The Rules of Football (Soccer or Association Football) - EXPLAINED! 

POSITIONS : GK - Goalkeeper LB - Left Back LWB - Left Winger Back LCB - Left Central Back CB - Central Back RCB - Right Central Back RWB - Right Winger Back RB - Right Back LDM - Left Defensive Midfielder LM - Left Midfielder LAM - Left Attacking Midfielder LCM - Left Central Midfielder CDM - Central Defensive Midfielder CM - Central Midfielder CAM - Central Attacking Midfielder RDM - Right Defensive Midfielder RM - Right Midfielder RCM - Right Central Midfielder RAM - Right Attacking Midfielder LF - Left Forward LW - Left Winger CF - Center Forward ST - Striker RF - Right Forward RW - Right Winger Obviously, Not All Of These Positions Can Be Played At Once, As This Is To Many Players On The Pitch And Exceeds The 11 Player Limit. The Reason There Are More Than Just 11 Positions Is Because Different Players Prefer To Play In Different Areas On The Pitch FORMATIONS : This Is The Distribution Of Players Throughout The Attacking Zone, The Midfield Zone, And The Defensive Zone. For Example A 4-3-3 Formation. This Means That There Are 4 Defenders, 3 Midfielders, And 3 Attackers TACTICS : Tactics Is Basically How Your Team Is Going To Move The Ball Up The Field, For Example How Often To Pass Or Dribble, Who Marks Who, How Tightly To Cover Your Marked Player etc. ROLES : As Ninh Did Not Explain, Your Team MUST Have A Designated ; Captain Direct Free Kick Taker Indirect Free Kick Taker Corner Kick Taker Penalty Kick Taker Pls Like Took Me A Long Time:)

I know the rules of football.... I'm just watching it because this channel is good

Mate, you just single handedly made me pass a P.E. test with all the explaining of different sports, you are the man.

Additionally, you can't be offside within your own half (See Torres vs. Barcelona, UCL 2012)

As a person that grew up playing American Football, I would like to thank you for this video. I always found Soccer/Football to be interesting.

I was scared of the offside thing but you made it seem so simple! Nice one.

I started watching soccer/football since the age of 5. I know the rules like my name lol. It’s honestly the greatest sport. So many things could happen. It’s a sport where you could actually see someone display incredible talents. Check out players like ronaldinho, messi, ronaldo, pele, etc.

Some finer points - A player is only offside when the ball is being passed forward from a player behind him. If (say) a attacker gets to the goal line and pass the ball backwards to a player ahead of the last defender, neither player is offside. Also you can't be offside in your own half of the field. There is some leeway as far as handball goes - if the ball hits a players hand or arm and it would have hit another part of his body anyway (e.g. his hand/arm was in front of his chest) then ref will *usually* not give handball. If a player blocks a pass or shot with their hand/arm that would have kept going then it should be handball. There's two types of free kick - direct and indirect. Direct means that the ball can be hit directly at goal. Indirect means it has to touch another player (either team) before going in the goal. If an indirect free kick goes straight in without touching anyone it's disallowed and a goal kick is given to the other team. Usually direct free kicks are for fouls and handball. Indirect free kicks are for offside. Indirect free kicks are also given for the keeper handling a back pass in the area as opposed to a penalty for any other sort of foul play, but these are rare occurrences. Even rarer is the drop ball which "is designed to offer no advantage to either side, generally being awarded when play has been stopped due to reasons other than normal gameplay or misconduct.". For example if there a streaker or animal on the pitch. Usually one team agree to kick it straight back to the team which was last in possession. Which leads me to the 'gentlemans agreement' - you may see players kicking the ball out of play deliberately - most frequently when an injured player needs treatment. It is usual for the other team to return the ball back to them in the interests of fair play. There is no rule saying a team must put the ball out of play or that the other team return possession however it is EXTREMELY bad form to not return possession. There have been instances where teams have not returned possession and scored - this has led to the other team allowing a goal in return to even things up or even games being replayed. But as mentioned this is all a 'gentlemens agreement' and not enshrined in the rules of the game. Nevertheless it is part of the game. I mentioned the 'no backpass rule' for goalkeepers earlier - essentially a goalkeeper can only pick up a pass from his teammates if it has been passed to him by any other part of the body except the foot. And even then it has to be a DELIBERATE backpass. If the ball ricochets off his team-mates foot the goalie can pick it up. Also goalkeepers can only handle the ball inside the 18 yard area. Handing the ball outside the area (deliberately or otherwise) is almost always at least a yellow card. Often a straight red as it is usually a 'professtional foul'. And what is a 'professional foul'? - "a professional foul is a deliberate act of foul play intended to bring about an advantage for the perpetrator. Professional fouls are usually committed to prevent an opponent from scoring.". I.e. a deliberate foul on the player rather than a result of bad timing or technique. For example player through on goal and being fouled by the last defender will invariable be a red card offence whereas a player being knocked over in midfield will be a yellow card or just a free kick. Professional fouls can happen anywhere on the pitch depending on circumstances and the referee's interpretation of the situation. And speaking of interpretation at time of writing for the most part referees cannot rely on replays or other technology for taking another look at incidents. At the higher levels of the game there is technology for the refs to be informed when the ball has crossed the goal line between the posts. Also refs have earpieces and other gadgets so the linesmen and fourth official can inform the ref of an incident the ref did not see so the ref can take appropriate action. This is the ONLY time a ref can do this. Refs cannot (for example) take action based on video replays inside the stadium. Finally there is the concept of 'playing advantage' - if a foul has been committed but the advantage is still with the attacking team the ref can choose to let play continue until a natural stoppage (goal, ball out of play, another foul) occurs. I.e. if a player makes a pass and is fouled but it looks like the pass might lead to a goal then the ref will let play continue as it is to the advantage of the player being fouled. If the foul is worthy of a card, the ref can give that card once play has stopped. Refs can also give cards before the game, at half time and after the game. Also refs can give yellow or red cards to substitute not yet on the field of play.

