Soccer is a straightforward sport. A field, a ball, two teams of players and their equipment, plus a referee are required. Soccer requires very little equipment. Most AYSO teams, however, wear uniforms (shirts, shorts, and socks) provided by the local area. These uniforms help identify team members on the field and are an important part of playing the game. The object of soccer is to score more goals than your opponent. You can do this by having more shots on goal or by preventing your opponent from scoring. In order to score a goal you need a player with the ball who has space to shoot and someone who is able to stop the shot. There are several ways to score a goal. A player with the ball at the side of the field can pass it forward or kick it towards the goal. If the player kicks the ball, they can choose where to put it so that it goes in the goal. Or they can play it upfield where it will be intercepted by another player. Interceptions are important because they give the opposing team the ball near their own goal line. If there is no one there, the player with the interception can run with the ball or hand it off to another player. A player with the ball at the top of the field can take a shot at the goal or pass it forward. Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands outside of normal play.