Laws of Soccer, Simplified

Player Development Initiatives -  Youth soccer has adopted several Player Development Initiatives at the 10U and 12U level. 

In 10U, most notably there is a part of the field called the Build Out Line, which is halfway between the half way line and the top of the penalty area.  When the goalkeeper has possession of the ball, or a goal kick is being taken, the PDI requires that the attacking team retreat behind the Build Out Line until the ball is in play.  Also in 10U, the goalkeeper may only put the ball in play by throwing or rolling the ball, or kicking it from the group.  The goalkeeper is not allowed to punt or drop kick the ball.  The build out line ensures that the defense have an opportunity to make the first ball exchange without interference from the attacking team.

In 10U and 12U, the head may not be used to deliberately contact the ball.  

Goalkeeper - The goalkeeper may play the ball with his or her hands, but only inside their own penalty area. The goalkeeper may not waste time putting the ball into play. The goalkeeper wears a different color jersey from his or her teammates.  Also in 10U, the goalkeeper may not punt or drop kick the ball.

Ball out of touch - All of the ball must go completely past the outside edge of the touch line or goal line either on the ground or in the air.

Goal - All of the ball must go completely past all of the goal line into the goal.

Throw-In - A throw-in is the restart after the ball has gone over the touch line. The ball is thrown in at the spot it left the field of play. Both of the player's feet must be on or behind the touch line. The ball must be thrown from behind the head with both hands, one on each side of the ball.

Corner Kick - After the ball has gone out over the goal line having last been touched by the defensive team. The ball is placed inside the corner arc and kicked by an offensive player.

Goal Kick - After the ball has gone out over the goal line having last been touched by the offensive team. The ball is kicked by a defensive player from anywhere inside the goal area. The ball is in play once it has been kicked and clearly moves. 

Offside - A player is in an offside position if:

1. the player is in the opponent's half of the field, and
2. is ahead of the ball, and
3. there are fewer than two opponents ahead of the player.

The offside position is judged at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate. If, in the opinion of the referee, a player in an offside position touches the ball, interferes with an opponent, or plays a ball that rebounds from the goalkeeper or the cross bar, then an indirect free kick is awarded the opposing team.  There are other situations that can lead to an offside offense having to do with parries and rebounds.  Best way to become familiar with all of these is by searching on Youtube for explanatory videos.

There is no offside offense it a player receives the ball directly from a throw-in, corner kick or goal kick.

Indirect Free Kick (IFK) - An IFK is taken from the location of the offense. A goal cannot be scored directly, i.e. the ball must touched by another player before a goal can be scored. An IFK is awarded for various infractions as well as the following fouls:

1. plays in a dangerous manner
2. impedes the progress of an opponent
3. prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
4. The following apply to the goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area:
   • controls the ball with his hands after he has released it from his possession and before it has touched another player
   • touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate
   • touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kick to him by a teammate
   • touches the ball with his hands after he has releaed it from his possession and before it has touched another player

Direct Free Kick (DFK) - A DFK is taken from the location of the foul and is awarded for the following offenses when committed by a player while the ball is in play (except when committed inside the offenders own penalty area) :

1. kicks or attemps to kick an opponent
2. tripps or attemps to trip an opponent
3. jumps at an opponent
4. charges an opponent
5. strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
6. pushes an opponent
7. tackles an opponent
8. holds an opponent
9. handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
10. spits at an opponent

Penalty Kick (PK) - A PK is awarded for a direct free kick foul committed inside a team's penalty area. The kick is taken from the penalty spot. All players except the kicker and goalkeeper must be outside the penalty area, behind the ball and at least 10 yards from the penalty spot. The ball is in play after it has been kicked forward, but the kicker may not be the next to touch it.

Advantage - Any penalty which might in the opinion of the referee give an advantage to the team committing the foul shall not be called.

Warning - A verbal warning from the referee to a player, coach or spectator.

Caution (Yellow Card)

A player is cautioned if he commits any of the following seven offenses:

1. unsporting behavior
2. dissent by word or action
3. persistent infringement of the laws of the game
4. delaying a restart of play
5. failing to respect required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in
6. entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee's permission
7. deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee's permission

Send Off (Red Card)

A player or substitute is sent-off if he commits any of the following seven offenses:

1. serious foul play
2. violent conduct
3. spitting at an opponent or any other person
4. denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handlng the ball (this does not apply to the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
5. denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or penalty kick
6. using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
7. receiving a second caution in the same match

An ejected player, coach or spectator must immediately leave the field and surrounding area. An ejected player may not be replaced during the current match.  While team officials can be sanctioned, only a player or substitute may be shown the red or yellow card.

A note about Handling
Just because a ball touches a player on the hand or the arm (below the line of the armpit), does not mean that a foul has occurred.  In most cases, the contact must be deliberate, either that the hand/arm moved to the ball with intent, or that the hand/arm was extended outside the body with intent and blocked the ball in flight.