SPECIALIZATION ON FOOTBALL

CHAPTER-2

University of Chittagong

Submitted To:

AHM Noman

Lecturer

Department of Physical Education &

Sports Science

University of Chittagong

Submitted By:

Radwan Ahmed Susmoy

ID No: 19801006

Session: 2018-2019

Department of Physical Education &

Sports Science

University of Chittagong

Date of submission:24.08.2025
 Chapter: 2

Rules and Regulation of Football

Defination Of Football:

Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. The
term "football" is used differently in various parts of the world, and it generally refers to the most
popular version of the sport in a particular region.

Here's a breakdown of the most common types of football:

• Association Football (Soccer): This is the most widely played and recognized form of football
globally. It's a game between two teams of 11 players each, using a spherical ball. The objective is to
score by moving the ball into the opposing team's goal, primarily using the feet, with the hands and
arms only allowed for goalkeepers and for throw-ins.
• American Football: A team sport played with an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field. Teams
try to score points by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone, either by running or passing.
Players wear protective gear, and the game involves significant physical contact.
• Canadian Football: Similar to American football, but with some key differences in rules, field
dimensions, and the number of players.
• Australian Rules Football: Played on a large oval field, this sport involves teams kicking,
hand-passing, or running with the ball to score by kicking it between goal posts.
• Rugby Football (Rugby Union and Rugby League): These two codes of rugby are played with an
oval ball, and players can run with the ball in their hands and pass it backward. Scoring is achieved by
carrying the ball over the opponent's goal line (a try) or by kicking it through the goalposts.
 Aims and objectives:

In a professional context, aims and objectives are two distinct but related concepts used to plan and
evaluate projects, research, or business strategies.

Aims

An aim is a broad, long-term statement of intent. It describes the overall purpose or "why" behind a
project or activity. Aims are often aspirational and not easily measurable. They set the general direction
and provide a vision for what you want to achieve. A project typically has one or two key aims.
Example: To improve the health outcomes of low-income families in our community.

Objectives

Objectives are the specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) steps you take
to accomplish your aim. They define the "what" and "how" of a project. Objectives are concrete,
actionable, and can be easily evaluated to determine success. A single aim can have multiple objectives.
Example: To achieve the aim of improving health outcomes, the objectives might be:
• To increase the number of community health workshops from 5 to 15 within the next six
months.
• To enroll 50 families in our nutrition education program by the end of the year.
• To reduce the average waiting time at our health clinic by 20% in the next quarter.

Kinds of Football:

"Football" is a broad term that encompasses many different team sports. While they all involve kicking a
ball, the specific rules, field, and equipment can vary dramatically. Here are the major kinds of football
played around the world:

Association Football (Soccer)

• Description: This is the most popular sport in the world. It is played with a spherical ball and two
teams of 11 players.
• Objective: To score by getting the ball into the opposing team's goal.
• Key Rules: Players cannot use their hands or arms to touch the ball, with the exception of the
goalkeeper within a designated area. The game is played in two 45-minute halves.
American Football
• Description: A gridiron sport played with an oval-shaped ball. It is most popular in the United
States.
• Objective: To score points by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone (a touchdown) or
by kicking it through the goalposts.
• Key Rules: Teams have four "downs" to advance the ball at least 10 yards. The game involves
tackling and requires players to wear protective gear. The clock stops frequently, and the game is
broken into four quarters.
Canadian Football
• Description: Similar to American football but with some key rule differences. It is the most
popular sport in Canada.
• Objective: To score by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.
• Key Rules: Teams have three downs to advance 10 yards (instead of four), and the field is larger.
Rugby Football
Rugby has two major variants:

• Rugby Union: Played with an oval ball, it involves continuous play with no pads. Players can run
with the ball in their hands and can only pass it backward.
• Rugby League: A faster-paced version of rugby with a different set of rules, particularly
regarding tackling and restarting play after a tackle.
Australian Rules Football
• Description: A unique sport played on a large oval field. It is the most popular spectator sport in
Australia.
• Objective: To score by kicking the ball between a series of four goalposts.
• Key Rules: Players can kick, run with, or hand-pass the ball. The game is characterized by
high-speed movement and spectacular aerial contests for the ball (known as "marks").
Gaelic Football
• Description: An Irish team sport that combines elements of soccer and basketball.
• Objective: To score by kicking or punching the ball into a net (a goal) or over a crossbar (a
point).
• Key Rules: Players can carry the ball for four steps before having to bounce or solo it (dropping
and kicking it back to themselves).
Other Popular Variations
Beyond the major codes, there are many smaller, adapted forms of football:

• Futsal: An indoor version of association football played on a hard court with a smaller, heavier
ball.
• Beach Soccer: Association football played on sand.
• Five-a-side Football: A shortened version of soccer played with five players per team, often
indoors.
• Paralympic Football: Adapted versions of the sport for athletes with disabilities, such as blind
football and cerebral palsy football.

