The following series of videos and clarifications briefly explain any recent updates to the Laws of the Game and/or contain helpful tips on what referees should be looking for.

Referees should be familiar with the most recent FIFA Law changes to:
Law 4 (The Player's Equipment)
Law 8 (Dropped ball procedure)
Law 9 (Ball hits the Referee)
Law 12 (Handling)
Law 14 (Goalkeeper position on a PK)
Law 16 (Goal kick procedure).



Law 1 The Field of Play

Law 2 The Ball

Law 3 The Players

Law 4 The Players Equipment
Players can wear religious jewelry in soccer under certain conditions, including: 

Religious jewelry is defined as necklaces and bracelets that are worn as part of practicing one's religious beliefs. Necklaces or earrings that express a religious connotation (crosses, angels, star of David, etc...) are not covered by this policy and may not be worn.

Children may participate in games and practices while wearing medical alert bracelets. It is important that this information remains visible. However, to ensure the bracelet does not present a danger to the player or other players it must be secured to the player with tape, a cloth wristband or something equivalent taking care to leave the information visible. 

Law 5 The Referee

PROPER CENTER REFEREE SIGNALS


TEAM OFFICIALS CAN NOW BE SHOWN CARDS FOR MISCONDUCT



Law 6 Other Match Officials
PROPER ASSISTANT REFEREE SIGNALS


Law 7 Duration of the Match

Law 8 Start and Restart of Play
DROPPED BALL RESTARTS 
There are no longer any contested dropped ball restarts. The ball will be dropped to a single player on the team that last had possession before play was stopped, unless, the ball was in the penalty area in which case it is always dropped to the goalkeeper. All other players (of both teams) must remain at least 4.5 yds from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it touches the ground. A goal cannot be scored from a dropped ball until it touches at least two other players.

 

Law 9 Ball in and Out of Play
BALL HITS A MATCH OFFICIAL
Contrary to what we've been taught in the past, IFAB has determined that the referee is no longer part of the field. Play is restarted with a dropped ball if it touches a match official and any of the following occur:

1.) A team starts a promising attack
2.) The ball goes directly into the goal or
3.) The team in possession of the ball changes



Law 10 Determining the Outcome of a Match

Law 11 Offside (Part 1)


Law 11 Offside (Part 2)


Law 11 Offside (Part 3)


Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct
CLARIFICATION ON HANDLING (New for 2021)

For the purposes of determining handball offenses, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. It is an offense if a player: Deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm towards the ball Scores in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper After the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental, immediately scores in the opponents’ goal Touches the ball with their hand/arm when: the hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level *Accidental handball by a team-mate before a goal is scored and accidental handball creating a goal-scoring opportunity have been removed as offenses.

Except for the above offenses, It is not an offense if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm: Directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot) Directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close If the hand/arm is close to the body and does not make the body unnaturally bigger When a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body

Law 13 Free Kicks


Law 14 Penalty Kick
GOALKEEPER POSITIONING
Goalkeepers only need to have one foot on or above the goal line when defending a penalty kick. 



Law 15 Throw-In


Law 16 Goal Kick
GOAL KICK PROCEDURE
The ball does NOT need to leave the penalty area to be in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves. Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. 



Law 17 Corner Kick