What are the 17 Rules of Football?

Football is the world’s most loved sport, played and watched by billions. Whether it’s a street match, a school tournament, or the FIFA World Cup, the game follows a universal rulebook known as the “17 Laws of the Game.” If you’re wondering, “What are the 17 rules of the football game?”,  understanding these laws helps you appreciate how structured and fair the sport truly is.

In association football (soccer), the Laws of the Game are created and maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). These rules govern everything—from the size of the field to how a goal is scored. While American football has a very different ruleset, the term “17 rules” mostly refers to soccer’s universal regulations. These rules ensure fair play, safety, and consistency, so a match follows the same principles everywhere. Let’s break them down.

Who Created the 17 Rules of Football?

The original laws of football were codified in 1863 when the Football Association (FA) was formed in England. This marked the beginning of standardised rules for the sport.

In 1886, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) was created to formally regulate and update the laws. IFAB still holds authority today, with FIFA joining later to help globalise and standardise the laws across countries and competitions.

Today, every match- from grassroots academies to the Premier League- follows these 17 laws.

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The 17 Laws of Football

Football is governed by 17 official laws that outline how the game should be played, managed, and officiated. These rules create uniformity across all levels of the sport, from youth matches to major international tournaments.

Law 1: The Field of Play

A football match is played on a rectangular pitch with precise markings—touchlines, goal lines, the penalty box, centre circle, and corner areas. The goals must also meet standard dimensions. These markings create the structure within which the game operates.

Law 2: The Ball

The game uses a round ball built to regulated size and weight specifications. It must feel safe to use, maintain its shape during play, and comply with FIFA-approved quality standards.

Law 3: The Players

Each side fields 11 players, and at least seven from one team must be present for the match to continue. One player on each team always functions as the goalkeeper.

Law 4: The Players Equipment

Players must wear a proper kit: a shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, and football boots. Both teams must have clearly distinguishable colours, and the referee should not match either side.

Law 5: The Referee

The referee is the chief authority on the pitch. Their decisions are final—they manage the flow of the match, call fouls, issue cards, and apply the laws throughout the game.

Law 6: The Other Match Officials

Assistant referees, the fourth official, and other support staff help the referee. They assist with offside decisions, substitution procedures, technical-area control, and timing.

Law 7: The Duration of the Match

A regulation match lasts 90 minutes, split into two halves of 45 minutes each. Additional minutes may be added for stoppages, and knockout matches may extend into extra time when needed.

Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play

Play begins with a kick-off and restarts the same way after halftime or a goal. Dropped balls or specific restarts occur when play stops for reasons not caused by fouls.

Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play

The ball is considered out only when it has entirely crossed the touchline or goal line. If it rebounds off posts, corner flags, or even the referee, it stays in play.

Law 10: Determining the Outcome of the Match

A goal counts only when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. Tied games may go to extra time or penalties depending on competition rules.

Law 11: The Offside Rule

A player is in an offside position if they move ahead of both the ball and the second-last defender at the moment the ball is passed to them, and if they become actively involved in the play. Being offside alone is not an offence—interfering with play is.

Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct

This law covers illegal physical contact, handball offences, violent actions, unsporting behaviour, and dissent. Depending on severity, the referee awards free kicks, penalties, yellow cards, or red cards.

Law 13: Free Kicks

Teams may receive either direct or indirect free kicks. Direct free kicks allow for a direct attempt on goal, while indirect kicks require the ball to touch another player before a goal can be scored.

Law 14: The Penalty Kick

Penalties are awarded for major offences inside the penalty area. Only the kicker and goalkeeper participate, and the ball must be struck forward from the penalty spot.

Law 15: The Throw-in

When the ball fully crosses the touchline, play resumes with a throw-in. The player must keep both feet on the ground and deliver the ball from behind the head using both hands.

Law 16: The Goal Kick

A goal kick is given when the attacking team is the last to touch the ball before it crosses the goal line (without scoring). The defending team restarts play from within the goal area.

Law 17: The Corner Kick

If the ball crosses the goal line after last touching a defender, the attacking team gets a corner kick. It is taken from the corner arc nearest to where the ball went out.

Why Knowing the 17 Rules of Football is Important

Knowing the rules helps everyone involved in the game:

1. For Players: Rules promote fair play, reduce injuries, and help players make better decisions on the field.

2. For Fans: Understanding offsides, fouls, penalties, and added time makes matches more enjoyable and easier to follow.

3. For Referees and Officials: The laws provide a clear structure for officiating, especially with modern updates like VAR, goal-line technology, and concussion substitutions.

4. For Global Uniformity: From BFC Soccer Schools in India to the FIFA World Cup, the same 17 laws ensure consistency. A young player in Bengaluru learns the exact rules Lionel Messi plays under.

Despite the evolution of modern football—tactical changes, technology, and substitutions, the sport still fits within this 17-law framework.

Conclusion

The 17 rules of football form the backbone of the world’s most popular sport. They ensure fairness, structure, and safety, enabling billions to enjoy football the same way everywhere. Whether you’re a beginner, a fan, or someone curious about “what are the 17 rules of football”, this guide gives you the foundation you need to understand how the game truly works.

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