Welcome to your ultimate Irish football resource!
 

Welcome to our Irish Football Archive. Have fun browsing!

 

Article #1: How to play football

(Browse for more articles)

 
The Laws of the Game are based on efforts remain to be played, and the fourth
made in the mid-19th century to official then signals this to players and
standardise the rules of the widely spectators by holding up a board showing
varying games of football played at the this number.
independent schools of England. The first Note that there is often semantic debate
set of rules resembling the modern game as to whether the referee is "adding on"
were produced at Trinity College, time to the end of a half, or rather
Cambridge in 1848, at a meeting attended treating time during stoppages as though
by representatives from Eton, Harrow, it never existed as part of the match
Rugby, Winchester and Shrewsbury, but time; this distinction has little bearing
they were far from universally adopted. on the practical conduct of a game,
During the 1850s, many clubs were formed, however it may be noted that the pre-1997
throughout the English-speaking world, wording of the laws stated that the
independent of schools or universities, referee "shall ... allow the full or
to play various forms of football. Some agreed time adding thereto all time lost
came up with their own distinct codes of through injury or accident" (Law V), and
rules, most notably the Sheffield later FIFA guidelines regarding the
Football Club (formed by former pupils annotation of goal scoring times
from Harrow) in 1857, which led to suggested that time is indeed "added-on"
formation of a Sheffield FA in 1867. In to the end of the agreed half period.
1862, John Charles Thring of Uppingham Extra time and shootouts In some
School also devised an influential set of competitions if a game is tied at the end
rules. of regulation time it may go into extra
Players and equipment Each team consists time, which consists of two further
of a maximum of eleven players (excluding 15-minute periods. If the score is still
substitutes), one of whom must be the tied after extra time, some competitions
goalkeeper. allow the use of penalty shootouts (known
Competition rules may state a minimum of officially in the Laws of the Game as
seven players are required to constitute "kicks from the penalty mark") to
a team. There are a variety of positions determine which team will progress to the
in which the outfield players are next stage of the tournament. Note that
strategically placed by a manager/coach, goals scored during extra time periods
though these positions are not defined or count towards the final score of the
required by the Laws. game, unlike kicks from the penalty mark
One player on each team must be which are only used to decide the team
designated as that team's goalkeeper. The that progresses to the next part of the
goalkeeper is the only player allowed to tournament (with goals scored not making
handle the ball with his hands or arms, up part of the final score).
but is restricted to doing so within the Competitions utilizing two-leg stages
penalty area (also known as the "box" or (i.e. where each round involves the two
"18 yard box") in front of his own goal. teams playing each other twice) may
The basic equipment players are required utilise the so-called away goals rule to
to wear includes a shirt (or jersey), attempt to determine which team
shorts, socks (or stockings), footwear progresses in the event of the teams
and adequate shin guards. Players are being equal on wins; however, should
forbidden to wear or use anything that is results still be equal following this
dangerous to themselves or another player calculation kicks from the penalty mark
(including jewellery or watches). are usually required. Other competitions
A number of players may be replaced by may require a tied game to be replayed.
substitutes during the course of the Golden and silver goal experiments In the
game. The maximum substitutions permitted late 1990s, the IFAB experimented with
in international games and in national ways of making matches more likely to end
level leagues are three, though without requiring kicks from the penalty
substitution numbers may be varied in mark, which were often seen as an
other leagues. The usual reasons for a undesirable way to end a match.
player's replacement include injury, These involved rules ending a game in
tiredness, ineffectiveness, a tactical extra time early, either when the first
switch, or to waste a little time at the goal in extra time was scored (golden
end of a finely poised game. In standard goal), or at the end of the first period
adult matches, a player who has been of extra time if one team was by then
substituted may not take further part in leading (silver goal). Both these
the match. experiments have been discontinued by
Officials A game is presided over by a IFAB.
referee, who has "full authority to Golden goal was used at the World cup in
enforce the Laws of the Game in 2002 (Japan-South Korea), and silver goal
connection with the match to which he has was used in Euro 2004 (Portugal).
