SOCCER FOULS

(DETAILED)

DIRECT KICK FOULS- for which the other team receives a “direct free kick” (a goal can be scored) or a “penalty kick” if the foul occurs in the penalty box (Note: it doesn’t matter if the ball is in the penalty box, it is where the foul was committed). There are ten direct kick fouls. The rules state that the referee should call a foul for numbers 1-6 if he/she believes they are committed in a manner he/she believes “careless, reckless or using excessive force”. If a player:

  1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
  2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
  3. Charges an opponent, including the goalkeeper (both ways- the goalkeeper cannot charge into another player)
  4. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
  5. Pushes an opponent
  6. Jumps at or tackles an opponent, including jumping at a header and jumping at the goalkeeper
  7. Blatant holding or pulling (clothing, any part of the body or to hold an opponent and “sandwich”)
  8. Making contact with an opponent before touching the ball when tackling an opponent to gain possession of the ball (note: sit is always a foul if the tackler contacts the ball handler before touching the ball. However, it can still be a direct kick foul if the ball is touched first but the tackler was “careless, reckless, or used excessive force” or if the referee believes the tackler played in a “dangerous manner” an indirect kick foul can be awarded).
  9. Spitting at an opponent, even if it doesn’t hit the opponent (this is grounds for a red card).
  10. Deliberately handles the ball with ones hands (a “hand ball”). This should not be called if a player is instinctively trying to protect him/herself from injury or if the ball hits the hand while in it is in a natural position near the player’s side and has not moved toward the ball.

INDIRECT KICK FOULS- for which the other team receives an “indirect free kick” (a goal only counts if another player touches the ball before it enters the goal). The kick is taken from where the offense occurred. There are two types of indirect kick fouls:

  1. Four that apply to all players:
  1. “Dangerous Play”- playing in a dangerous manner- is any action by a player that in the judgment of the referee is dangerous to him/herself or another player and that is not a “direct kick foul”. Examples include high kicking when an opponent is nearby, trying to head a low ball that an opponent is trying to kick, ANY action that might endanger the goalkeeper within the penalty box. If the goalkeeper and an opponent go for a loose ball, the referee will tend to favor the goalkeeper if a collision occurs. It is not necessary for someone to be injured.
  2. Impeding Progress of an Opponent- A player cannot use his/her body to impede another player’s movement, even if it is not deliberate. This can be called if a player is not within playing distance of the ball (i.e. 3 ft.) and block’s an opponent’s movement or screens an opponent from the ball. However, if a player is within playing distance and able to play the ball (not lying down) the player can legally screen an opponent from the ball (you usually see this when a ball is going out of bounds and the player whose team will get the throw-in screens the opponent). This used to be called Obstruction. This rule also applies to impeding the goalkeeper by standing in front of him/her when he/she has the ball.
  3. Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his/her hands. This can be unsporting behavior and a yellow card can be given as well.
  4. Any time a yellow or red card is shown and direct card isn’t awarded, and indirect kick is awarded.
  1. Four indirect kick fouls that ONLY apply to the goalkeeper and ONLY if committed inside the penalty box (if the ball is on the line, it is in the box).
  1. Controlling the ball with his/her hands for more than 6 seconds before releasing it from his/her possession. This only applies to time of possession, not time of first touch. Rarely called in youth soccer.
  2. Touching the ball with hands after it is deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a teammate. (Note: it is okay to pick up an accidentally kicked ball).
  3. Touching the ball with his/her hands after he/she has received it directly on a throw-in from a teammate.
  4. Intentionally touching the ball with his/her hands after he has released it from his/her possession and before it has touched another player (e.g., dropping the ball, dribbling it and then picking it back up is not allowed). If the goalkeeper accidentally drops the ball and picks it back up, it may be okay. It is at the discretion of the referee. The important words in the rules are “releases from possession”. Some referees will consider the goalkeeper to have the ball under his/her possession if he/she has one finger on it for their safety—this is to discourage attackers from trying to kick the ball out of the goalkeeper’s hands.

All kicks are taken from the spot of the foul.

Adapted from FIFA and