I'm a teen girl that's trying to force herself to life football your video is the first that I have watched and I don't think I can find any more helpful vid like this ....forever appreciated xoxo❤️

Soccer is the most difficult sport out there which makes it the funnest. I really enjoy playing it. Unlike other sports you need to feel the ball and actually play with your heart. I can't imagine a world without soccer. Thank god soccer exists!!! :)

I have been a soccer player for more than 20 years now. This video is excellent. Thanks for sharing. If you more videos like this about other games or topics, please guide. Thanks a lot!

There is a reason when I look up the rules of a sport put Ninh in my search bar. Simply the goat of Sports Rules explanations.

Great summary of the game. I used it to kick off (no pun intended!) our soccer unit in my high school PE class! Thanks!

Salah showing his quality back then good finish

this was really helpful for my PE home work, thank you!

I've been watching your videos (five years after them being made) and I got jaw-dropped about some other kinds of football out there. Anyway, a good note to mention (if no one has mentioned it) - the 'imaginary line' for offside is marked by the 2nd last defender (2nd being the key term here). The last defender is, most of the time, the goalkeeper, but on rare occasions, he/she is not the last defender. So we're looking at the 1st and 2nd last defenders actually being two Backs, in which, the offside imaginary line is still being marked by the 2nd last defender.

Thanks so much! Trying to get into watching football, but I was a bit intimidated by learning a whole new sport... this makes it a lot simpler☺👌

Thanks for making this video. I'm somewhat new to the rules of football. This was helpful and aided my understanding of the game.

You showed the Irish flag for countries that call it football, however generally in Ireland 'football' means Gaelic football. Usually the only people that call soccer 'football' are anti-GAA. Sorry for being picky!:)

I haven't played for a long time, but now I want to get back into the game. This was very helpful for a refresher. Thanks so much for putting in the time to make this video!

just play FIFA that's how I learn

I don’t knew any about football because of you I learnt many things and rules

Thanks I didn't knew the rules of football. Now finally I can watch and understand what is going on in football

I could not understand offside until now. The diagram you showed was very clear, thanks Ninh.

Thank you this was really helpful

You did a great job explaining thank you

Well, explained and simple excellent video

very informative and easy to understand. Great visuals also. keep up the good work!

You should explain how in the offside rule, you can still be onside in an offside position if the ball is played parallel to you.

Great video bro 👏 made it quite simple 😃👍

It's been years since I've played soccer, and I came across this video to get to know Soccer/Football rules again. :D Thanks for a great and informative video! You got yourself another subscriber! ;)

Excellent video, simple and straight forward. Thanks.

