Caution
a disciplinary action in which the referee shows a player
the yellow card (for violating a soccer rule, obviously). A
second caution in the same match results in the player being
shown the red card (ejected from the game).
Corner kick
a direct free kick that is awarded when the defending team
puts the ball over the end line. A corner kick is taken by
the offensive team from next to the corner flag.
Dangerous Play
an action by a player that the referee considers dangerous
to that player or others. Examples are high kicking, playing
while lying on the ground, or playing the ball while it is
in the possession of the goalkeeper.
Direct Free Kick
a free kick that is awarded at the spot of the infraction
for a physical contact foul such as tripping, holding,
pushing, tackles from behind, jumping into an opponent, or
for hand balls. A direct free kick can score by going
directly into the goal. It does not have to be touched by
anyone other than the kicker.
Drop Ball
a method of restarting a game where the referee drops the
ball between 2 players facing each other. A drop ball
restarts the game after play is stopped for no penalty
situation (e.g. after an injury) and in other circumstances
(more than one soccer rule about this). The ball is dropped
where it was last in play or at the nearest point outside
the penalty area.
Foul
when the referee judges a violation against an opposing
player. The team that suffers the foul is awarded with a
direct free kick unless the foul is committed by a defensive
player inside his own penalty area, in which case the foul
results in a penalty kick.
Goal Kick
a type of restart that is awarded when the attacking team
puts the ball over the end line. The ball is kicked from
anywhere inside the goal area away from the goal to restart
play. After the kick is taken, the ball cannot be touched
again by any player until it is outside of the penalty area.
Indirect Free Kick
a free kick that is awarded at the spot of the infraction
for other fouls that are judged not to be serious such as
obstruction, dangerous play or charging (non-contact fouls),
as well as for offside. Indirect kicks must touch another
player (either team) before the ball goes into the net in
order to score.
Offside
a difficult soccer rule.
Not good enough for you? Ok, ok. Here it is:
a violation that occurs when an offensive player is closer
to the opponents goal than both the ball and the
second-to-last opposing player at the time that the ball is
passed to the offensive player by his or her teammate.
Players cannot be called offside if they are in their own
half of the field or if they receive the ball from a throw
in, corner kick, or goal kick. When a player is called
offside, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick.
Obstruction
a foul in which a defensive player, instead of going after
the ball, illegally uses their body to prevent an offensive
player from playing it.
Penalty kick
A kick taken from 12 yards in front of the goal as a
result of a contact foul or hand ball that takes place
inside the penalty area.
Red card
a referee shows a player a red card to signal that the
player has been banned from the rest of the match. A red
card can be shown for a single serious offense or as the
result of being shown a second yellow card in the same game.
After a player is shown a red card, the player must leave
the field of play and cannot be replaced by a substitute,
meaning that his or her team must finish the match with one
player fewer.
Sending off
an ejection resulting from a player being shown a red
card. See also Red card.
Throw-in
a way to restart play when the ball goes out over the
sidelines. The team that did not touch the ball last is
allowed an overhead throw.
Yellow card
see Caution.
