Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, benefiting from simple required equipment and simple rules. These basic rules make the sport easy to learn but still provide enough creative license to allow for improvisation by soccer players in a number of ways. Soccer is also simple for spectators to watch because the scoring is very simple: one goal equals one point. There are just a few ways to score a goal in a game, and they can be learned in just a few minutes.
Basic Goal
In regular play, a goal is scored when the ball crosses past the goalie into the net. A goal is scored when the ball completely crosses the goal line--it does not have to reach the back of the net. Each goal is worth one point and can be scored from anywhere on the field. The primary rule is that the goalie cannot be physically impeded from blocking the ball by another player.
Onside Rules
Many goals in soccer are negated by what are called "onside rules." Simply put, a player may not pass the ball to a player on his team who is farther down field than all defenders other than the goalie. This penalty is called frequently because many teams try to time their passes so a teammate can slip past the defense shortly after the pass is made and earn a one-on-one match-up with the goalie. Goals scored in this type of scenario when the referee calls offsides are taken off the scoreboard.
Penalty Kicks
Penalty kicks are awarded to any player who is tackled or fouled inside of the penalty box, whether they are shooting or not. The penalty box is a clearly painted rectangular space coming as much as 18 yards out from the goal. In any scenario, when a foul is called inside the penalty box that player is awarded a penalty kick. The ball is placed out in front of the goalie 12 yards out, and the fouled player is given one kick without the challenge of any defenders to score a goal against the goalie. This is recorded as one point, the same as any other goal.
Shootout
Many soccer games end in ties, particularly those in league play. But during playoffs and in other types of competitions, soccer games use a tiebreaker known as a penalty shootout. Each team chooses five players to kick five penalty shots against the goalie. Whichever team finishes with the most made penalty kicks in the shootout wins the game.
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