The LAWS (rules) of Soccer
I wrote these pages on the "laws" of soccer for youth soccer. High School soccer rules have some minor differences (Rule 6 in particular).
There are only 17 basic rules in soccer. These are referred to as the "Laws" of soccer.
The official Laws with interpretation can be found at FIFA.com . As one can't teach someone how to drive without having a good understanding of the laws of the road, so it is in coaching soccer. Without a fairly good understanding of the Laws of Soccer, one would have trouble teaching children the basics. I find many players who don't know the rules of soccer. I spent a whole season coaching at the U19 level at one time trying to catch players up from years of "law neglect." Not the fault of the players, but every coaching parent they played for, who never bothered learning all the Laws of Soccer.
In our local soccer club I do a coaching clinic where as part of the presentation, I briefly explain all the laws of soccer. When coaching, starting with the U12 players, I try to teach them the laws. At the higher levels I insist that they know what the 17 laws of soccer are, though I don't expect them to know these as a referee would (should). It was refreshing when I refereed a U12 boys game, and being amongst players who know me, asked what Law 5 was. They correctly answered: "Referee." When I asked them about other laws, they again answered correctly. It was then that I realized that the coach, one of the best in the club, had been to one of the coaching clinics I did and heeded the advice of teaching them the laws. These players will go to High School, being better players because they know the rules. They won't argue referee calls like players (and spectators) who don't know the difference between advantage play and disadvantage action; offside to offside positioning, etc. Their games are one of the most enjoyable experiences to officiate.
If you look at the 17 Laws of Soccer below, try to relate them to the game. As you scan them, there are a number of Laws not as important for the players to know thoroughly (once they know the ball size, Law 2 is done). There are a few they need to know well; rather YOU as a youth coach must know these well. Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct, for instance, must be understood at all levels of play, while Law 11 isn't relevant in the lowest divisions in many soccer organizations.
So if you can teach the most relevant Laws to your player and parents, the game becomes more enjoyable to all around.
To the left are the 17 Laws of soccer subjects. Click on any of the navigation bars to go there. They are geared towards the less experienced person. For more comprehensive reading, go to FIFA's web site..