Rules of Soccer

The “Cambridge Rules”, written in England on 1848, were the first rules of soccer to be used for the game soccer. This set of rules of soccer was based on the proposed version of Elton College’s rules of soccer. Even before the Cambridge Rules became the governing laws of the game soccer, it was revised twice in the 1850’s. After the revisions, the rules were standardized at the 1863 meet of English Football Clubs by which the world’s first Football Association was founded.

Rules of soccer are not difficult to comprehend. There are 17 fundamentals of the rules of soccer. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association or otherwise known as FIFA provides these rules of soccer and by which all the regional Confederations applies. Some of the National Federations modify or sometimes experiment with various laws, although they must make some agreement with FIFA. This is to test some of the proposed rules of soccer that may be used or applied in international tournaments or competitions. Minor Leagues must have permission from the National body before they modify or experiment with some rules for their local competition, provided that they retain the principles of the “Laws of the Game”.

The official “Laws of the Game” have seventeen fundamentals. These seventeen fundamentals are designed to pertain to all levels of football, be it local or international. Some of these seventeen fundamentals are framed in extensive terms to allow the flexibility of their application. Most will depend on the nature of the game soccer that will be played. There are also some IFAB (International Football Association Board) decisions and directives thrown in to the regulation of the game soccer. FIFA does not maintain the “Laws of the Game”; the rules of soccer are maintained and determined by the International Football Association Board or (IFAB).

The game soccer is played in accordance with the “Laws of the Game”.

The primary rule of the game soccer is that only the goalkeepers are allowed to touch the soccer ball during the game play duration. However, the players are only allowed to use their hands during a “throw in” restart. The “Laws of the Game” does not specify player positions except the goalkeeper. On the other hand, a lot of player specializations have evolved in the game soccer.