If you aren't familiar with the sport of soccer, its rules might be confusing. You might notice certain players hanging back close to their own goalie while their teammates rush up the field in possession of the ball. What you are seeing is not a limitation set in place by the rules of the game but a commitment by the players to maintain a certain formation in hopes of maximizing their strategic advantages.
General Rules
Soccer rules are very basic in comparison with other popular team sports. According to the rulebook by FIFA, the world governing body for the World Cup and many professional soccer leagues, there are no restrictions placed on defenders in regards to their location on the field. This means a defensive player may move anywhere on the field at any time, including across the center line.
Strategy Restrictions
Although the rules of play permit all players to advance as far up the field as they want, sometimes a team's strategy and formation will discourage this from happening. This is most common among teams taking a conservative approach to the game, which often occurs when the team is protecting a lead. Conservative strategy weakens a team's offensive potency in exchange for bolstering the back line -- the term used to refer to the last group of defenders. These defenders are tasked with staying back in the field and preventing quick attacks against their own goal.
Set Plays
When a free kick or corner kick is called in the attacking half of the field, a team's defenders almost always are moved across the center line. Some are even placed close to the goal box, depending on what the play calls for. This is because the free kick gives the kicking team a strategic advantage and the ability to create a strong shot on the goal. It is unlikely that the opposing team will be able to organize quickly coming out of this kick and launch a counterattack, since its defensive formation will need to be abandoned to clog the box. Even so, teams usually keep one or two defenders close to the center line in the event of a breakaway.
Considerations
Not only is the defense often free to cross the center line and into the attacking half of the field, but developing these skills can be a big advantage for a defender looking to improve her value to a team. Defenders often find themselves in scoring situations, and the ability to place the ball in the goal can be the difference-maker in a close game. Defenders with strong offensive skills also can be called on to move into the midfielder position, giving them more liberties when advancing upfield, even if their primary task is to thwart oncoming attacks.
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