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Quizzes > Sports

Offside Quiz: Test Your Soccer Rules Knowledge

Quick, free soccer rules trivia. Instant results and answer explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Dylan LoewerUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for soccer rules quiz on sky blue background

Use this soccer rules quiz to check your grasp of offsides, fouls, and referee calls in real match situations. Get instant feedback after each question, and keep learning with our laws of the game quiz or broaden your skills with a full soccer knowledge test.

How many players does each team have on the field at the start of a standard soccer match?
12
11
9
10
According to Law 3 of the Laws of the Game, each team starts a match with eleven players on the field, one of whom is the goalkeeper. This number defines a full team; if a team cannot field seven players, the match cannot continue. Substituted players do not count towards this total once replaced. .
What is the standard duration of a full professional soccer match excluding stoppage time?
80 minutes
100 minutes
90 minutes
75 minutes
A professional soccer match is played over two halves of 45 minutes each, totaling 90 minutes. Additional stoppage time may be added at the referee's discretion to make up for delays. Extra time is only used in knockout matches if a winner must be decided. .
Which method is used to restart play immediately after a goal is scored?
Drop-ball
Goal kick
Corner kick
Kickoff
After a goal is scored, play restarts with a kickoff by the team that conceded the goal. The ball is placed at the center mark, and all players must be in their own half. The ball must move forward. .
What color card is shown by the referee to indicate a caution for misconduct?
Blue
Yellow
Black
Green
A yellow card is used by the referee to officially caution a player for misconduct such as unsporting behavior or persistent infringement. Two yellow cards in one match result in a red card and dismissal. Red cards are shown directly for more serious offenses. .
A player is in an offside position but not penalized unless they:
Receive the ball directly from a goal kick
Stand level with the last defender
Are in their own half
Interfere with play or an opponent
Law 11 states that being in an offside position is not an offense in itself; the player must also be involved in active play by interfering with play or an opponent, or gaining an advantage. There are exceptions, such as receiving the ball directly from a goal kick or throw-in. .
Which of the following offenses results in an indirect free kick rather than a direct free kick?
Tripping an opponent
Handball
Pushing an opponent
Dangerous play
Dangerous play (playing in a way that could injure oneself or another) is penalized with an indirect free kick under Law 12. Handball, tripping, and pushing are direct free kick offenses because they involve more direct contact or unfair play. .
What must the referee consider before signaling advantage instead of stopping play for a foul?
The location of the foul only
The time remaining in the match
Immediate benefit for the fouled team
The scoreline
The advantage rule allows play to continue if the team against which an offense has been committed will benefit immediately. The referee must quickly assess whether play should continue or be stopped. If no advantage materializes, the referee returns to the original foul. .
Under which circumstance is a penalty kick awarded?
Offense by the defending team inside their own penalty area
Goalkeeper handling a back-pass inside the penalty area
Indirect free kick offense in the penalty area
Handball by attacking team in the opponent's half
A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a direct free kick offense within their own penalty area, as defined in Law 12. Handling a back-pass is an indirect free kick offense. Indirect offenses inside the area also result in indirect free kicks. .
How many seconds may a goalkeeper hold the ball in their hands before being required to release it?
6 seconds
10 seconds
4 seconds
8 seconds
Under Law 12, a goalkeeper cannot hold the ball in their hands for more than six seconds. Exceeding this time results in an indirect free kick awarded to the opposing team from the spot where the goalkeeper held the ball. This rule helps maintain the flow of play. .
What is the minimum number of players a team must have on the field to start or continue a match?
5
8
6
7
Law 3 specifies that a match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players. If a team is reduced below seven players through dismissal or injury without available substitutes, the referee must abandon the match. .
In a standard competition match, what is the maximum number of substitutions allowed per team (excluding extra time allowances)?
5
3
4
2
Most competitions follow the FIFA standard of allowing three substitutions per team during regulation time. Some tournaments permit additional subs in extra time, but the baseline rule is three. This helps balance tactical flexibility and match flow. .
If a substitute enters the field without the referee's permission and plays the ball, how is play restarted?
Indirect free kick where the ball was when play was stopped
Penalty kick if inside the penalty area
Direct free kick where the ball was when play was stopped
Dropped ball where the ball was when play was stopped
Law 3 and Law 12 state that if a substitute enters without permission and interferes with play, the referee stops play and awards a direct free kick to the opposing team from the place where the ball was when play was stopped. This enforces discipline regarding substitutions. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Offside Nuances -

    Learn the key principles of the offside rule, including player positioning and moments of ball play, to make accurate calls on the pitch.

  2. Identify Fouls and Misconduct -

    Distinguish between direct and indirect fouls as well as yellow and red card offenses to recognize misconduct during play.

  3. Apply Restart Procedures -

    Master the correct execution of corner kicks, free kicks, throw-ins, and penalty kicks to ensure fair and orderly match restarts.

  4. Analyze Game Scenarios -

    Evaluate real-world match situations to determine rule infractions, from handballs to dangerous tackles, with confidence.

  5. Evaluate Disciplinary Actions -

    Understand when and how referees issue cautions or send players off, and how these decisions impact match flow.

  6. Reinforce Knowledge Through Quiz -

    Test and solidify your understanding of soccer rules quiz questions in a fun trivia format that sharpens recall under pressure.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding the Offside Rule -

    Per Law 11 of the IFAB Laws of the Game, a player is offside if they're nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender the instant the ball is played. Use the "2-2-ball" mnemonic (two defenders + the ball) to gauge your position - being level is onside. Mastering this concept will help you ace any soccer rules quiz.

  2. Direct vs. Indirect Free Kicks -

    Law 13 distinguishes direct free kicks (DFK) for fouls like kicking or handball, and indirect free kicks (IFK) for technical offences such as offside or dangerous play. Remember "DUI": Direct for Unfair Intentional fouls and Indirect for technical infractions. Spot the referee's arm signal - raised arm means IFK until the ball is touched by another player.

  3. Corner Kick Procedures -

    Under Law 17, the ball must be placed inside the quarter-circle (radius 1 yard/0.91 m) drawn at the corner flag before kick-off. Opponents must remain at least 10 yards away until the kick is taken. A handy tip: visualize the arc as a protractor to ensure precision when practicing corner routines.

  4. Penalty Kick Essentials -

    Law 14 sets the penalty mark at 12 yards (≈11 m) from goal, and all players except the kicker and goalkeeper must stay outside the penalty area and 10 yards from the mark. The kicker may not feint after the run-up, and both feet must remain on the ground when striking the ball. Use the "PiKE" mnemonic - Place, Identify, Kick, Eye on keeper - to focus your routine under pressure.

  5. Applying the Advantage Rule -

    According to Law 5, referees can allow play to continue if the non-offending team gains immediate advantage, then call back for a free kick within a few seconds if that advantage evaporates. Think "PLAY ON, THEN CALL" to remember the brief assessment window. This skill differentiates casual fans from aspiring referees in any soccer trivia quiz.

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