The rules of football are not that complicated, once they are properly explained. By giving it a little effort, anyone can understand them. But when you are a allergic to all that goes with “the beautiful game”, it can be hard to motivate yourself! Here are a few tips for when you find yourself having to watch a match with friends. And to help you stop having to feign interest in front of the television…..
The rules of football, also called The Laws of the Game, are not inbred knowledge. However, they can in fact change from year to year, making it tricky to follow. But the basics stay the same, and in the end, they aren’t so complicated. Judge for yourself, Ref!
1/ You play 11 vs 11
The first rule is easy to remember. You play 10 + 1, against the same number. Okay so far?
2/ The offside rule is basically a ban on staying in front of the other team’s goalie
The rules of football are not complicated, as long as the offside rule doesn’t come into it…. Forget everything you have heard until now. To be offside simply means a player is in the wrong position. In short, tell yourself that the rule forbids a footballer from staying in front of the goalie of the other team. It’s easier like that.
3/ The referee’s decisions are normally respected, but refs are still human beings and can get it wrong
The referee, the guy in black casually jogging around the field while everyone else is running frantically, has the monopoly on the score. A god of the stadium, in short, who decides the fate of all teams. It’s better not to get on his wrong side. That said, it can also happen that the referee is wrong. In such cases, players can attempt to argue to get him to change his mind…. Football: one of the rare sports in which players don’t bow down before him!
4/ Like in poker, you need to be a good actor
It doesn’t technically fall under the rules of football, but you never know… Acting: an exercise that plenty of footballers know how to use. A way of wasting time when you’re 1-0 up? Except that guys, there are cameras….
5/ Contrary to rugby, goals are rare
Which is one reason to go wild when your team scores one! We have rarely seen a match where the score was 15-0, and it’s unlikely to happen…
