What is rule 13 in football?

Asked by: Ms. Edythe Glover  |  Last update: April 26, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (46 votes)

In football (soccer), Law 13 covers Free Kicks, detailing rules for placement, distance for opponents (9.15m/10yds), how quickly they must be taken, rules for defensive walls (requiring attackers 1m away), and consequences for infringements like taking it twice or opponents being too close, resulting in retakes or indirect free kicks.

What is the rule 13 in football?

Direct and indirect free kicks are awarded to the opposing team of a player, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, or team official guilty of an offence.

What does number 13 mean in football?

The second-choice goalkeeper wears, on many occasions, shirt number 12, which is the first shirt of the second line up, or number 13. In the past, when it was permitted to assign five substitute players in a match, the goalkeeper would also often wear the number 16, the last shirt number in the squad.

What is the rule 14 in football?

The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player. The penalty kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence. Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken and completed at the end of each half of the match or extra time.

What is the rule 12 in football?

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

Laws of the Game ~ Law 13 ~ FREE KICKS

16 related questions found

What is the NFL Rule 14?

Section 14 - Handing The Ball

Handing the ball is transferring player possession from one teammate to another without passing or kicking it. Except where permitted by rule, handing the ball forward to a teammate is illegal.

What is rule 17 in football?

IFAB Laws of the Game 2025-26. Law 17 The Corner Kick. A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored (see also Laws 8, 12, 13, 15 and 16).

What is rule 10 in football?

Law 10: Determining the Outcome of a Match

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offence has been committed by the team scoring the goal.

What is rule 18 in football?

Article 18 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players specifically precludes football clubs from making the validity of a contract subject to a successful medical examination.

What is the rule 17 in the NFL rule book?

NFL Rule 17 grants the Commissioner broad authority to investigate and take action on "extraordinarily unfair" game incidents (calamities, non-participant interference, etc.) that significantly affect a game's outcome, allowing for game forfeiture, re-play, or resumption from the point of the incident, though this power has rarely, if ever, been formally used in game-altering ways, often invoked in discussions about officiating controversies. 

Is number 69 allowed in football?

Yes, you can have the number 69 in football, especially in the NFL, as rules expanded to allow numbers 0-99 for most positions, though traditionally it's worn by offensive or defensive linemen (like guards, tackles, or defensive tackles) due to older rules, with famous examples like Jared Allen and recent players like Cory Durden wearing it.
 

Why do QBs say white 80 or green 18?

Quarterbacks say "White 80" or "Green 18" as part of a pre-snap cadence, a rhythmic verbal cue to signal the offense when to snap the ball, ensure everyone's ready, and sometimes communicate last-minute play adjustments or read the defense for potential bluffs. These color/number combinations are essentially codes for "ready to go" or a specific rhythm, helping linemen react simultaneously and potentially drawing defenders offsides with dummy calls, notes Reddit user 'FunkyPete' and Reddit user 'viqtorysports'. 

Why is number 9 so special in football?

The number 9 is special in football because it traditionally signifies the team's main striker or center-forward, the player tasked with leading the attack and, most importantly, scoring goals, acting as the focal point of the offense and the spearhead in the final third of the pitch, a role made legendary by iconic goalscorers.
 

What is the rarest rule in football?

The rarest rule in football is the fair catch kick, allowing a team to attempt an uncontested field goal from the spot of a fair catch, usually only occurring on an untimed down after a penalty, with successful attempts being extremely rare, the last before 2024 being in 1976. Another contender is the palpably unfair act, where referees can award a score for egregious illegal tactics (like a coach interfering), a rule never officially called in the NFL but a possibility.
 

What is rule number 1 in football?

Law 1 of football, officially "The Field of Play," dictates the specifications for the pitch, including its rectangular shape, markings (goal lines, touchlines, halfway line, penalty areas, center circle), goal dimensions, surface type (natural or approved artificial), and other essential features like corner flags, ensuring a consistent playing environment for all matches as governed by FIFA's Laws of the Game.
 

What is the 6 second rule in football?

Under this new rule, if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds, the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team. This replaces the previous sanction of an indirect free kick for holding the ball beyond six seconds.

Is number 69 banned in soccer?

No, the number 69 isn't officially banned in soccer (association football), and players can wear numbers up to 99, but it's rarely seen due to its common sexual connotation, with some players opting for numbers like 66 or 70 instead to avoid the association, unlike the NBA where it's implicitly banned but allowed in NFL and MLB.
 

What is the 50 1 rule in football?

The 50+1 rule states that club members must hold 50% of the club's voting rights, plus one additional vote meaning members have the majority when it comes to decision making at the club. This was introduced in 1998, largely prohibiting private owners from holding a majority.

What is the 45 rule in 6 man football?

The game is ended under this rule if a team is losing by 45 or more points at halftime or at any point after. The mercy rule is alluded to in the title of the David Morse film about six-man football, The Slaughter Rule.

What is rule 7 in football?

Law 7 - The Duration of the Match. 1. Periods of play. A match lasts for two equal halves of 45 minutes which may only be reduced if agreed between the referee and the two teams before the start of the match and is in accordance with competition rules. 2.

What is rule 5 of football?

1. The authority of the referee. Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match. 2. Decisions of the referee.

What is the law 11 in football?

A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately played* the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent.

What is rule number 3 in football?

Substitution procedure. The names of the substitutes must be given to the referee before the start of the match. Any substitute not named by this time may not take part in the match.

What is rule 14 in soccer?

In soccer, Law 14 covers the Penalty Kick, awarded for a direct-free-kick foul inside a team's own penalty area, allowing a direct goal. Key procedures include the ball being stationary on the penalty mark, the kicker being identified, and all other players outside the area, 10 yards away; the goalkeeper must stay on the goal line until the ball is kicked, facing the kicker, and cannot distract them. A goal can be scored directly from the kick, but if the kicker touches it a second time before another player, it's an offense.
 

What is the 1:1 rule in football?

Under La Liga's 1:1 rule, clubs with financially balanced books are allowed to spend €1 for every €1 earned—whether from player sales or salary savings. In contrast, the 1:4 rule previously forced Barça to earn €4 just to spend €1, complicating any major signings.