KNVB Field Football Rules Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary-based flashcards based on the KNVB 2026-2027 association football rule database, covering restarts, disciplinary actions, and procedural regulations.

Direct Free Kick

A restart awarded for physical fouls or handling the ball. If certain offenses occur off the field, it is taken from the nearest boundary line.

Indirect Free Kick

A restart awarded for technical or verbal offenses, such as dissent, dangerous play without contact, or a goalkeeper touching the ball twice.

Penalty Kick

Awarded when a direct free kick offense is committed by a player inside their own penalty area while the ball is in play.

Dropped Ball

The restart used when play is stopped for injury or if the ball touches a match official and remains on the field, resulting in a change of possession, a goal, or a promising attack.

Offside Position

Being nearer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent at the moment the ball is played.

Serious Foul Play

A red-card offense where a player uses excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent during a challenge for the ball.

Violent Conduct

An act where a player uses or attempts to use excessive force against an opponent, official, or spectator, even if no contact is made and regardless of whether the ball is in play.

Substitution Time Limit

A player being replaced must leave the field within $10\,seconds$ of the substitute board being shown; failure result in a $1\,minute$ wait for the replacement player.

Required Distance (Free Kick)

All opponents must be at least $9.15\,m$ from the ball until it is in play, unless the kick is taken quickly.

Throw-in Correct Execution

The player must face the field, have part of both feet on or behind the touchline, and use both hands to deliver the ball from behind and over the head.

Goalkeeper Ball Possession

A goalkeeper is considered in possession when holding the ball with hands, bouncing it, or holding it between a hand and any surface; they may not touch it again with hands after releasing it until another player touches it.

Corner Kick Distance Marker

An optional line placed outside the field, $9.15\,m$ from the corner arc, to assist the referee in seeing if defenders respect the required distance.

Equipment Violation Treatment

A player with illegal equipment is sent off the field at the next stoppage to correct it and may only return after the equipment is checked by an official during a stoppage.

Advantage Rule (DOGSO)

If a referee applies advantage for an offense that denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO), the disciplinary sanction is reduced from a red card to a yellow card once the play is stopped.

Unsporting Behavior

An offense resulting in a yellow card, such as verbal distraction, delaying play, or faking an injury.

Double Touch Violation

Occurs when the player taking a restart (throw-in, goal kick, free kick) touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player; results in an indirect free kick.

Goal Kick Procedure

The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves; it does not need to leave the penalty area to be in play. Opponents must stay outside the area until it is in play.