To ask how you’d explain football rules in a really simple way? (Sorry - boring thread alert).

[Chocolatefrogs]

Both my kids are really into football - both playing and watching it. I’ve got quite interested in it now because of them, and we’ve been to a few games together for the team our family supports.

I think I’ve got a good grasp of some of the football rules - e.g. the offside rule - but get a bit confused about things like free kicks, indirect free kicks, goal kicks, corner kicks etc.

Could someone please explain in very simple terms how free kicks/indirect free kicks/corner kicks work? E.g. the situations when they are used. Thanks!

I also follow football cos my dc loves it and mostly understand but don’t always.

i do know that corner kicks are awarded when the ball has gone off the back of the pitch (ignore my terrible terminology!) and the last person to touch it was the opposing team. If the last person to touch it was the team trying to score in that goal, it would be a goal kick instead.

Direct free kick = can score a goal directly from a direct free kick

Indirect free kick = you can not score directly from these, someone else needs to touch the ball first.

As above, if the ball goes out between the goalpost and the corner flag it's either a corner or a goal kick depending on which team hit it out. If the ball goes out anywhere else it's a throw in. Free kicks are when there has been a foul/handball/offside outside of the box. Any of these happening inside the box will be a penalty (if committed by the opposition). Indirect free kicks are very unusual in professional football but in kids games I've seen then given for the goalkeeper shouting 🙄

You can score from a direct free kick.

You can not score from an indirect free kick or corner, meaning someone other than the free/corner kick taker needs to touch the ball before it goes in the back of the net.

Direct free kicks are awarded for either handball or a contact foul. Everything else is indirect.

Although I wouldn't bother learning the rules, everything is subjective now thanks to VAR 🤦🏻‍♀️

Just be glad they don’t play rugby union, those rules are something else 😀

Offside is not quite as straightforward as it seems. You think the rule is that the forward can’t be any further forward than the second last defender (assuming that the 1st last defender is the goalkeeper). However, you can be in an offside position and it not be offside, dependant on how the ball reaches you. You can’t be offside from a goal kick, or if receiving the ball directly from a corner or a throw in.

Handball is also an interesting one, as your hand needs to have been in an unnatural position.

You can score direct from a corner

https://olympics.com/en/news/how-to-play-football-rules-field-pitch-free-kick-penalty

Scroll down to Throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks.

Apologies, you can.

I should have checked what I'd written but was in too much of a rush to have a go at VAR :(

You can be offside from a goal kick. It will depend where on the pitch you are as it is taken.

Makes me almost glad my hometown team I support is in the Championship and has no chance of promotion. 😂

Yes the Championship is a lot of fun without VAR…though we are hoping for promotion this season 🤞

It definitely feels extra exciting this year, very close towards the top and bottom. Could very well go down to the last day for both promotion/play offs and relegation.

Thanks all! These are really helpful. As for where my loyalties lie, I’m hoping Spurs do well this year (keeping my fingers crossed!) 🤍🤍🤍