How Does Soccer Work? Football Rules for Kids

What You'll Learn

• Soccer is played with two teams of 11 players each on a rectangular field
• Players use their feet, head, and chest — but NOT their hands (except the goalie)
• The goal is to kick the ball into the other team's net to score
• A standard match has two 45-minute halves — 90 minutes total
• The offside rule prevents players from hiding near the goal waiting for a pass

Words to Know

Goalie

The only player allowed to use their hands — they guard the net

"The goalie jumped to catch the ball."

Offside

A rule that stops players from waiting too close to the opponent's goal

"The referee called offside because he was hiding near the goal."

Dribbling

Moving the ball with your feet while running

"She was dribbling the ball down the field."

Penalty kick

A free kick right at the goal when a foul happens inside the box

"He scored on a penalty kick after being tripped."

Check What You Learned

Fun Facts

• Soccer (association football) is the most popular sport in the world, with an estimated 3.5 to 4 billion fans globally

  Source: World Atlas

• A standard soccer match consists of two 45-minute halves, totaling 90 minutes of play

  Source: FIFA Laws of the Game

• Each team has 11 players on the field, including one goalkeeper

  Source: FIFA Laws of the Game

• The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use their hands or arms, and only within their own penalty area

  Source: FIFA Laws of the Game

• The offside rule states that a player is offside if they are nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender when the ball is passed to them

  Source: FIFA Laws of the Game

• The FIFA World Cup is held every four years and is the most-watched sporting event in the world, with over 3.5 billion viewers in 2022

  Source: FIFA