How to Play Soccer

Video Transcript

Hi, my name is Adrian Heath. I'm the head coach of the Austin Aztex. The basic principles of soccer, or football as it's called around the world, two teams of 11 trying to defend goals on either end, that one there and that one there; two goalkeepers, one of each team. So you got 10 outfield players on each side of the pitch. Normally, four defenders, four midfield players, two attackers. Basic principle of the game is to play inside the white lines that you can see, the outside white lines over here. Both halves have a penalty area. If a player gives a foul away or handballs the ball in that area, you get a penalty. The only people on the field allowed to handle the ball are the goal keepers, but they must do so in the 18-yard box. The only other time in the game when you can actually use your hands is when the balls comes over the line and you have to put it back in with a throw-in. Apart from that, the basic rules are simple: Can we get the ball from one end of the field to the other to get a goal. At the end of 45 minutes, there's a halftime. So you play 90 minutes in total, two halves of 45 minutes, plus some stoppage time if and when people get injured or the ball goes out of play. The rules are very simple: Can we get the ball in the goal at either end.