Now You Know Big Book of Sports. Doug Lennox

state that a match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each, with a mandatory break at halftime, they also state that the referee has discretion to add also state that the referee has discretion to add time to the end of each half for any stoppage of play. While the rules for games like hockey, basketball, and American football include provisions for stopping the clock (such as after a goal, or for out of bounds), the clock for a soccer game never stops, except for the during the halftime break. The referee is under no obligation to tell anyone how much additional time will be added to each half. The clock runs out only when the referee says so.

       Quickies

       Did you know …

      that if a soccer ball is properly inflated it should bounce waist-high when dropped straight down from head height onto firm ground?

       Quickies …

       Did you know …

      that goalkeepers may not play the ball with their hands if receiving it directly from a throw-in?

       Assistant Referee Flag Signals Decoded

      • Flag straight up: indicating to the referee to stop play because assistant referee needs to talk to referee. Can also mean offside or be a signal for the referee to look at the other linesman.

      • Flag straight up with hand held over his chest badge: indicating to referee that a player needs to be shown a yellow or red card.

      • Flag out sideways at 45 degrees horizontally along the touchline: indicating for a throw-in. The team attacking in the direction they are pointing takes the throw.

      • Flag pointing at the goal: indicating a goal kick.

      • Flag pointing at the corner flag: indicating a corner kick.

      • Flag held straight out in front of assistant referee after an offside call:

      º Up at a 45-degree angle: indicating an offside on the far side of the field.

      º Straight horizontally: indicating an offside in the middle of the field.

      º Down at a 45-degree angle: indicating an offside on the near side of the field.

      • Flag held straight up suspended between both hands: substitution in progress.

      • Flag held horizontally across chest: calling for penalty kick.

      • Flag held behind back while standing at corner flag: calling for penalty kick.

      • Flag held up after a goal: assistant referee wishes to dispute the goal

       Why does the referee point at the centre of the field and not the goal to indicate a goal?

      The regulation restart method after either team scores a goal is a kickoff by the other team from the centre of the field. That is why the referee points at the centre of the field after a goal. The referee is not indicating a goal, but rather calling for a restart from the centre of the field.

       Four Reasons Why the Referee Can Add Time to the Game Clock

       According to the Laws of the Game, time can be added if:

      • time is lost attending to injuries on the field;

      • time is lost completing player substitutions;

      • time is lost due to delays in putting the ball back into active play after it goes out; or

      • any other cause for interruption to active play the referee deems sufficient.

       Quickies …

       Did you know …

      that aside from during the regulation halftime beak, the Laws of the Game do not permit the referee to ever stop the clock once play has begun?

       What is the penalty for faking an injury?

      Not that this ever, ever happens (ahem!), but any simulating action that is intended to deceive the referee — anywhere on the field — must be sanctioned as unsporting behaviour. This includes Oscar-worthy performances for fake injuries. The penalty is not a golden statue, but a yellow card.

       Quickies

       Did you know …

      that a ball rolling along outside the touchline remains in play as long as part of the ball is over the touchline?

       When is a soccer player offside?

      Provided that he is not in his own half of the field, a player is offside when he is not in possession of the ball and he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent (including the goalkeeper). If an offside infraction is called, the opponent is awarded an indirect free kick (IFK). There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a throw-in, or a corner kick.

       When is offside position determined?

      Offside position is not determined at the time the ball is received by an attacker, but rather it is determined at the moment the ball was last played by one of the attacker’s teammates. If, for example, an attacker kicks the ball high in the air toward the opponent’s goal while none of his teammates are in offside position, but then a second speedy attacker penetrates the defence and receives the kick behind the second-last opponent, the speedy one is not offside.

       Fouls That Will Lead to a Direct Free Kick

      • Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent;

      • tripping or attempting to trip an opponent;

      • jumping at an opponent in a careless or reckless manner, or with excessive force;

      • charging an opponent in a careless or reckless manner, or with excessive force;

      • striking or attempting to strike an opponent;

      • pushing an opponent;

      • making contact with the opponent before the ball when tackling;

      • holding an opponent;

      • spitting at an opponent; or

      • handling the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

      Note: If any of these are committed by a player inside his own penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded.

       What is the difference between a “handball” and “handling” a ball?

      A “handball” is when the ball strikes a player (other than the goalkeeper) on the hand or arm and there is no intent on the part of the player struck to control the ball with either hand or arm. As such, a “handball” is not illegal. If the player attempts in any way to control the ball with hand or arm it is called “handling” the ball, and is an illegal play.

       When were the first goalposts used in soccer?

      That would be way back in 1681 when a match was played between servants of the King, and those of the Duke of Albemarle. The doorways of two forts were used as goals, and players attempted to score by driving the ball through one of the doorways.

       When was the size of the goal determined?

      In 1863 the English Football Association decreed that the goal posts should be eight yards (7.32 metres) apart. In 1866, they further decreed that posts should be eight feet (2.44 metres) high. Both measurements