You do not need to memorise the whole rulebook to enjoy a football match together. Start with what happens when the ball leaves the pitch, why the referee stops play and how the game restarts. Those moments give children something clear to follow.
The explanations below introduce standard 11-a-side football. Children’s competitions can use different numbers of players, match lengths and restarts. Before a first youth match, ask the coach for the rules applying to that age group and competition. The FA separates Mini-Soccer and other formats from 11-a-side laws.
When is the ball out?
The whole ball must cross the whole touchline or goal line, on the ground or in the air. A ball touching or overhanging the line can still be in play. In standard football, the restart usually depends on which boundary it crossed and who touched it last.
| What happened? | Usual restart in 11-a-side football |
|---|---|
| Across the side boundary, last touched by one team | A throw-in for the other team. |
| Across the goal line, last touched by an attacker, with no goal scored | A goal kick for the defending team. |
| Across the goal line, last touched by a defender, with no goal scored | A corner kick for the attacking team. |
See IFAB’s explanations of throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks. Special offences can produce different restarts, so this table is a starting point rather than every possible decision.
What is offside?
In standard 11-a-side football, position is assessed when a team-mate plays or touches the ball. A player is in an offside position if a relevant part of their head, body or feet is in the opponents’ half and nearer the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. Hands and arms do not count.
Being in that position is not, by itself, an offence. The player must become involved in active play, such as playing the ball or interfering with an opponent. There is no offside offence when receiving directly from a throw-in, goal kick or corner kick. IFAB Law 11 covers the details and exceptions.
For a first explanation, pause an imagined pass on paper. Mark the ball, the receiver and the two opponents nearest their own goal line. Ask where everyone was when the pass was made, then discuss whether the receiver becomes involved. Avoid the misleading shortcut “ahead of the last defender”.
Free kicks, penalties and cards
A direct free kick can score directly into the opponents’ goal. For an indirect free kick, another player must touch the ball before a goal can be scored. A penalty is awarded for a direct-free-kick offence committed by a player inside their own penalty area, subject to the law’s details. Not every stoppage inside the penalty area is a penalty.
A yellow card is a caution; a red card sends a player off. A second caution in the same match also leads to a sending-off. Not every contact with an arm is handball, and making contact with the ball does not automatically make a dangerous challenge acceptable. IFAB Law 12 explains the decisions.
Try the first-match quiz
Choose one answer per question. There is no timer.
Before a child’s first match
Ask about the number of players, match length, substitutions, offside, heading restrictions and the correct restart when the ball goes out. Check the season’s rules rather than relying on what an older sibling played years ago.
Give children one thing to watch: who takes the next restart, or how a team finds space. Encourage effort and teamwork. If a decision is confusing, save the question for a calm moment with the coach rather than arguing from the touchline.
Rules checked against the linked official guidance in November 2026. Competition rules can change. Explore more family activities and resources.
