The new year has begun, and the winter break is still ongoing. It's the ideal time to refresh your knowledge of the rules. At first glance, football rules seem simple, but they contain a surprising number of details that even long-time players are unaware of. Here is a selection.
A goal from a direct kick-off counts
Since 1997, it has been permitted to score a goal directly from a kick-off. The ball only needs to clearly move, and it may also be played backwards. In practice, such a goal rarely occurs because of the massive distance. However, if the opposing goalkeeper is standing far away from their goal, it is quite possible.
No offside from a throw-in, corner kick, or goal kick
Anyone who receives the ball directly from a throw-in, a corner kick, or a goal kick cannot be offside. Smart teams use this strategically, for example, by having a striker lurk behind the defense during a long throw-in.
A throw-in directly into the goal does not count
If a player throws the ball directly into the opponent's goal from a throw-in without anyone touching it, it is not a goal, but a goal kick. If the ball lands directly in their own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponent.
The goalkeeper cannot score with their hands
If the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponent's goal from their hand, it does not count either. A goal kick is awarded. However, if they kick the ball from their hand and score, the goal is valid. Such goals have occurred several times, usually with the strong assistance of the wind.
The penalty as a one-two
A penalty does not have to be shot directly at the goal. The kicker may also pass the ball forward to a teammate, who then takes the shot. It is only important that the ball moves forward and the kicker does not touch it a second time before another player has touched the ball. Johan Cruyff demonstrated this trick as early as 1982, and Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez repeated it for FC Barcelona in 2016.
At least seven players
A match may not begin or continue if a team has fewer than seven players. If a team falls below this limit due to red cards or injuries, the match is abandoned.
The goal kick does not have to leave the penalty area
Since 2019, the ball is in play during a goal kick as soon as it has been kicked and moved. It no longer has to leave the penalty area. This has changed the build-up play for many teams: goalkeepers now often play the ball short to a defender inside their own penalty area.
Rules in transition
Football rules are reviewed every year by the International Football Association Board, or IFAB for short. New rules come into force on July 1st each year. There is currently a debate about how to combat time-wasting by goalkeepers more effectively. It is therefore worth staying up to date in the future as well.
Rule quiz for your team
A rule quiz is a fun change of pace for winter training. Ask your team ten questions, perhaps using the cases from this article, and have them guess in small groups. Experience shows that this often leads to some surprises and lively discussions.
And the most important rule?
In the end, what counts is who scores more goals. And for that, you need one thing above all: a clean finish. If you want to use the winter break to work on your volley, the VOLLEYCHAMP® is a great companion. The ball is ready, you shoot, and all without needing any knowledge of the rules.
