How to Play Football

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Football is an exciting, competitive game and the most popular sport in the world. Sometimes, football is also known as the “beautiful sport” because of its fascinating combination of technique, team play and individuality. If you are interested in playing football, you should spend some time learning the basic rules and practicing the most important techniques. Be active in training, have fun moments and especially never leave the ball!

Table of Contents

Play by the rules

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Understand the goal of the game. In a football match, your team wins by scoring more goals than the opponent. The goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the goal line of the opponent’s goal. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Goalkeepers, while in their team’s penalty area, are the only players on the field who can catch the ball with their hands. Any other player may play the ball with any part of his body except his hands (except for a throw-in).
Regular matches usually last 90 minutes and are divided into two halves of 45 minutes each.

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Get to know the position in football. Normally on the field, when entering the match, each team has a total of 11 players. Although positions can be rearranged according to the coach’s layout, usually there will be 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, 2 strikers and a goalkeeper. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Defenders often stand in the home team’s half to prevent the opponent from scoring. They often need to have good clearances and are usually taller and larger than the rest of the players.
Midfielders run the most: they both defend and participate in attack. Midfielders are usually the organizers of the attack and need to be able to hold and pass the ball well.
The striker is usually the one who is responsible for scoring for the team and is also the one who has the most opportunities to shoot the ball. Strikers often need to be agile, flexible, able to shoot powerfully and accurately. Those are usually the fastest players on the pitch.
The goalkeeper defends the goal and is the only player who can use his hands to play the ball (but only in the home team’s penalty area). Goalkeepers often have to be agile, have quick judgment and good communication.

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Note that the game and the second half are started with tee shots. At this time, all players from both sides must stand in their own half of the field. When the whistle blows and the ball is played, they are free to move throughout the field if not offside. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

One team gets the kick-off at the start of the game and the other gets it at the start of the second half.

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Learn when to throw in and how to throw in correctly. A throw-in is taken when the whole ball goes outside the playing area. The right of throw-in belongs to the team that did not touch the ball last. This team will be able to throw the ball into the field from the position where the ball went out. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

The player can run when he throws the ball, but must stop near where the ball goes out.
When throwing the ball, they must hold the ball, put it behind their head, and drop the ball over their head with both hands.
When throwing the ball, the player must not lift both feet off the ground.

READ More: How to Become a Scientist

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Know the difference between a corner and a goal kick. When the ball goes all the way across (but does not enter the goal) and the last person to touch the ball is the defending team, the attacking team will be awarded a corner kick from the nearest corner of the field. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

When the ball goes all the way across (doesn’t enter the goal) and the last person to touch the ball belongs to the attacking team, the ball will be brought to the 5m50 line and played up with the defending team’s control. The goalie is usually the one who takes the kick up.

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Know when a player is offside. Offside is an important rule in football, it was born to prevent teams from “eating foul” or always for many players to wait near the opponent’s goal. A player is offside when all of the following are true: they are in front of the ball, in the opponent’s half, deeper than any of your team’s players (except the goalkeeper) when the ball is passed. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

However, offside does not apply to throw-ins, corners and kick-ins.
Control of the ball will be given to the other team when this team is caught offside.

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Know the difference between a direct and an indirect free kick. With a free kick, you can shoot straight into the goal and score. With an indirect free kick, to be considered a goal, the ball must pass through at least one teammate. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

The team is normally awarded a direct free kick for contact or handball from an opposing team and an indirect free kick for other fouls or stops.
During an indirect free kick, the referee will hold his hand up until the ball is touched by the second player.

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Be aware that fouling in the penalty area will result in a penalty. The attacking team is awarded a penalty when a player of the other team commits a foul within their own penalty area. All other players except the goalkeeper and the penalty taker must line up outside the free kick area. The goalkeeper must stay on the line and must not leave it before the opponent touches the ball ^{[8] X Source of Research}

The ball must be placed in the specified place: the penalty spot. When the person taking the free kick touches the ball, the ball will become a live ball, meaning that if the goalkeeper pushes or bounces the post, any team has the right to compete for the ball.
Anyone can take a free kick, it doesn’t have to be the one who was fouled.

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Understand the basics regarding yellow cards. Yellow card for warning. Two yellow cards will result in one red card, and when receiving a red card, the player receiving the penalty will have to leave the field for the rest of the game. Reasons for receiving a yellow card include: ^{[9] X Research Source}

Entering the ball dangerously, such as kicking high, near the head of another player.
Stop unauthorized people. That’s when a player intentionally gets in between the ball and the opponent even though the ball is too far away and he or she is incapable of touching the ball.
The goalkeeper uses his hand to receive the ball from a teammate’s pass.
The goalkeeper controls the ball when he takes more than four steps.
The final hour of the game….

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Understand the red card basics. Although the referee can draw a red card directly for a particularly dangerous situation, the red card is usually converted to two yellow cards. Reasons for the referee’s red card to include: ^{[10] X Research source}

Deliberately kicking another player.
Jump in and collide other players.
Aggressively attacking another player, especially when using hands.
Attack from behind.
Pause your feet.
Hit, push, hold or spit at another player.
Deliberately using your hands to play the ball (except for the goalkeeper),…..
When a player is sent off for receiving two yellow cards or one red card, the player’s team is not allowed to substitute them, and therefore will have to play under-manage (for example, if a player of a If a team is sent off, then that player’s team has only 10 players and they will have to face 11 players of the opposing team).

