The Basics of Football

Just start being a novice Football fan?

During this hottest football season, some friends (like me) start to watch FIFA World Cup Game. However, when watching the LIVE game through FIFA.com, there are a lot terms that we may not understand.

Here, I'd like to share some of the basics of football that I had learnt:

Terms (Source: Wikipedia.org)

• Kick-off: a kick to start each period of play from the center-spot of the field; of a or a goal has been scored.
• Throw-in: awarded to opposing team to that which last touched the ball when the ball has crossed the touchline; over the head back onto field or with both feet on the ground.
• Goal kick: awarded to defensive team when the ball has crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by a player of the attacking team.
• Corner kick: awarded to attacking team when the ball has crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by a player of the defensive team.
• Direct free kick: awarded to opposing team when a player commits a penalty foul. A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick.
• Penalty kick: awarded to the fouled team resulted from a contact foul or hand ball by the defending team within the penalty area. The ball is placed on the penalty spot in front of the center of the goal. All players must remain outside the penalty area and the penalty arc until the ball is kicked.
  

Foul (Source: Wikipedia.org)

• occurs when a player commits an offense (listed in the Laws of the Game) while the ball is in play
• e.g of "penal fouls": hand ball, tripping, holding, pushing, jumping at, tackling from behind, striking an opponent
• punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick.
• Yellow card(Caution): the player violates a soccer rule obviously. A second caution at the same game results in a red card (sent off from the game). A player given a yellow card is said to have been "booked" by the referee.
• Red card(Sending-off): the player is sent off the field for serious offense and cannot be replaced by a substitute. The team must finish the match with one player fewer.

Players

• A match is played by two teams.
• Each team consists of not more than eleven players including the goalkeeper.
  

Duration

• A football match consists of two periods (known as halves) with 45 minutes each .
  
• Each half runs continuously, the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play.
  
• Players are entitled to half-time interval which is about 15 minutes.

Matches (FIFA world cup)

• First Stage: Group matches
• Second Stage: Round of 16
• Second Stage: Quarter final
• Second Stage: Semi-final
• Second Stage: Match for the third place
• Second Stage: Final
  

Referee and Assistant Referee Signals (Source: FIFA.com)
Referee Signals


Assistant Referee Signals


Last sweet reminder:
the best way to learn about the football match is to watch the football matches.


Credits to the following Sources:
Wikipedia.org
FIFA.com