Our next session is - Thursday 18 December 2025 at Te Whaea Artificial Turf | See you at 6:50pm for a 7pm start!
Football Rules
We've broken down the essentials of football to help you understand how the game works, the key rules, those who make up the game, and common terms you’ll hear on the pitch.
The Objective
​
Two teams compete against each other, with the aim of getting the ball into the opponent's goal.
​
A match is 90 minutes, split into 2x 45 minute halves, with a 15 minute halftime break in between.
​
The team with the most goals at the end of the match wins.
​
​In certain "knock-out" competitions, the game may go over 90minutes if the score is equal to determine a winner. This consists of either "Extra Time" which are 2x 15 minute halves, or penalty kick shootout to determine the winner.
The Field
​
Teams play on a rectangular pitch that has either a grass or artificial turf surface. Line markings are drawn to indicate different areas of the field.
​
The field also contains a goal net on both ends (where each team tries to kick the ball into to score a goal), and a corner flag on each corner of the field.
The Players
​
Each team fields 11 players.
There is 1 goalkeeper (a player that can use their hands in a certain area on the field) and 10 outfield players (players who can't use their hands) on the field at all times.
​
Each team also has additional players/substitutes who can also play during the game.
The outfield players are organised into positions/specialities of defense, midfield, attack.
​​
The Officials
​
The match officials ensures that the match is played fairly and the rules are followed.
​
The referee - runs around on the field with the players and is the main official to enforce the rules. They can issue yellow cards (warning) or red card (ejection from the game) to players if they step out of line.
​​
In more competitive levels of football they will also have other officials to assist the head referee, which include:
​
The assistant refs - one assistant on each side of the field to spot offsides and fouls during the game.
The fourth official - manages substitutions and added time.
The video assistant ref (VAR) - reviews crucial moments in games using video replays.
The Important Rules
​
The ball can be played with any parts of the body, except the arms/hands. Goalkeepers are the only exception where they can use their hands but only inside their penalty box.
A player is offside if they are closer to the opposition goal than the last defender, when the ball is passed to them by a teammate.
​​Physical contact, e.g. tripping, pushing, are fouls and can result in a free kick (or penalty if the foul was committed inside the penalty box).
Refs can also give a yellow card or red card to a player for committing fouls. If a player receives a 2nd yellow card, they will receive a red card.
The ball is out of play if the entire ball crosses the line.
The Gameplay
​
The match starts with a team kicking-off in the centre circle on the field. Teams will compete to get possession of the ball. They will pass, dribble, shoot and ultimately try to score a goal.
When the ball goes out and over the sidelines, the the longer side of the field, the opposition team takes a throw-in to resume the game.
​
If the ball goes out of play on the end lines (the line near the goals), either a goal kick or corner kick is taken depending on who last touched the ball.
Both teams play until the ref blows their whistle for a foul or to signal the end of a half.
The Lingo
​
Dribble - moving the ball with small controlled touches.
Tackle - attempting to take the ball off the opponent.
Handball - when the ball touches a player's arm/hand.
Offside - when an attacking player is closer to the opposition goal than the last defender, as the ball is passed to them.
Formation - arrangement of players on the field based on positions.
Kick-off - start/restart of the game after a goal is scored, or after halftime.
Free kick - restart after a foul, taken where it was committed inside the field.
Corner kick - taken outside the field on the corner closest to where the ball went out of play along the goal lines.
Throw in - ball is thrown back onto the field with both hands from the outside where it went out, from behind and over the head of the thrower.
Assist - last pass/touch leading up to the goal.
​​
This is not the exhaustive list of football lingo, just the beginning! Learn more here.