Essential engineering construction

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Practice dribbling. Dribbling is controlling the ball while running. To keep the ball in control of the home team, you need to dribble well: touch the ball hard enough to bring it forward and also light enough to keep it with you. ^{[11] X Research Source}

You can dribble with the inside of your foot, above your toes (with your foot down) or the outside of your foot. For starters, dribbling with the inside of the foot is probably the easiest way.
Learn to dribble at different speeds. Dribbling along the touchline to get past a defender is very different from dribbling facing an opposing defender.

Practice passing skills. Passing the ball is about getting the ball where you want it to be. Use the inside of the foot to pass the ball. Although the kick is weaker, when using the inside of the foot, the accuracy of the pass will be higher. Once you have mastered the basic passing technique, you can steer and hang the ball to pass to your teammates. ^{[12] X Research Source}

When passing the ball, you need to keep your toes pointing up and your heels resting on the court.
Read location. If a teammate is running, kick the ball forward so that person can run to and receive the ball.
To hang the ball, use the inside of the foot but lean more forward (creating a 45-degree angle toward the target instead of nearly perpendicular) when kicking.
Driving the ball takes a bit more practice: here you need to touch the ball with the outside of your foot while bringing your foot in a hook motion.

Practice kicking the ball. If you’re very close to goal and all you need right now is precision, you can hit the ball with the middle of the inside of your foot, similar to a pass. However, it is often difficult to get that close to the opponent’s goal and you will need both power and precision in your shot. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Touch the ball at the center of the shoelace, foot down. Keep your foot down until the shot is complete.
Use your hips to bring the ball. If needed, kick your legs diagonally over your body for extra force. At that time, both feet will be lifted off the ground.

Technical set of defenders. Blocking an opponent’s attack is an achievement that is often overlooked. To coach people in football, you need to keep three basic things in mind: ^{[14] X Research Sources}

Don’t be fooled by the opponent giving or stopping the ball, distracting before actually sending the ball the other way, or using feints, tricks, and other maneuvers. You need to focus on the ball at all times.
Stand between the ball and the goal, or in other words, don’t let the ball go behind you.
As soon as the opponent touches to dribble is the time to break the ball. This is called dribbling judgment and it is very important in stopping the opponent’s attack.

Enhance your kicking style and technique

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Consider running. Some estimates suggest that the professional soccer player runs about 6 to 8 km in 90 minutes of competition. That’s not a small number and most of it is running without the ball. Learn to penetrate the void, run to where your teammates want or expect you to go, and escape your chaperone. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Head freely when allowed and want to do. Try to hit the ball with your head right at the line between your hair and forehead. Don’t use the top of your head! When you’re about to hit your head, don’t tilt your head back, but lean your whole body back. As a result, you will have more force and your neck will not be too strained. Take the initiative to touch the ball, don’t let the ball touch you! ^{[16] X Research Source}

Some youth leagues ban headers because of concerns about traumatic brain injuries and other head and neck injuries. If you’re just playing ball for fun, you should consider whether heading is necessary.

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Practice kicking the ball with your feet and body. Kicking involves receiving and controlling the ball in the air using the coordination of the head, shoulders, chest, legs, and feet. You probably won’t have to bounce the ball much during the game, but it’s an important skill to develop. ^{[17] X Research Source}

For example, you can receive a high pass by touching your chest and navigating down to your feet, thereby quickly controlling the ball.
Tossing the ball improves the feel of the ball. When you know how to bounce the ball, your feeling will be much better and the first touch is extremely important in football.

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Improved handling with a non-dominant foot. It is very important to dribble, pass, and shoot the ball with your non-dominant foot. Good defenders always lock your dominant foot and force you to use the other. If you can’t use your non-dominant foot, you’ll be at a huge disadvantage when playing. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Practice using only your non-dominant foot during practice or when shooting/topping the ball on your own. Getting your body used to this muscular reflex is an important part of helping your non-dominant foot become more dexterous.

Advice

Increase your exercise and improve your heart health. You will expend a lot of energy running from an hour to an hour and a half.
When you shoot straight at the goalkeeper, make a gesture, pretend you are going to shoot the ball. In most cases, at this point, the goalkeeper is moving. When shooting, you should aim for empty corners.
Practice at a slow pace, then speed up to refine your skills.
Don’t touch the ball with your hands, unless you’re a keeper or throw-in!
Maintain a balanced diet, thereby ensuring the energy level needed for exercise. ^{[21] X Research Source}

What you need to play good football

soccer ball
Soccer shoes (recommended to use soles with strong studs)
Foot Protector
Football socks (long socks are recommended)
Sportswear (pants can choose shorts or elastic pants – as long as they are easy to run)
Water bottles
Playground (wide)

Steps

Play by the rules

Essential engineering construction

Enhance your kicking style and technique

Advice

What you need to play good football

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