been appointed" (Law 5), and whose Fouls and misconduct A foul occurs when a
decisions regarding facts connected with player commits a specific offence listed
play are final. The referee is assisted in the Laws of the Game when the ball is
by two assistant referees (formerly in play. The offences that constitute a
called linesmen). In many high-level foul are listed in Law 12. "Penal fouls",
games there is also a fourth official, for example handling the ball, tripping
who assists the referee and may replace an opponent, pushing an opponent, etc,
another official should the need arise. are punishable by a direct free kick or
Playing field The length of the field penalty kick depending on where the
(pitch) for international adult matches offence occurred. Other fouls are
should be in the range 100-110m (110-120 punishable by an indirect free kick.
yards) and the width should be in the Misconduct may occur at any time, and may
range 64-75m (70-80 yards). be committed by both players and
The longer boundary lines are touch substitutes. Whilst the offences that
lines, while the shorter boundaries (on constitute misconduct are listed, the
which the goals are placed) are goal definitions are broad. In particular, the
lines. On the goal line at each end of offence of "unsporting behaviour" may be
the field is a goal. The inner edges of used to deal with most events that
the goal posts must be 7.32m (8 yards) violate the spirit of the game, even if
apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar they are not listed as specific offences.
must be 2.44m (8 feet) above the ground. Misconduct may be punished by a caution
Nets are usually placed behind the goal, (yellow card) or sending-off (red card).
though are not required by the Laws. Recently, there have been problems in
In front of each goal is an area of the professional football leagues because of
field known as the penalty area the problem known as 'diving' or
(colloquially "penalty box", "18 yard 'simulation'. This is the wilful falling
box" or simply "the box"). This area over of a player in order to win a
consists of the area formed by the free-kick or penalty when little or no
goal-line, two lines starting on the contact has been made between the two
goal-line 16.5m (18 yards) from the players. This poses a dilemma for
goalposts and extending 18 yards into the officials who are trying to conduct a
pitch from the goal-line, and a line fair game. In response, 'simulation' has
joining these. This area has a number of been defined as 'unsporting behaviour'
important functions, the most prominent and therefore is now a bookable offense.
being to denote where the goalkeeper may Advantage The advantage clause states
handle the ball and where a foul by a that the referee should allow play to
defender which would usually punished by continue — i.e. not stop play — when
a direct free kick becomes punishable by the team against which an offence has
a penalty kick. been committed will benefit from having
Duration Standard durations A standard play continue. The referee may "call
adult football match consists of two back" play and penalise the original
periods (known as halves) of 45 minutes offence if the anticipated advantage does
each. There is usually a 15-minute break not ensue within a short period of time,
between halves, known as half time. The typically taken to be four to five
end of the match is known as full-time. seconds.
Time added on The referee is the official Even if an offence is not penalised due
timekeeper for the match, and it is part to application of the advantage clause
of his duties to make allowance for time the offender may still be sanctioned for
lost through substitutions, injured any associated misconduct at the next
players requiring attention, cautions and stoppage of play.
dismissals, sundry time wasting, etc. Offside The offside law limits the
When making such an allowance for time ability of attacking players to remain
lost, the referee is often said to be forward (i.e.
"adding time on"; the added time is closer to the opponent's goal-line) of
commonly referred to as stoppage time or both the ball and the second last
injury time. The amount of time is at the defending player. It is often assumed
sole discretion of the referee, and the that the purpose of this law is to
referee alone signals when the match has prevent "goal scrounging" or "cherry
been completed. There are no other picking", but in fact the offside law has
timekeepers, although assistant referees similar roots to the offside law in
carry a watch and may provide a second rugby. The details and application of
opinion if requested by the referee. In this law are complex, and often result in
matches where a fourth official is controversy: for more information on
appointed, towards the end of the half offside please refer to the main article
the referee will signal how many minutes above.






1- A- B- C- D- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- 16- 17- 18- 19- 20- 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 26- 27- 28- 29- 30- 31- 32- 33- 34- 35- 36- 37- 38- 39- 40- 41- 42- 43- 44- 45- 46- 47- 48- 49- 50- 51- 52- 53- 54- 55-