5 Basic Rules of Football | Rules to Know about Football

• Football game is admired the most among Americans and is the world’s most popular sport. It is more commonly known worldwide by the name Soccer and is a team sport which includes two teams with 11 players each. 
• This game is played on a rectangular field called a pitch.The basic rule is to goal a round ball primarily using their feet to push it towards the goal line or Net of the opposite team. 
• Like other sports, football also has its own rules for the player to play in a systematic manner. A few of these rules are shared below in the blog.

Some Basics of Football

Although there are many rules that players follow throughout the football game, a few most basic ones are as follows:

• Two teams, each with a maximum of 11 players on the field at once, including one goalkeeper, compete in a football game.
• During a game, there are two 45-minute halftime.
• After a coin toss to start the game, the winning captain selects which goal to defend or take the opening kick.
• The game starts with a kickoff and the ball must be kicked forward.
• All players must use their feet, heads, or chests to play the ball. Only the goalkeeper is allowed to use their hands, and only when they are within the allocated goal area.
• The purpose of the game is to put the ball in the net of the opposing team by kicking or heading it there.
• If the ball properly crosses the boundary, the team who was not the last to touch it must throw the ball back in the pitch. Depending on where it went out of play, the game will restart with a throw-in, corner kick, or goal kick.
• The game is monitored by a central referee and two linesmen. Penalties and corner kicks are given when rules are broken. If a player repeatedly breaks the rules or makes a major foul, they risk being penalized.
• The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins after 90 minutes (plus any overtime). The game may enter overtime or penalties may be used to decide the winner if the scores are tied.

Fouls in FootBall:

• When a player makes contact with an opponent or acts in a way that is viewed as unfair, it is considered a foul. 
• Depending on how serious the infraction was, the opposing team may receive a free kick or a penalty kick when a player fouls. 
• For repeated fouls or risky tackles, a player may be given a yellow or red card as a warning or a dismissal, respectively.

#These regulations may be slightly different depending on the governing body and the competition.

Most important rules in Football Matches

There are some other most important rules that are a must to be followed while playing a Football game. These are:

 Catch Rule

In American football, a catch is defined as securing control of a live ball in flight and maintaining control after touching the ground, long enough to perform any act common to the game.

Fumble Rule

In American football, a fumble is a loss of control of the ball by a player, resulting in a change of possession.

 Downs Rule 

In American football, a down is a unit of play that begins with a snap and ends when a player is tackled or goes out of bounds, or the ball is dead due to a scoring play or an incomplete pass.

Replay Rule

The replay rule in American football enables the officials to use instant replay technology to review specific plays and possibly reverse them.

Point-After Conversion Rule

In American football, the Point-After Conversion (PAT) rule allows teams to score 1 additional point by successfully kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts after a touchdown is scored.

Safety Rules

In American football, a safety is a defensive scoring play worth 2 points, awarded to the defensive team when an offensive player is tackled or goes out of bounds in his own end zone.

Targeting Rule

In American football, the targeting rule is a foul that occurs when a player makes contact with an opponent in a manner that is deemed to be dangerous, specifically with the crown of his helmet or by leading with the helmet.

TouchBack Rule

In American football, a touchback is a result of a kickoff, punt, or intercepted pass that goes out of bounds in the end zone, resulting in the offensive team starting its next drive from its own 20-yard line.

Onside Kicking Rule

In American football, an onside kick is an intentional short kick used by the kicking team to try to regain possession of the ball, usually after scoring and trying to mount a comeback. Other than these mentioned rules, there is one most important rule of football by the name Overtime Rule. 

What is Overtime Rule in Football Match

In football, the game may continue into overtime, commonly known as extra time, if the scores are tied after 90 minutes of play (regular time). Depending on the quality of play and the level of competition, extra time may last up to two periods of 15 minutes each. A penalty shootout may be used to determine the game if the scores are still equal after extra time.

 In a penalty shootout, each side alternates shooting from the spot with the goalkeeper of the opposite team attempting to block the shot. The winning team is the one with the most penalties. The shootout continues with single elimination rounds if the scores are indeed tied after a preset amount of penalties, continuing until one side scores and the other team fails to score.

#Depending on the governing body and the competition, the regulations for overtime and penalty shootouts may also differ slightly.