Are you curious about the rules governing the beautiful game? Specifically, How Many Players Do You Need To Play Football (soccer)? The quick answer is that a standard football match requires two teams, each with a maximum of eleven players on the field, including one goalkeeper. However, the rules are more nuanced than that. This guide from CAUHOI2025.UK.COM dives deep into the number of players, substitutions, and other crucial regulations that govern a football match, ensuring you’re well-versed in the intricacies of the sport.
1. The Starting Lineup: Minimum and Maximum Players
A football (soccer) match is contested between two teams.
Maximum Players on the Field
Each team can field a maximum of eleven players at any given time during the match. This includes ten outfield players and one designated goalkeeper.
The Essential Goalkeeper
One of the eleven players must be designated as the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper has special privileges, such as being allowed to use their hands within the penalty area.
Minimum Number of Players
A match cannot start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players. This rule prevents heavily depleted teams from participating, ensuring a fair contest. According to FIFA’s Laws of the Game, if a team falls below seven players, the match is abandoned.
Deliberate Reduction of Players
If a team deliberately reduces its number of players below seven (e.g., through intentional red cards or walk-offs), the referee isn’t obligated to stop play immediately. The advantage rule may be applied. However, the match cannot resume after the ball goes out of play if the team still doesn’t meet the minimum player requirement.
Pre-Match Team Lists
If competition rules mandate that all players and substitutes be named before kick-off, and a team starts with fewer than eleven players, only those players and substitutes listed on the starting lineup can participate upon their arrival.
2. The Art of Substitution: Changing the Game
Substitutions allow teams to replace players on the field with fresh legs, tactical adjustments, or to manage injuries. The number of substitutions allowed varies depending on the competition and level of play.
Official Competitions: The Five-Substitute Rule
For official competitions, such as those organized by FIFA, confederations (e.g., UEFA, CONMEBOL), or national football associations, the number of substitutes is generally capped at five. This rule is prevalent in men’s and women’s top-division club competitions and senior international matches.
Substitution Opportunities
Each team typically has a maximum of three substitution opportunities during the match. This is to prevent excessive stoppages and tactical delays.
Half-Time Substitutions
Teams can also make substitutions at half-time. These substitutions do not count towards the three substitution opportunities. This allows coaches to make strategic changes based on the first half’s performance without using up a substitution opportunity.
Simultaneous Substitutions
If both teams make a substitution at the same time, it counts as a used substitution opportunity for both teams. Multiple substitutions by a team during the same stoppage in play count as only one used substitution opportunity.
Extra Time Considerations
In matches that go into extra time, additional substitution rules apply.
Unused Substitutes and Opportunities
If a team hasn’t used all its substitutes or substitution opportunities during regulation time, they can carry over into extra time.
Additional Substitute in Extra Time
Some competition rules allow teams to use one additional substitute in extra time, granting one more substitution opportunity.
Substitutions Between Periods
Substitutions can also be made between full-time and the start of extra time, and at half-time during extra time. These substitutions don’t count as used substitution opportunities.
Competition Rules Specifics
The specific competition rules must clearly state:
- How many substitutes may be named: This can range from three to a maximum of fifteen.
- Whether an additional substitute is allowed in extra time: This applies whether the team has already used the full number of permitted substitutes.
Other Matches: Flexibility in Substitutions
In senior ‘A’ international team matches, a maximum of fifteen substitutes may be named, but only a maximum of six may be used.
In all other matches (e.g., friendly matches, lower-league games), a greater number of substitutes may be used, provided that:
- The teams agree on a maximum number beforehand.
- The referee is informed before the match.
If the referee isn’t informed or no agreement is reached, each team is allowed a maximum of six substitutes.
Return Substitutions: A Different Approach
Return substitutions, where a player who has been substituted can re-enter the game, are generally only permitted in youth, veterans, disability, and grassroots football. This is subject to the approval of the national football association, confederation, or FIFA.
Additional Permanent Concussion Substitutions (APCS)
To prioritize player safety, competitions may implement additional permanent concussion substitutions (APCS). This allows a player suspected of having a concussion to be permanently replaced without using one of the team’s regular substitution opportunities.
