• Children usually find soccer easy to learn. youth soccer image by Steve Brase from Fotolia.com

  Soccer is one of the most popular sports for children in America and around the world. With its relatively simple rules and skills, it is an easy sport for children to understand. The rules and regulations for soccer include such basic instructions as not using hands and not touching the ball twice when putting it into play.

No Use of Hands

• The most basic rule of soccer is the "no hands" rule. The soccer ball may not touch the hands of any player while it is in play. The goalie is the exception and may touch the ball in some instances, but not all. The goalie may not touch the ball with his hands if it is passed to him fromby his own teammate. He may only touch the ball with his hands if he is trying to block the opposing team's ball.

Equipment Regulations

• Equipment used in kids soccer includes a jersey or shirt, shorts, stockings, shinguards and footwear. Shinguards must be fully covered by stockings. Children's soccer doesn't always require cleats, depending on the local soccer organization. Regular athletic shoes may be allowed.

Kick-Off

• A kick-off marks the start or restart of a game. A restart happens after a goal has been scored, at the start of the second half and at the start of each period. During a kick-off, players must remain on separate sides of the field and must be ten yards or more from the ball. The ball is put in the center of the field, and the referee blows a whistle to indicate the start of the kick-off. After the ball is kicked and moves forward, it is considered to be in play.

Throwing the Ball In

• When the ball crosses a sideline, a player must do a throw-in. To complete a throw-in, the player must stand on both feet and use both hands to throw the ball over her head. Dragging the toes of one foot is considered legal.

Corner and Goal Kicks

• A corner or a goal kick happens when the ball is kicked out of bounds across the goal line. If an offensive player kicks the ball out, a goal kick restarts play. If a defensive player kicks the ball out, play resumes with a corner kick. A goal kick happens from anywhere inside the goalie box and can be executed by any player. A corner kick is executed from the corner nearest where the ball left the field.

Direct and Indirect Free Kicks

• A direct or indirect kick occurs when the game stops for an infraction and the play is restarted. The opposing player should be at least ten yards away, although this rule may vary with younger age groups. A direct kick is made by kicking the ball directly at the goal. With an indirect kick, another player must receive the ball before a goal is made.

Penalty Kicks

• A penalty kick is a type of direct kick that occurs as a result of a contact foul or hand ball by the defensive team. The ball is held stationary 12 feet in front of the center of the goal. All players must stand outside the penalty area until the penalty kick is performed, and the goalie must remain standing with both feet on the goal line. If a goal is not made and the ball rebounds off of the goalie back onto the field, the ball is back in play. The player who performed the kick must not touch the ball again until another player has moved it.

Two-Touch Rule

• When a ball is in play, a player may only touch the ball once unless another player receives the ball first and passes it back to him. This rule also applies when a player performs a throw-in. He may not throw in the ball and then kick it until another player receives the ball first.

Fouls and Punishment

• Malicious physical acts, such as biting, kicking, hitting, tripping and spitting, result in fouls. When a foul occurs, the referee will punish the player with either a yellow or red card. Two yellow cards are equivalent to a red card. If a player receives a red card (the more severe of the two), he must be removed from the game and cannot be replaced by another player.

Offside

• This rule may vary with younger age groups. When the ball is in play, there must be a defender between the offensive player and the goalkeeper. In other words, a player may not lurk around the opposing team's goal. This rule occurs only when a ball is kicked, not when it is received.