Football (Soccer)
Reading passage · present simple
The rules of football (soccer, in simple English)
The basics
Two teams play against each other. Each team has eleven players. The players kick a ball with their feet. They try to score goals. A goal happens when the ball goes into the other team’s net.
The field
The game takes place on a big field. The field has two goals, one at each end. A goalkeeper stands in front of each goal. The goalkeeper wears different clothes from the other players.
The rules
Players use their feet, legs, chest, and head to control the ball. They cannot touch the ball with their hands or arms. Only the goalkeeper uses their hands, but only inside a special area near the goal.
A match lasts ninety minutes. It has two halves. Each half lasts forty-five minutes. The players take a short break between the halves.
A referee controls the game. The referee watches the players and stops the game when someone breaks a rule. If a player fouls another player, the referee gives a free kick to the other team. Sometimes the referee shows a yellow card or a red card. A yellow card is a warning. A red card means the player must leave the game.
If the ball goes outside the field, the game stops. Then a player throws the ball back in, or kicks it from the corner or the goal line.
Winning
The team with more goals wins the game. If both teams score the same number of goals, the match ends in a draw.
A short story about football
Leo’s team has a big match this Saturday. They don’t play at home this week — it’s an away game, deep in rival territory. The stadium is full, and the pitch looks perfect under the lights. The team passes the ball quickly, searching for space. Sam sends a long pass to Leo, but the shot flies just wide of the goal. Midway through the first half, a defender commits a foul on Leo near the box. The referee blows the whistle at once. It’s a rough foul, but only a warning — not yet a red card. The second half turns tense. The same defender makes another foul, harder this time, and the referee doesn’t hesitate. Out comes the red card, and the rival team must finish the match with ten players. Leo’s team pushes forward. He races onto a through ball and slots it into the goal — but the linesman’s flag goes up. Offside. The goal doesn’t count, and Leo throws his hands up. With ten minutes left, the coach brings on a substitute. Fresh legs change everything. A sharp pass finds him in space, and he finishes calmly. Goal! The final whistle blows. It wasn’t an easy match away from home, but the team holds on to win. A perfect night for football. Vocabulary focus: the highlighted words and phrases are common football terms — at home, away, goal, pitch, offside, red card, referee, foul, match, pass, team, and substitute.