3. The Substitution Procedure: A Step-by-Step Guide
The process of substituting players is governed by specific rules to ensure fairness and order.
Pre-Match Protocol
The names of all substitutes must be provided to the referee before the match begins. Any substitute not named at this time cannot participate in the match.
Replacing a Player
To replace a player with a substitute, the following steps must be followed:
- Informing the Referee: The referee must be informed before any substitution is made.
- Player Leaving the Field: The player being substituted must receive the referee’s permission to leave the field, unless they are already off the field. They must exit at the nearest point on the boundary line, unless the referee indicates they can leave directly at the halfway line or another point (e.g., for safety/security or injury reasons).
- Immediate Departure: The substituted player must immediately go to the technical area or dressing room and take no further part in the match, unless return substitutions are permitted.
- Refusal to Leave: If a player refuses to leave the field when being substituted, play continues.
- Substitute’s Entry:
- The substitute can only enter during a stoppage in play.
- They must enter at the halfway line.
- The player being replaced must have already left the field.
- The substitute must receive a signal from the referee before entering.
Completion of Substitution
The substitution is complete when the substitute enters the field of play. From that moment, the replaced player becomes a substituted player, and the substitute becomes a player, able to participate in any restart. All substituted players and substitutes are subject to the referee’s authority, whether they are playing or not.
4. Changing the Goalkeeper: A Tactical Shift
The rules also cover situations where teams want to change their goalkeeper during the match.
Conditions for Goalkeeper Change
Any player can change places with the goalkeeper if:
- The referee is informed before the change is made.
- The change is made during a stoppage in play.
5. Offences and Sanctions: Dealing with Rule Breakers
There are specific protocols for dealing with offences related to player numbers and substitutions.
Unnamed Substitute Starts
If a named substitute starts a match instead of a named player, and the referee is not informed:
- The referee allows the named substitute to continue playing.
- No disciplinary action is taken against the named substitute.
- The named player can become a named substitute.
- The number of substitutions is not reduced.
- The referee reports the incident to the appropriate authorities.
Substitutions During Intervals
If a substitution is made during the half-time interval or before extra time, the procedure must be completed before the match restarts. If the referee is not informed, the named substitute can continue to play, no disciplinary action is taken, and the matter is reported to the appropriate authorities.
Unauthorized Goalkeeper Change
If a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee’s permission, the referee:
- Allows play to continue.
- Cautions both players when the ball is next out of play, unless the change occurred during half-time (including half time of extra time) or the period between the end of the match and the start of extra time and/or penalties (penalty shoot-out).
Other Offences
For any other offences related to player numbers or substitutions:
- The players are cautioned.
- Play is restarted with an indirect free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped.
6. Players and Substitutes Sent Off: Reducing Team Numbers
The rules regarding players and substitutes who are sent off (red carded) are as follows:
- A player sent off before the team list is submitted cannot be named on the team list in any capacity.
- A player sent off after being named on the team list but before kick-off may be replaced by a named substitute, who cannot then be replaced. The team’s number of substitutions is not reduced.
- A player sent off after kick-off cannot be replaced.
- A named substitute who is sent off before or after the kick-off may not be replaced.
7. Extra Persons on the Field of Play: Addressing Interference
The presence of extra people on the field can cause interference and requires specific actions from the referee.
Identifying Extra Persons
The coach and other officials named on the team list (excluding players or substitutes) are considered team officials. Anyone not named on the team list as a player, substitute, or team official is considered an outside agent.
Referee’s Actions
If a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, or outside agent enters the field of play, the referee must:
- Only stop play if there is interference with play.
- Have the person removed when play stops.
- Take appropriate disciplinary action.
Restarting Play
If play is stopped due to interference by:
- A team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, play restarts with a direct free kick or penalty kick.
- An outside agent, play restarts with a dropped ball.
Interference with a Goal
If a ball is going into the goal, and the interference does not prevent a defending player from playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball), unless the interference was by the attacking team.
8. Player Outside the Field of Play: Regaining Entry
Specific rules govern a player who leaves the field of play and wants to re-enter.