No explanation about player position but thats ok In world cup 2022 and premier league this season, we have 5 substitutions

Thank you! Im trying out for soccer on the 18th! I will try my very best♡

Love your video, I already know a little about soccer but you explain some stuff I was not sure about.

Great video! I play soccer like, A LOT, was very accurate!

In Ireland we say soccer because we have a sport called Gaelic football. But we call it football

good video i love football know THANKS! :V:)

Nice video. I'll use it for my English sports lessons. Thanks!

Thanks for the video! It was very helpful, my SO is obsessed with football and i know/ knew next to nothing about it so it's about time I learn 😂

4:08 There he is The Egyptian King

Hey Nihn what is your opinion of football finally joining the club with video reviews with video assistant referee's?

Amazing content. Very helpful

I love this channel it really helps

If soccer is short for association football Then griddy should be short for gridiron football I just achieved world Peace 🧘

My favourite sport is football/soccer I like it my dad is a footballer

This was very helpful. Thank you, Ninh Ly

Ninh explain super, I learn more game details in this channel. Super!

0:08 its called soccer in Ireland

Man, I wish Detroit would get an MLS expansion. I got turned on to soccer after the London Olympics, now I love it, but I have no team.

Thanks! I'm going to a tornoument on Wednesday.But I didn't get the offside thing so thanks!

Good video but in Ireland (where I'm from) we call it soccer football is usually Gaelic football so we usually call it soccer

OK, explanation of handball and Thierry Henry's handball is shown. Ireland is still in arms about that one.

This is a great video. My American wife finally understood. It was especially helpful with fouls and the offside rule. Thanks.

Well done Ninh.You called it by it's proper-Association football.

Good video, shame you didn't mention penalty shootouts and extra time.

Funny how soccer actually originated from England. It was so hard to say Association Football all the time, so they shortened it to Socker (not a typo).

Well explained! Good work. Keep it up

I learned more about soccer on this video than on TV (half the matches is on UniMas) started watching when Atlanta got a soccer franchise

offside is hard to notice

Canada and the US aren't the only ones...

Love your videos Ninh Ly. Just like with your video on arena/indoor american football, will you be doing one on futsal?

Thank you this has really helped with my gcse btec sport 😁😁🙌

Video for Americans...

It's soccer in many other countries.

I personally prefer "FOOTBALL"... Really liked your video... brushed up on a few things... thank you...

This video is the most helpful one on RU-vid

Thanks I have exam for health, and gym and this was use full I checked out he basket ball too

Thanks so much this was very simple, and easy to understand

thanks for the video!

great summary!

Thanks for this I needed a refresh for a speech... Even though I play the game!

very well done

these videos are awsome

I've got a soccer quiz and this really helps Thanks

Great video helped a lot

Great video

Dude great job on the video

Super duper awesome!

I am football player i know the rules i am watching because it got recommended and ninh is one of my favourite youtuber

You already addressed the nuances of the offside rule in your Offsides video, including the fact that it's actually based on the *second* to last defender, including the keeper, as infamously became important with Carlos Vela in the South Africa/Mexico World Cup game in 2010, but there are a few other topics that'd could make for an interesting "football rules you may not know" video. As one example, Indirect free kicks, especially ones in the box, seem to cause a lot a lot of confusion when they occur.

Great! I'm an EFL teacher and this video is really useful to share with my students. Thanks!

Beautiful game ❤️

Thanks for taking the time to explain this rule.

well explained Ninh! Can you please also make a video on how the league system works? thanks

great video,i play soccer but i showed this video to my cousin who wants to play footbal also i liked and subscribed

I'm a teen girl that's trying to force herself to life football your video is the first that I have watched and I don't think I can find any more helpful vid like this ....forever appreciated xoxo❤️in outdoor Soccer

Very helpful

Helpful Video

I would love a video about Futsal, Fifa vs Amf

Thanks for explaining offside, 🙏 from India...

Great Video!

Thanks very much the video is very helpful

very helpful brother

really helpful!!!

Thanks it really helped

Out of curiosity, have you considered tutorials of the various leagues and organizations, at least how they're competition is organized in these sports (professional and international play, etc.)? I'm actually interested in seeing how the competitive rules of each organized league or events in soccer. (points and standings systems, league rule differences maybe, and tournament plays, etc.)

thanks for this it really helped

this channel is just i don't know uhhh its weird in some ways but it still is kinda good. above average.

good job!!!