International Fedaration:

The governance of international football is structured in a tiered system, with a global governing body
overseeing a network of continental confederations.

The Global Governing Body

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
• Role: FIFA is the highest international governing body for association football, beach soccer, and
futsal. It is responsible for organizing and promoting major international tournaments, most notably the
FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup.
• Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland.
• Membership: FIFA has 211 national member associations.
The Continental Confederations
Under FIFA's umbrella, there are six continental confederations that manage and organize football
within their specific regions. These confederations run their own tournaments for national teams and
clubs, and also conduct the qualifying campaigns for the FIFA World Cup.

• Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

o Region: Europe.
o Major Competitions: UEFA European Championship (Euros), UEFA Champions League,
UEFA Europa League.
• Confederation of African Football (CAF)
o Region: Africa.
o Major Competitions: Africa Cup of Nations, CAF Champions League.
• Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
o Region: Asia and Australia.
o Major Competitions: AFC Asian Cup, AFC Champions League.
• Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)
o Region: North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
o Major Competitions: CONCACAF Gold Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup.
• Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL)
o Region: South America.
o Major Competitions: Copa América, Copa Libertadores.
• Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)
o Region: Oceania.
o Major Competitions: OFC Nations Cup, OFC Champions League.
This structure ensures that the sport is managed at a global level by FIFA, while the unique needs and
development of football in each continent are overseen by the respective confederation

Rules of Football:

The official rules of association football (soccer) are known as the Laws of the Game. They are a
comprehensive set of 17 laws, maintained and updated annually by the International Football
Association Board (IFAB). While they are designed to be applied universally, there are some minor
modifications for different levels of play, such as youth or amateur leagues.
Here is a summary of the most important rules:

1. The Field of Play

• The field must be rectangular and marked with lines, including touchlines (the long sides) and
goal lines (the short sides).

• A goal is located at the center of each goal line.

• The field is divided into two halves by a halfway line.

2. The Players

• A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of 11 players on the field at a time. One
of these players must be the goalkeeper.

• A game cannot start or continue if a team has fewer than 7 players.

• The number of substitutions is generally limited, but this can vary depending on the competition
(e.g., professional leagues, friendly matches).

3. Duration of the Match

• A standard match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each.

• There is a half-time interval of no more than 15 minutes.

• The referee adds "stoppage time" at the end of each half to account for time lost due to
substitutions, injuries, and other delays.

4. Scoring

• A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the goalposts and under the
crossbar.

• The team that scores more goals wins the match.

5. Fouls and Misconduct

• Fouls are specific infringements for which a direct or indirect free kick is awarded. These include:

o Kicking, tripping, or pushing an opponent.

o Deliberately handling the ball (except for the goalkeeper within their penalty area).

o Holding or spitting at an opponent.

• Direct Free Kick: Can be shot directly at the goal to score.

• Indirect Free Kick: Cannot be scored directly; another player must touch the ball before it can go
into the goal.
• Penalty Kick: Awarded when a defensive player commits a foul within their own penalty area.
• Yellow and Red Cards: The referee can issue cards for misconduct.
o Yellow Card (Caution): Issued for offenses like unsporting behavior, dissent, or
persistently infringing the laws. Two yellow cards in a single match result in a red card.
o Red Card (Sending-off): Issued for serious fouls, violent conduct, or using offensive
language. A player who receives a red card must leave the field immediately and cannot be replaced,
leaving their team with one less player.
6. Offside

• A player is in an "offside position" if they are in the opponent's half of the field and are closer to
the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent.

• It is not an offense to simply be in an offside position. An offense only occurs when a player in
an offside position becomes involved in active play, such as by receiving a pass.

• The offside rule does not apply to corner kicks, goal kicks, or throw-ins.

7. Restarts of Play

• Kick-off: Starts each half and restarts the game after a goal is scored.
• Throw-in: Awarded when the ball goes out of play over a touchline. The player must use both
hands and throw the ball from over their head with both feet on the ground.
• Goal Kick: Awarded to the defending team when the attacking team kicks the ball out of play
over the defending team's goal line.
• Corner Kick: Awarded to the attacking team when the defending team kicks the ball out of play
over their own goal line.

