Rules of Soccer (continued)
9. When the ball is in and out of play is determined by rule nine. Put simply, the ball is out of play when it has entirely crossed either the goal line or the touch line (sideline). It does not matter whether the ball is in the air or on the ground. The ball is in play at all other times.
10. Methods of scoring are determined by this rule. A goal is scored when the whole ball passes over the goal lines, between the two goal posts, and under the crossbar. The scoring team must not have broken any rules in scoring. The team which has the greater number of goals at the end of the match wins it. If it is tied, the match will be declared a draw.
11. It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position. A player will be penalized if the ball is played or touched by a fellow teammate while he is in active play and either interfering with play, interfering with an opposing player, or gaining an advantage by being offside. If the referee does call a player offside a free kick will be given to the other team from where the offense was committed.
12. Rule 12 defines fouls and misconduct. It says that the other team will be awarded a direct free kick if a player kicks or attempts to kick an opposing player; trips, jumps or charges an opponent; strikes or attempts to strike an opponent; pushes, holds, or spits at an opponent; tackles an opposing player, touching the opponent before the ball; or if the player handles the ball deliberately and is not a goalkeeper.
13. Free kicks are one of two kinds: direct--either the goal can be directly scored against the opposing team, or indirect--A goal can’t be scored unless the ball has been played or touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal.
14. The rules of soccer stipulate that a penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark. It is awarded against a team when they commit any of the ten offenses for which a direct free kick is awarded.
15. A team is awarded a throw-in if a ball passes over the touchline (side boundary) no matter whether it is on the ground or in the air. The ball is thrown in at the point where it crossed the line to the opponents of the team which touched the ball last.
16. A goal kick is awarded to the defending team when a player of the attacking team has caused the ball to cross the goal line outside of the goal area.
17. The last of the rules of soccer determines when a team is awarded a corner kick. The attacking team is given a corner kick if the ball should pass over the goal line outside of the goal area and it was last touched by a member of the defending team.