Football: Skills, Rules and Officiating Notes - Grade 11 Sports and Recreation | YNetStudyHub
Sports and Recreation Tutorial

Football: Skills, Rules and Officiating

Grade 11 CBC Sports and Recreation notes on football: basic skills, team positions, the laws of the game, officiating and training drills.

Lesson 1 of 3
9 min read Mathew Wahome

Football: Skills, Rules and Officiating

Introduction

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Kenya, played from school fields to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League and the Harambee Stars national team. In Sports and Recreation, learners master skills, tactics and the laws of the game, and learn to officiate and lead teams.

The pitch and equipment

  • Rectangular pitch, with a halfway line, centre circle, two penalty areas, goal areas and corner arcs.
  • A ball of size 5, goals, corner flags.
  • Players wear jerseys, shorts, socks, shin guards and boots. The goalkeeper wears a different colour.

Team and positions

Each team has 11 players:

  • Goalkeeper
  • Defenders (centre-backs, full-backs)
  • Midfielders (defensive, central, wide)
  • Forwards (strikers, wingers)

Common formations: 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2 (defenders-midfielders-forwards).

Basic skills

  1. Passing: short pass with the inside of the foot; long pass with the laces.
  2. Dribbling: close control using small touches.
  3. Trapping: cushioning the ball with the foot, thigh or chest.
  4. Shooting: strike through the ball with the laces, keep the head steady, follow through.
  5. Heading: contact the ball with the forehead.
  6. Tackling: winning the ball legally.
  7. Goalkeeping: catching, diving, punching, distribution.

Key laws

  • Match duration: 2 x 45 minutes.
  • A goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the line between the posts and under the crossbar.
  • Throw-in: when the ball crosses the touchline; thrown with both hands from behind the head.
  • Goal kick: when attackers send the ball over the goal line.
  • Corner kick: when defenders send the ball over their goal line.
  • Direct free kick: for fouls (kicking, tripping, pushing, handball).
  • Indirect free kick: for dangerous play and offside.
  • Penalty: for a direct free-kick foul by a defender inside their own area.
  • Offside: being ahead of the second-last defender when the ball is played to you, and gaining an advantage.

Cards

  • Yellow card: caution for unsporting behaviour.
  • Red card: sending off for serious foul play, violent conduct, or a second yellow card.

Officials

  • Referee: controls the game.
  • Two assistant referees: signal offside, throw-ins and corners.
  • Fourth official: manages substitutions.
  • VAR is used at the top level.

Worked example 1: league points

A win gives 3 points, a draw 1, and a loss 0. A team with 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses has 5 x 3 + 3 x 1 = 18 points.

Worked example 2: substitution

A team makes three substitutions; a substituted player cannot return. If a player is sent off, the team plays one man short.

Training drills

  • Passing in triangles
  • Dribbling through cones
  • Small-sided games (5 vs 5)
  • Shooting and finishing drills
  • Fitness: shuttle runs and warm-up stretches

Values and safety

Fair play, respect for referees, teamwork and discipline. Warm up, wear shin guards, and drink water.

Try it

  • Draw a pitch and mark the penalty area, penalty mark and centre circle.
  • Practise 20 passes in pairs using both feet.
  • Explain when an indirect free kick is awarded.
  • Compute the league points of a team with 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.
Quick Knowledge Check
Q1. How many players does each team field in a standard football match?
A 9
B 10
C 11
D 12
Reveal Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option C (11)
Each team has 11 players, including a goalkeeper.
Q2. A direct free kick is awarded for?
A Offside
B A deliberate foul such as tripping
C A goal kick
D A throw-in
Reveal Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option B (A deliberate foul such as tripping)
Direct free kicks are given for fouls like kicking, tripping, pushing and handball.
Q3. A player receives a red card for?
A Minor time-wasting
B Serious foul play or a second yellow card
C A throw-in error
D A goal kick
Reveal Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option B (Serious foul play or a second yellow card)
A red card means the player is sent off and cannot be replaced.
Q4. Which skill is used to receive and control a ball?
A Dribbling
B Trapping
C Heading
D Tackling
Reveal Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option B (Trapping)
Trapping brings the ball under control using the foot, thigh or chest.
Key Concept Flashcards
Concept Prompt
Name five basic skills of football.
Key Takeaway
Passing, dribbling, shooting, trapping (controlling), heading, tackling.
Concept Prompt
State the duration of a standard football match.
Key Takeaway
Two halves of 45 minutes each, with an interval of up to 15 minutes. Youth matches may be shorter.
Concept Prompt
What is the offside rule?
Key Takeaway
An attacker is offside if nearer the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent when the ball is played to them, and they become involved in play.
Interview & Practice Problems
Explain officiating signals Intermediate

A referee awards a penalty. State (a) where the foul must have happened and (b) the rules for the penalty kick. Mention the card for a deliberate handball that stops a goal.

View Step-by-Step Solution & Code

(a) The foul must be a direct free-kick offence committed by a defender inside their own penalty area. (b) Ball placed on the penalty mark, 11 m from the goal; only the kicker and defending goalkeeper are in the area; the goalkeeper stays on the goal line until the ball is kicked; all other players stay outside the area and at least 9.15 m from the mark. A deliberate handball denying a goal is a red card (sending off).

Looking to discuss or bookmark this note?
Join the learner community, leave comments, and save to collections.
Discussion & Actions
Study Assistant

Instant help with course questions

Hi there! I'm your YnetStudyHub assistant. How can I help with your studies today?