Soccer is a limited-contact team sport popular around the world. At the beginning level, it promotes physical fitness and teamwork. It is an excellent youth sports activity. At the highest levels, millions of fans hang on every play during critical international matches. It is a popular amateur and high school sport in the United States but does not rival football, baseball, basketball or hockey as a spectator sport.
Team Makeup
Soccer teams traditionally play with 10 players per side, plus one goalkeeper. However, fewer players are possible in informal pickup games and/or in games on smaller surfaces or indoors. It is also possible to exceed 10 players in pickup games.
Playing Surface Dimensions
Soccer fields are typically 100 yards to 130 yards long and 50 yards to 100 yards wide. For major international matches and U.S. collegiate matches, fields are generally 110 yards and 120 yards long and 70 to 80 yards wide. The field is divided equally into two halves. A goal is placed at either end of the field. At the highest levels of soccer, goals are 8 yards wide and 8 feet tall.
Soccer Basics
The point of the game is to score the ball over the goal line, which extends from post to post of the goal. Goalkeepers protect the goals. They are the only players allowed to play the ball with their hands while it is in the field of play. The other players use their feet, legs, torso and head to stop or advance the ball. This is why soccer is "football" outside the United States. When the ball goes off one team and over a sideline, the other team gets a two-handed throw-in. If the ball goes over the end line off the defensive team, the attacking team get to kick it in from the corner. If the ball goes over the end line off the offensive team, the defensive team uses a goal kick to restart play. Attacking players are not allowed to move past the defending players and ahead of the ball in the offensive zone. This is an offside violation.
Non-Contact Principles
Some contact is allowed in soccer, Nike Total 90 Laser mostly on incidental collisions and otherwise clean plays on the ball. However, pushing, grabbing, elbowing, tripping, tackling and other forms of deliberate contact are strictly prohibited. Rough play can lead to ejection from matches and suspension from competition. When a defensive team commits such a foul in the penalty area, the attacking team may be awarded a penalty shot --- a clear shot at the goal with only the goalkeeper defending.
Length of Matches
Sanctioned matches of the International Federation of Association Football, FIFA, are 90 minutes long, with two 45-minute halves separated by no more than a 15-minute break. Play is otherwise generally continuous. Referees may add "extra time" to compensate for time lost to injuries and other delays in the action. Matches may be shorter or longer at other levels of competition. A penalty kick competition usually decides tournament elimination games ending in a tie, enabling one team to advance.
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