Events:

Football has a wide array of major tournaments and events that captivate fans around the world. These
can be categorized into international competitions for national teams and club competitions.

International Competitions (National Teams)

 These tournaments pit the best national teams against each other to determine a continental or world
champion.

• FIFA World Cup: This is the most prestigious and widely-watched single-sport event in the
world. Held every four years, it features the senior men's national teams from countries that have
qualified through a multi-year process. The FIFA Women's World Cup is its female equivalent.
• UEFA European Championship (Euros): This tournament is the top competition for men's
national teams in Europe, held every four years.
• Copa América: The oldest international football tournament in the world, featuring national
teams from South America. Teams from North America and Asia are sometimes invited to participate.
• Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON): The premier football competition for men's national teams in
Africa, held every two years.
• AFC Asian Cup: The top tournament for men's national teams in Asia.
• CONCACAF Gold Cup: The main football competition for national teams in North America,
Central America, and the Caribbean.
• Olympic Games: Football is a major sport at the Summer Olympics. The men's tournament has
an age restriction (mostly under-23), while the women's tournament has no age restrictions.
Club Competitions
These tournaments are for professional club teams, with many leagues and cups running concurrently
throughout the year.

• UEFA Champions League: The most prestigious and popular club competition in Europe. It
brings together the top-ranked teams from national leagues to compete for the continental title.
• Premier League (England): Widely considered the most competitive and financially lucrative
domestic league in the world, with a massive global following.
• La Liga (Spain): Home to some of the world's most famous and successful clubs, like Real Madrid
and Barcelona.
• Bundesliga (Germany): Known for its high attendance rates and passionate fan culture.
• Serie A (Italy): A league renowned for its tactical and defensive style of play.
• FIFA Club World Cup: A tournament featuring the champion club teams from each of the six
continental confederations, plus the champion of the host nation.
• Copa Libertadores: The top club competition for teams in South America.
• FA Cup (England): The oldest national football competition in the world, famous for its
"giant-killing" upsets of top teams by lower-division clubs.

Officials:

In a football match (soccer), the officials are crucial for enforcing the Laws of the Game and ensuring fair
play. The team of officials can vary depending on the level of the match, but a standard professional
game has several key roles:
 On-Field Officials

1. The Referee
The referee is the central and most important official, holding the final authority on all decisions.

• Main Responsibilities:
o Enforcing the Laws of the Game.

o Controlling the match in cooperation with other officials.

o Acting as the timekeeper and keeping a record of the match (e.g., goals, fouls, and
cards).

o Starting, stopping, and restarting play using a whistle.

o Imposing disciplinary action by issuing yellow and red cards.

o Deciding on fouls, awarding free kicks, and penalty kicks.

2. Assistant Referees (ARs)

Formerly known as "linesmen," there are two assistant referees who patrol the touchlines.

• Main Responsibilities:
o Indicating when the entire ball has left the field of play and which team gets the
throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick.

o Signaling when a player is in an offside position.

o Advising the referee on fouls or other incidents that the referee may not have seen
clearly.

3. The Fourth Official

The fourth official is positioned on the sideline, between the two teams' technical areas (dugouts).

• Main Responsibilities:
o Managing substitutions and displaying the player numbers on an electronic board.

o Supervising the technical areas, including coaches and substitute players.

o Assisting the referee with administrative duties.

o Keeping track of the amount of stoppage time to be added at the end of each half.

o Taking over if the referee or one of the assistant referees is unable to continue.

Video Officials
 4. Video Assistant Referee (VAR)
This is a modern addition to the officiating team, used in top-tier competitions. The VAR team is located
in a separate room with access to multiple camera angles.

• Main Responsibilities:
o Reviewing "clear and obvious errors" or "serious missed incidents" related to four
specific categories:

1. Goals (and potential infringements leading up to the goal).

2. Penalty decisions.

3. Direct red card incidents.

4. Cases of mistaken identity (when a referee cautions or sends off the wrong
player).

o Communicating with the on-field referee to recommend a review. The on-field referee
then makes the final decision, either by accepting the VAR's advice or by reviewing the footage on a
monitor at the side of the field (on-field review).

5. Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR)

The AVAR assists the VAR, primarily by watching the live match action while the VAR is reviewing a
potential incident. This ensures that no other key moments are missed.

References:

https://www.theifab.com/
https://www.fifa.com/
https://www.uefa.com/
https://www.conmebol.com/