Purpose

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to explain the core requirements of Laws 1-4, and correctly identify when a referee must intervene on equipment grounds.

Lesson Explanation

Law 1 (The Field of Play) sets required and permitted dimensions (a length of 90-120m and width of 45-90m for adult 11-a-side football, with international matches requiring a narrower range), and specifies the goal (2.44m high, 7.32m wide) and the penalty area, among other markings.

Law 2 (The Ball) requires a spherical ball, made of suitable material, with a circumference of 68-70cm and weight of 410-450g at the start of the match. The referee must inspect and approve the ball before kick-off and has authority to replace a defective ball during play, with the restart depending on the situation.

Law 3 (The Players) sets a maximum of 11 players per team (including a goalkeeper) to start a match, a minimum of 7 to start or continue, and governs substitution procedures, including the substitution of the goalkeeper.

Law 4 (The Players’ Equipment) requires a jersey, shorts, socks, shinguards, and footwear, and — genuinely important for match-day decision-making — the referee must check that no player is wearing anything dangerous to themselves or another player, including jewelry, a category the referee is required to enforce regardless of the item’s perceived value or sentimental significance to the player, though modern guidance allows some jewelry to be permitted if adequately covered/taped, at the referee’s discretion within IFAB guidance. Referee equipment itself — a whistle, watch, cards, notebook — is not explicitly required by Law but is universal professional practice, covered further in Part 5.

Practice Questions