The rules of soccer are pretty simple. Players wear shirts, shorts, cleated shoes, and sometimes shin guards tucked inside their socks. The soccer ball is usually made of rubber or leather.

A soccer game begins with one team kicking off. Play continues constantly, stopping if the ball goes out of bounds, a foul is committed, or a goal is scored. In most competitions, the game is 90 minutes long, played in two halves. Most U.S. interscholastic games play 15 minute quarters. If the game is tied at the end, an overtime period is usually played.

The referee is assisted by two linesmen, one on each sideline. Penalties against an opposing team are pushing, tripping, holding, striking, intentional kicking, and charging from behind. When these types of penalties occur, the referee awards a direct free kick against the opposing team. It takes place on the spot where the penalty occurred, unless the violation occurs in the offending team's own penalty area. Then it is placed 12 yards from the goal, and only the goalie may try to defend the goal.

Other offenses, which are considered not as severe are obstruction, offsides, and dangerous play. The hands and arms may not be used to contact the ball unless you are the goalie. When these occur, an indirect free kick is awarded, meaning that one pass must be made before a goal can be scored.

When the ball goes out of bounds over the side lines, it is returned back into play with a two hand overhead throw, with both of the players feet touching the ground. When the ball goes over the goal line, but does not go into the goal, it is either a corner kick for the attacking team, or a free kick for the defending team.

Glossary of Terms

ARC - The quarter circle at each corner of the field in which the ball is placed for a corner kick

ATTACKER - A player trying to score in a game.

BREAKAWAY - When the player has the ball behind the fullbacks and has an open field between him and the goal.

CALL - A decision made by the referee.

CENTERING - Kicking the ball from one of the wings into the goal or penalty area.

CHIP - Causing the ball to travel in the air by kicking underneath it.

CHIP-PASS - A short kick over the opponent’s head to a teammate.

CHIP-SHOT - A kick at goal usually lifted over the goalkeeper's head.

CORNER KICK - A kick taken at the corner of the field by the attacking team when the defending team last touched the ball before it crossed the goal line.

COVER - Guarding a player on the other team to stop him from getting the ball.

CROSSBAR - The goal bar which is parallel to the ground.

DANGEROUS PLAY - Any play, action or movement that puts an opponent, a teammate, or yourself in a position where you may get injured.

DEFENSE - The part of your team trying to stop the other team from scoring.

DRIBBLING - Moving the ball with the feet, using small, short kicks.

FAR POST - The goalpost that is farthest away from the kicker.

FORWARDS - The players on a team who take most of the shots, and do most of the scoring.

FOUL - An illegal play or movement by a player.

FREE-KICK - A free-kick is given to a team when the other team commits a foul. The other team must remain 10 yards away while you pass or shoot the ball.

GOAL - When the ball goes between the goalposts to score a point.

GOAL BOX - The box in which the ball is placed to take a goal kick.

GOALIE - The only player on the team who is allowed to touch the ball with his hands in the penalty area. His job is to stop the opponent’s ball from going into the goal.

GOALKICK - A free kick taken by the defending team when the attacking team kicks the ball across the goal line, and not in the goal.

GOAL LINE - The line between the two corner flags on each end of the field.

GOALPOSTS - The posts that make up the goal, also called the uprights.

HALFBACK - The players on a team who play around the middle of the field. They pass the ball to the forwards so they can score.

HALF-LINE - The line across the middle of the field, dividing it in half.

HALF-TIME - A game is divided into two equally timed halves. Half time is the short break in between the two halves.

HEADING - Propelling the ball by hitting it with your head.

INSTEP DRIVE - A kick or shot taken with the part of the foot where your shoelaces are located.

LINESMAN - The person near one of the touchlines who signals when the ball is out of bounds, or a player is offsides.

MARKING - Covering or guarding an opponent.

NEAR POST - The goal post nearest to the kicker.

NET - The plastic or string-like thing that is tied to the goalposts to make it easier to tell when a goal is scored.

OFFENSE - The part of your team trying to score.

OFF-THE-BALL - Running without the ball to move to an open space so you can receive the ball.

OPPONANT - The people on the other team in a game.

PASS - Using part of your body to hit the ball to a teammate.

PENALTY BOX - The lines which form the rectangle in which the goalie may use his hands.

PENALTY KICK - A shot on goal inside the penalty area, defended by only the goalie. This is given when the defense commits a foul inside the penalty box.

POWER KICK - A hard, fast shot or kick.

REFEREE - The person who controls the soccer game, and calls fouls.

SCORE - A ball going under the crossbar and between the goalposts, completely crossing the goal line.

SCREENING - Keeping your body between the ball and an opponent, so he can't take it away.

SHOT - An attempt to score a goal.

SIDE VOLLEY - A ball played while it is still in the air.

STRIKERS - The forwards in the middle of the forward line who usually take the most shots.

SUBSTITUTE - A player on a team who is not playing at the beginning of the game, but will probably go in later.

SWEEPER - The defender who does not have a special player to cover, and usually plays behind the other fullbacks to back them up.

TACKLING - Using the feet to take the ball away from an opponent.

THROW-IN - Putting the ball back in play when it goes out of bounds on the sidelines. You hold the ball with both hands behind the head, bringing them forward to throw the ball.

TOUCHLINE - The boundary lines on the long sides of the field.

TRAPPING - Gaining control of a moving ball by stopping it with a part of the body.

TRIPPING - Causing an opponent to fall by hitting his feet out from under him.

VOLLEY - Kicking the ball while it is still in the air.

WING - The forward parts of the field toward the sidelines, or the players who play on that part of the field.