Introduction

Understanding the common fouls and set plays is fundamental to appreciating the game of soccer (football). The following provides a concise guide to these key elements under the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game.

Key Fouls and Misconduct

Fouls are actions committed by a player that an official deems illegal. Misconduct covers more serious breaches of the Laws of the Game.

Offence Category	Example Fouls (Direct Free-Kick)	Example Misconduct	Resulting Sanction
Contact/Challenges	Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent	Serious Foul Play (excessive force)	Yellow or Red Card
Handling	Deliberate hand ball (not an accidental deflection)	Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a hand ball	Yellow or Red Card, Indirect Free Kick or Penalty Kick
Obstruction	Holding an opponent	Violent Conduct (fighting)	Red Card
Other	Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent	Using offensive, insulting or abusive language/gestures	Yellow or Red Card

Sanctions Explained:

• Yellow Card (Caution): Shown for various cautionable offenses (e.g., unsporting behavior, dissent). Two yellow cards result in a red card.
• Red Card (Sending Off): Shown for serious offenses (e.g., violent conduct, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity). The player is immediately sent off and cannot be replaced.

Set Plays

Set plays are strategies used to restart the game following a stop in play, often creating prime goal-scoring opportunities.

Free Kicks

There are two types of free kicks awarded after a foul:

1. Direct Free Kick:
   • What it is: A goal may be scored directly against the opposing team from the kick.
   • When awarded: For serious fouls, such as a trip, a deliberate handball, or a dangerous tackle.
   • Placement: Taken from the spot where the offense occurred, unless inside the penalty area (which results in a penalty kick).
2. Indirect Free Kick:
   • What it is: The ball must touch another player (of any team) before a goal can be scored.
   • When awarded: For minor offenses, such as offside, or playing dangerously without contact.
   • Signal: The referee signals this by holding one arm vertically above their head until the ball has been played by another player.

Other Set Plays

• Penalty Kick: Awarded when a defender commits a direct free-kick foul inside their own penalty area. It is a shot at the goal from a fixed spot, 12 yards out, defended only by the goalkeeper.
• Corner Kick: Awarded when the defending team puts the ball out of play over their own goal line. The ball is kicked from the corner arc nearest to where the ball went out.
• Throw-in: Awarded when the ball is put out of play over the sideline. A player restarts play by throwing the ball with both hands from over their head, with both feet on the ground.
• Goal Kick: Awarded when the attacking team puts the ball out of play over the defending team's goal line. The ball is kicked from anywhere inside the goal area.