal kick, corner kick or throw in.

POINT SYSTEM

  • three points for a win
  • one point for a tie
  • 0 points for a loss