The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA governs soccer. Its "Laws of the Game" is a set of 17 rules which undergo occasional modifications from year to year. The laws cover every aspect of competition, from dimensions and markings of the playing field to proper equipment, player substitutions, length of the match and "fouls and misconduct." The laws offer some flexibility for different levels of competition, so professional leagues may set rules specific to their group.
Basic Field Regulations
Fields must be 100 to 130 yards long and 50 to 100 yards wide. The range for international matches is 110 to 120 yards long and 70 to 80 yards wide. Goals are to be 8 yards wide and 8 feet tall. The laws spell out guidelines for field markings. The dimensions of the goal area, penalty area, penalty arc and center circle are uniform. Fields must have 5-foot flagposts in each corner and quarter circles with a 1-yard radius drawn inside the field of play. Fields must be green with either a grass surface or an approved artificial surface.
Regulation Equipment
Soccer balls must be spherical and made of leather or “other suitable material.” Regular balls have a circumference of 27 to 28 inches and must weigh between 14 and 16 ounces at the start of a match. The allowed air pressure ranges from 8.5 pounds per square inch to 15.6 pounds per square inch. FIFA-approved balls must be used in FIFA-sanctioned matches. Players may wear shin guards made of "rubber, plastic or a similar suitable material" if they are completely covered by their socks.
Team Size, Length of Match
The maximum number of players on the field at any time for each team is 11, including a goalkeeper. FIFA-sanctioned matches cannot start if either team has fewer than seven players. Substitution regulations vary from league to league. Matches are two 45-minutes halves separated by a break of up to 15 minutes. Referees may add extra time at the end of each half to compensate for time lost to injuries and other stoppages in play.
Rules Of Competition
The role of the referee and the rules of competition are spelled out in the Laws of the Game. All aspects of play are covered. Among the major soccer rules are offside violations. These are called on a player if “he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent." A player may be offside in his own side of the field and not get called. Also spelled out is the difference between infractions that result in direct kicks and indirect free kicks. Direct kick fouls include kicking, tripping, charging, striking, pushing, tackling, holding and spitting at opponents. If a player other than the goalkeeper handles the ball deliberately, that is a direct kick. Fouls that would be rewarded with a direct kick that occur in the penalty area result in penalty kicks. Also defined are actions that merit a cautionary yellow card and actions that merit a red card send-off. Yellow cards may be called for "unsporting behavior," "dissent by word or action" and illegal substitution. Red cards may be called for "serious foul play," "violent conduct," spitting at opponents, “using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures," and earning a second caution in the same match.
Major League Soccer Rules
North America's top professional league, Major League Soccer, plays under FIFA rules, but it has its own set of rules for team roster make-up, payroll guidelines and limitations, player signings and player transfers. These rules are designed to control costs and create parity. A team payroll budget limit of $2.675 million is set for the first 20 roster slots. The minimum salary for the first 24 roster slots in 2011 is $42,000. The minimum salary for roster slots 25 through 30 is $36,200. Players making $36,200 may not be 35 or older in 2011. To promote the development of "home-grown" players in the United States and Canada, the MLS allocates only 144 foreign player slots to its 18 teams. Domestic players player must fill the remaining roster positions.
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