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Quizzes > Sports

Ball Knowledge Test: How Well Do You Know Football?

Quick, free quiz to test your ball knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Margarita GarciaUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art quiz illustration testing football rules, tactics, history on a teal background

This ball knowledge quiz helps you check your grasp of football rules, tactics, and history. Want a quick tune-up first? Try the football rules test to refresh the laws, build game sense with a football iq test, or sharpen decision-making with a soccer iq test.

How many players per team are on the field at the start of a standard professional football match?
10
11 (Each team fields eleven players, including the goalkeeper)
12
9
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A player cannot be offside directly from a throw-in.
True
False
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Which country won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930?
Uruguay (They hosted and defeated Argentina in the final)
Brazil
Italy
Germany
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What is awarded when the defending team last touches the ball before it crosses their own goal line without a goal being scored?
Corner kick (Restart for the attacking team from the nearest corner)
Drop ball
Indirect free kick
Goal kick
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A goal is valid only when the whole of the ball has completely crossed the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.
True
False
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Which team has won the most European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles?
AC Milan
Liverpool
Real Madrid (Record 15 titles)
Bayern Munich
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The offside offense is judged at the moment the ball is played by a teammate, not when the receiving player touches it.
True
False
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Which formation is commonly associated with strong wing play and a central attacking trio?
5-3-2
3-5-2
4-4-2 diamond
4-3-3 (Allows wide forwards and overlapping full-backs)
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What is the circumference range of a size 5 football used in adult matches?
68 to 70 cm (IFAB Law-compliant match ball size)
60 to 62 cm
65 to 67 cm
72 to 74 cm
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Which statement best describes the handball offense under current interpretations?
Any contact of ball with hand is always a foul
It is typically called when the arm makes the body unnaturally bigger, even without intent
Only deliberate handling is penalized
Handball applies only inside the penalty area
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A player is in an offside position if they are level with the second-last defender at the moment the ball is played by a teammate.
True
False
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Which law change in 1992 significantly altered defensive play regarding goalkeepers?
Back-pass law (goalkeepers cannot handle a deliberate kick from a teammate)
Offside reset at half line
Golden goal introduction
10-yard wall reduced to 9 yards
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In a penalty kick, what must the goalkeeper do at the moment the kick is taken?
Stand fully behind the goal line
Be at least 1 meter off the line
Have at least one foot on or in line with the goal line
Remain stationary with both feet on the line
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Which restart is awarded if a goalkeeper controls the ball with the hands for more than six seconds without releasing it?
Drop ball
Direct free kick to the opponents
Penalty kick
Indirect free kick to the opponents
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Which tactic describes full-backs moving into central midfield zones during build-up play?
Sweeper system
Overlapping runs
Inverted full-backs (Tuck inside to create central overloads)
Man-oriented pressing
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Which Italian defensive system, prominent in the 1960s, used a sweeper behind man-markers?
Zona Mista
Tiki-taka
Catenaccio (Libero behind stoppers)
Total Football
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A dropped ball inside the penalty area is given to the defending team's goalkeeper under current laws when play is stopped for a non-foul reason.
True
False
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If the referee stops play for a serious injury after the ball strikes the referee and creates a promising attack for one team, what is the restart?
Retaken free kick
Throw-in to the attacking team
Indirect free kick to the defending team
Dropped ball to the team that last touched the ball at the location of the contact (special dropped ball provisions)
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If an attacking player encroaches into the penalty area before a penalty kick is taken and the ball enters the goal, what is the correct decision?
Indirect free kick to the defenders
Retake the penalty (attacker infringement, goal disallowed)
Drop ball
Award the goal
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A player who leaves the field of play without the referee's permission to place an opponent in an offside position is not considered to be on the goal line for offside considerations.
False
True
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0

Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Football Rules -

    Master the fundamental laws of the game through this ball knowledge quiz, allowing you to accurately identify fouls, offsides, and proper conduct on the pitch.

  2. Apply Scoring Methods -

    Learn how different goals, penalties, and point systems work so you can confidently explain and predict scoring scenarios in any match.

  3. Analyze Tactical Formations -

    Break down common and advanced strategies to see how formations impact play, giving you deeper insight during your football knowledge test.

  4. Identify Player Positions and Roles -

    Distinguish between each position's responsibilities, from goalkeeper to striker, to strengthen your overall ball knowledge and team analysis.

  5. Recall Key Historical Milestones -

    Explore pivotal moments in football history that shaped the modern game, enriching your understanding and enhancing your competitive edge.

  6. Enhance Competitive Skills -

    Build confidence and quick-thinking abilities as you tackle each question, preparing you to excel in any football knowledge test or trivia challenge.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Offside Rule Essentials -

    Master the offside rule in football, defined by FIFA's Laws of the Game, which occurs when a player is closer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and second-last defender at pass time. Remember "second-last" as your checkpoint and only step past when the ball is struck to avoid penalties. This rule often trips up fans in a ball knowledge quiz, so practice spotting offsides in match clips.

  2. Key Formations and Tactics -

    Familiarize yourself with classic formations like 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 3-5-2, as outlined in UEFA training guides, to understand team structure. Use the "defense-midfield-attack" ratio to recall the numeric format: e.g., four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards in a 4-4-2. Solid grasp of formations enhances your tactical knowledge in football knowledge tests and sharpens strategic thinking.

  3. Scoring Methods and Dead-ball Situations -

    Distinguish direct free kicks (DFKs), which can result in a goal directly, from indirect free kicks (IFKs), needing an additional touch, as per the IFAB's official guide. Note that penalties (PKs) and corner kicks also allow direct scoring, while throw-ins and indirect free kicks do not. Use the mnemonic "DIP C" (Direct, Indirect, Penalty, Corner) to recall the four main restart types and boost your ball knowledge test performance.

  4. Evolution of Football Tactics -

    Trace tactical shifts from the early "WM" formation (3-2-2-3) to modern systems like Barcelona's tiki-taka and Gegenpressing, drawing from studies in the Journal of Sports Sciences. Understand how space control and ball possession principles evolved - tiki-taka emphasizes short passes and movement, while Gegenpressing focuses on immediate ball recovery. This historical context deepens your knowledge in football and enriches answers in a football knowledge test.

  5. Player Positions and Responsibilities -

    Memorize each of the 11 traditional positions - goalkeeper (#1), full-backs (#2/3), center-backs (#4/5), midfielders (#6/8/10), and forwards (#7/9/11) - as outlined by coaching manuals from The FA. Recognize key tasks: a #6 shields the defense, #10 crafts attacking plays, and #9 excels at finishing. This positional clarity is crucial for excelling in your next football knowledge test and understanding in-game dynamics.

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