Beginner Guide to Football

Football, known as soccer in some countries, is the world’s most popular sport, entertaining millions of fans every week with its action-filled games. This beginner guide to football will introduce you to the essential rules, positions, tactics, and biggest competitions that shape this beautiful game the way it is. Whether you are new to football or just looking to deepen your understanding, this guide has everything you need to know.

Beginner guide to football

To start the beginner guide to football, we need to know what football is and how it’s played. Football is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players each, where the objective is to score goals by getting the ball into the opposing team’s net. The game is played on a rectangular field and is regulated by a set of rules. Football’s global appeal is visible in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League, which attract tens of millions of viewers from around the world.

The basic rules of football

Understanding the basic rules of football is crucial for any new fan, the beginner guide to football will show you the key points:

• Duration of a game: A standard football match lasts 90 minutes, divided into two halves of 45 minutes each, with a 15-minute halftime break.
• Offside rule: A player is in an offside position if they are nearer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent when the ball is played to them. Being offside results in a free kick for the opposing team.
• Fouls and free kicks: Fouls are awarded for unfair play, such as tripping, pushing or touching the ball with your hand. Depending on the impact and place on the pitch, a free kick or a penalty kick may be given.
• Penalties: A penalty is awarded for fouls committed within the 16 meter (17.5 yards) box. The kick is taken from 11 meters (12 yards) away from the goal with just the taker and the opponents goalkeeper against each other.
• Corners: A corner kick is awarded when the ball crosses the back line after being last touched by a player from the defending team. The kick is taken from the corner nearest to where the ball went out, and the attacking team has the opportunity to deliver the ball into the 16 meter box to create a scoring opportunity.
• Goal scoring: A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line, between the goalposts and beneath the crossbar.

In this image, the blue number 9 would be offside if one of his teammates would pass the ball to him at this moment. The red number 9 would not be offside, because he is not behind the second to last player of the blue team.

Popular football formations

Football formations can significantly influence the result of a match. The beginner guide to football will explain you the most common ones:

• 4-4-2: This classic formation features four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards. It provides balance between defense and attack but is not used very often anymore as of today.
• 4-3-3: A popular choice among attacking and possession based teams, this formation includes three forwards and supports attacks via the wings. Nowadays the 4-3-3 is one of the most common formations in world football.
• 5-3-2: This formation prioritizes defense, featuring five defenders and allowing for counter-attacks through two forwards. Sometimes the two widest defenders (called wing backs) also will be used as extra attacking players, resulting in a 4 player attacking line.

Understanding these formations will enhance your appreciation of the game and its strategic depth. Every formation comes with their own tactical plans, depending on the coach and his strategy and philosophy of the game.

The major football competitions

The beginner guide of football wouldn’t be complete without the major football competitions. Football has numerous leagues, domestic and internationally that draw global attention;

Premier League (England)

The Premier League is the top division in English football and is famous for its competitive nature and international talent. With 20 teams competing, it’s widely regarded as one of the best football leagues in the world. Successful teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City play in the Premier League.

La Liga (Spain)

La Liga is the premier division of Spanish football, home to giants like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The league is known for its technical play and top-quality players like Vinicious Junior, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham and Antoine Griezzman. 20 teams compete in the La Liga.

Serie A (Italy)

Serie A, Italy’s top football league, is historically known for its tactical and defensive style of play, some games being called a “game of chess” due to the high tactical level. Clubs like Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan dominated the scene, with 20 teams competing each season.

Bundesliga (Germany)

The Bundesliga is Germany’s top football competition, with 18 teams competing. It’s known for its passionate fan base and fast-paced and physical football. FC Bayern Munich is the dominant force in the league, having won numerous titles. Another well known club in Germany is Borussia Dortmund where players like Erlng Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Robert Lewandowski played before advancing their careers at the highest level of the world.

Ligue 1 (France)

Ligue 1 is the top professional football league in France, with 18 teams competing starting the season. Clubs like Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique Lyonnais have a rich history in both domestic and European football. Ligue 1 is known for producing world-class talent, such as Kylian Mbappé and Zinedine Zidane. It’s known for its physical game where speed and strength are a must to survive in the league.

European Competitions

In addition to domestic leagues like the ones above, European football features several prestigious club tournaments where teams from across the continent compete on the highest level.

UEFA Champions League

The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in European football, featuring top teams from various leagues across Europe. A total of 36 teams participate in the league phase (formerly known as the group stage). Clubs qualify based on their domestic league performance in the previous season, such as the top four teams from leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga but also lower leagues like the Dutch Eredivisie or Austrian Bundesliga.

In this league phase, each team plays 8 matches against 8 different opponents, drawn based on seeding. At the end of the league phase:

• The top 8 teams automatically advance to the knockout stage.
• Teams finishing in positions 9 to 24 enter a knockout round. This round is played over two legs, home and away, with the winners securing the final 8 places in the knockout stage.

After this, the competition proceeds through the traditional knockout format, with two-legged games in each round, resulting in the Champions League final, a single match to determine the European Champion.

UEFA Europa League

The UEFA Europa League is the second-tier European competition, featuring clubs from multiple domestic leagues that did not qualify for the Champions League.

A total of 36 teams participate in a single league phase instead of the traditional group stage. Each team will play 8 matches against different opponents, with fixtures drawn based on seeding.

At the end of the league phase:

• The top eight teams automatically advance to the Round of 16.
• Teams finishing in positions 9 to 24 will enter a knockout round playoff. In this two-legged knockout, the winners secure their place in the Round of 16.
• From the Round of 16 onward, the competition follows a knockout format, with two-legged games until the final, which is a single match.

Teams that finish 5th or 6th in major domestic leagues (like the Premier League or La Liga) typically qualify for the Europa League.

The winner of the UEFA Europa League secures automatic qualification for the next season’s Champions League.

UEFA Europa Conference League

The UEFA Europa Conference League is the third-tier European club competition, designed to offer more opportunities for teams from smaller leagues and those finishing below Europa League spots in top leagues. The Conference League was first played in the 2021/2022 season, with AS Roma being the first ever winner of the tournament.

As of the 2024/25 season, the Europa Conference League, like the Champions League and Europa League, also adopts a new format:

• A total of 36 teams compete in a single league phase. Each team plays 6 matches against different opponents, with fixtures drawn based on seeding.

After the league phase:

• The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16.
• Teams finishing in positions 9 to 24 will enter a knockout round playoff to fight for a place in the round of 16.
• The knockout rounds then proceed with two-legged ties until the final.

Teams qualify for the Europa Conference League based on their domestic league performance, normally finishing just below Europa League spots. Additionally, teams that finish in 9th to 16th place in the Europa League league phase drop into the Conference League to participate in the knockout rounds.

The winner of the UEFA Europa Conference League earns automatic qualification for the next season’s Europa League.

Tips for watching football

If you’re new to watching football, the beginner guide to football has some tips to enhance your experience,

• Follow matches; Tune in to live broadcasts or streaming platforms to watch matches. Websites like ESPN and official league sites provide schedules.
• Listen to the commentary; get to know some common terms used by commentators, such as “offside”, “corner” and “penalty.”
• Engage with fans; join or follow online social media groups and accounts to discuss matches, share opinions, read others opinions and connect with fans.

Conclusion

In the beginner guide to football, you learned that football is more than just a game; it’s a passion that unites people worldwide. With this beginner’s guide you now have the foundational knowledge to enjoy and appreciate the sport and competitions. We hope you learned something from the beginner guide to football. Whether you’re watching a match or playing with friends, remember that understanding the rules, positions, and tactics will make your football experience even more interesting. Enjoy the beautiful game!