Re-Entry Procedure
If a player requires the referee’s permission to re-enter the field but does so without permission, the referee must:
- Stop play (not immediately if the player does not interfere with play or a match official, or if the advantage can be applied).
- Caution the player for entering the field of play without permission.
Restarting Play
If the referee stops play, it must be restarted:
- With a direct free kick from the position of the interference.
- With an indirect free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped if there was no interference.
A player who crosses a boundary line as part of a playing movement does not commit an offence.
9. Goal Scored with an Extra Person: Valid or Not?
The validity of a goal scored with an extra person on the field depends on the circumstances.
Referee’s Realization Before Restart
If, after a goal is scored, the referee realizes, before play restarts, that an extra person was on the field of play when the goal was scored, and that person interfered with play:
- The referee must disallow the goal if the extra person was:
- A player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player, or team official of the team that scored the goal; play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position of the extra person.
- An outside agent who interfered with play, unless a goal results as outlined above in ‘extra persons on the field of play’; play is restarted with a dropped ball.
- The referee must allow the goal if the extra person was:
- A player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player, or team official of the team that conceded the goal.
- An outside agent who did not interfere with play.
In all cases, the referee must have the extra person removed from the field of play.
Referee’s Realization After Restart
If, after a goal is scored and play has restarted, the referee realizes an extra person was on the field of play when the goal was scored, the goal cannot be disallowed. If the extra person is still on the field, the referee must:
- Stop play.
- Have the extra person removed.
- Restart with a dropped ball or free kick as appropriate.
The referee must report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
10. The Team Captain: Leadership on the Field
Each team must have a captain on the field of play who wears an identifying armband. While the captain has no special status or privileges in terms of the rules, they have a degree of responsibility for the behavior of the team.
Search Intent Addressed
This comprehensive guide addresses the following search intents:
- Understanding the basic player requirements: Providing a clear explanation of the minimum and maximum number of players needed to start and continue a football match.
- Learning about substitution rules: Detailing the regulations regarding substitutions, including the number of substitutes allowed, substitution opportunities, and specific rules for extra time.
- Clarifying procedures for player changes: Explaining the step-by-step process for substituting players and changing the goalkeeper.
- Addressing scenarios with extra persons on the field: Covering the rules and procedures for dealing with unauthorized individuals entering the field of play.
- Knowing the consequences of rule violations: Outlining the sanctions and disciplinary actions for offences related to player numbers and substitutions.
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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Football Player Numbers
Here are some frequently asked questions about the number of players in football (soccer):
Q1: What happens if a team runs out of substitutes?
If a team has used all its permitted substitutes and a player gets injured, the team must continue with one player less, unless the competition rules state otherwise.
Q2: Can a substituted player return to the field?
Generally, no. Return substitutions are only allowed in specific categories like youth, veterans, disability, and grassroots football, subject to approval.
Q3: What is the role of the team captain?
The team captain wears an armband for identification and has a degree of responsibility for the team’s behavior, but they have no special privileges under the Laws of the Game.
Q4: How many players are allowed on the bench?
The number of substitutes allowed on the bench varies, but it’s usually between 3 and 15, as determined by the competition rules.
Q5: What happens if a team starts with fewer than 11 players?
If all players and substitutes are named before kick-off, only those named can participate upon their arrival.
Q6: Can a goalkeeper be sent off?
Yes, a goalkeeper can be sent off for committing a red-card offence, and the team must either substitute them with another goalkeeper or have an outfield player take over the goalkeeping duties.
Q7: Is there a limit to how many players can be cautioned (yellow carded) in a match?
There is no limit to the number of players who can be cautioned in a match.
Q8: What happens if a team is reduced to fewer than 7 players due to red cards?
The match is abandoned, and the opposing team usually wins by default.
Q9: Can a team forfeit a match by deliberately reducing their player count?
Yes, a team can forfeit a match by deliberately reducing their player count below the minimum of seven players.
Q10: Where can I find the official rules for player numbers and substitutions?
The official Laws of the Game, published by FIFA, provides comprehensive details on all rules, including player numbers and substitutions.
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