PITCHING
This is how a typical football field looks. A central circle and two penalty boxes are located at either end of the area. There is a penalty spot and a 6-yard box in each penalty box. Although not all pitches are the same size, they must be between 90 and 120 meters long and 45 to 90 meters wide. The penalty box is roughly 16m by 40m in length, with a 9m radius around the center circle. There are goalposts at either end of the pitch, with the penalty spot 11 meters (12 yards) right in front of them.
THE PARTICIPANTS
Each team has 11 players on the field, with replacements on the sidelines for both sides. Although there is no set arrangement for the players on the pitch, it is common to see a 4-4-2 formation consisting of four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards.
A common line-up is depicted in the diagram below. Although a team may use this configuration, players are free to move around the field. The wingers frequently exchange sides to confuse the defense.
A few frequent postures aren’t included in the diagram below.
CDM stands for Center Defensive Midfield. These guys play in the midfield but are defensively inclined, so be sure to sit back a little more when the ball is played forward. These guys are typically playmakers who can also tackle well.
CAM stands for Center Attacking Midfield. These players, too, play in central midfield but are more attack-minded, making them superb goal scorers.
Right and left wingbacks (RWB/LWB). These defenders enjoy sprinting up the wing and getting involved in the game. They are still defenders, so they must rush back swiftly if a counter-attack is attempted.
RW/LW stands for Right Wing and Left Wing, respectively. These are attacking positions, although these players often play out wide on the flank in a 4-3-3 formation, which allows them to sprint up the wing before cutting inside or crossing the ball to the striker waiting in the center.
CF stands for center forward. This position is nearly identical to that of a striker, except that he plays somewhat more forward toward the goal and has no specific pitch area in which he must remain.
THE PRINCIPLES
The game’s object is to score more goals than your opponent by kicking the ball into their goal while still protecting your own. A player can throw the ball to anyone on the field and can even run with it, unlike in certain sports. There are only a few guidelines to follow when it comes to passing. The first is the offside rule, which will be discussed further down. The next one is when the goalie is passed back to you. If you use your feet to transfer the ball to your keeper, he must also use his feet to play. He can pick up the ball if you head it back to him.
The ball is kicked off from the center area at the start of each half and following a team score. You used to pass the ball forward before giving it backward, but that is no longer the case.
When the ball is kicked off, no players are allowed to be in the opposing half.
Any foul can result in a free kick or a penalty if the infraction occurs in the penalty area. Under the right circumstances, there may be free-kicks in the area.
A goal kick occurs when the attacking team kicks the ball past the goal line. The attackers are granted a corner kick if the defending team kicks it behind their line.
The ability to take the ball away from the players’ feet is known as tackling. When tackling, you must make contact with the ball. It is a foul if you contact the player rather than the ball. When attacking, be careful not to lunge with both feet in the air, as this might injure another player. You’ll be called for a foul if you elbow, tug on the player’s jersey, or shove them.