Chapter 1: Football Rules
Before betting on rugby union, it’s important to have a strong understanding of the rules of the game, and what impact they might have on your betting.
- The rules of rugby union
- How does scoring work in rugby union?
- What is a scrum, muck and line out?
What is the aim of football?
The primary aim of a football match is to score more points than your opposition throughout the duration of the match.
What is the size of a football pitch?
The standard touchline length of a football pitch should be between a minimum of 90 meters and a maximum of 120 meters. The goal line width should be at least 45 meters but no longer than 90.
These limits mean that teams will be playing football on pitches of different sizes and shapes. This can impact on the outcome of the game as some times will prefer the longer and more narrow pitches, whereas others will prefer spreading the play on a wider pitch.
How many people are on a football team?
Football games are typically made up of 2 teams of 11 players. These include goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers.
How many substitutes is a team allowed?
Typically, each team is allowed up to 3 substitutions per game, however certain competitions have now allowed additional changes to be made once the game is in extra time.
How long is a football match?
Football games are made up of 2 separate halves. Each individual half lasts for 45 minutes with a 15 minute half time break.
What are yellow and red cards?
Yellow and red cards are used as a signal for fouls or any unsporting behaviour during the football game.
Yellow cards are a caution, however the culmination of a certain number of yellow cards will result in a suspension for the player.
2 yellow cards in 1 match will result in a red card. Red cards mean the player must leave the field of play, missing the remainder of the match and potentially future games.
What is the offside rule in football?
A football player is deemed offside if they are nearer to the opponent’s goal line than both the second last opposing player and the ball.
However, they would only be offside if they interfered with play.
Read Chapter 2
Now that you understand the key rules and regulations of football, take a look at the variety of events available to watch and bet on.