Soccer

**Soccer**, also known as **Football**, is a team sport played between two teams of 1 to 5 players who primarily use their feet to propel a ball around a rectangular field. The objective of the game is to score more goals than the opposite team by moving the ball beyond the goal line into a rectangular-framed goal defended by the opposing side. Typically, the game is played until either team scores 10 points; however, other variations determine the winning team by whoever has more goals at the end of a certain designated period of time.

## How to Play

Typically, a coin flip is used to determine which team starts off with possession of the ball at the beginning of the game. Once a team is given possession (either at the beginning of a game or after the opposing team scores a goal), members of the other team must remain on their side of the field behind the dividing line and outside of the central circle. Once the team in possession of the ball kicks the ball, then members of the opposing team may move anywhere on the field and attempt to kick the ball.

If the game is played with teams of 3 or more players, then 1 player is designated as a goal-keeper. Goal-keepers are allowed to use their hands/arms to hit and move the ball, so long as they do so whilst inside the designated keeper box on their team's side of the field. Goal-keepers may not use their hands/arms to hit or move the ball if they are outside of this designated area, but they may use their feet/legs to do so like other players. Players who are not goal-keepers may not use their hands/arms to hit or move the ball, unless they are throwing the ball onto the field after it has gone out of bounds.

### Resuming Play After Stoppage

If the ball ends up out of bounds, then possession will be determined by whichever team was not the last to touch it. A member from the team who receives possession will throw the ball onto the field in order to resume play. If a goal is scored, then the opposing team to those who scored will receive possession and begin with the ball at the center of the field.

### Penalties

Penalties are assessed and given out at the discretion of the referee in charge of overseeing the game. The following actions may result in punishments in the form of penalty kicks from the opposing team:

For all penalty kicks, the player charged with beginning the possession may use their hand/arm once to hit the ball.

* Fouls - hitting one or more players from the opposing team
	+ A player may receive either a yellow card or a red card after fouling an opposing player (these are given out at the discretion of the referee and based on the perceived intent/result of the foul). If a player receives two yellow cards or one red card, then they are ejected from the game.
	+ **Yellow Card Penalty Kick**: If a team is awarded a yellow card penalty kick, they will begin possession with the ball at the center of the field. All members of the opposing team are permitted to defend against oncoming kicks of the ball.
	+ **Red Card Penalty Kick**: If a team is awarded a red card penalty kick, they will begin possession with the ball at the center of the field. Only the goal-keeper of the opposing team is permitted to defend against oncoming kicks of the ball.
* Hand Ball - touching the ball with one's hand/arm when they are not a goal-keeper inside the keeper box.
	+ **Hand Ball Penalty Kick**: If a team is awarded a hand ball penalty kick, they will begin possession with the ball at the center of the field. All members of the opposing team are permitted to defend against oncoming kicks of the ball.