Soccer Explained

Treencee Russell and Sy Hoekstra
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A guide to the essentials of soccer for casual viewers and the soccer curious. Two American fans, one of whom owns a soccer team, give you everything you need to join the excitement around the fastest growing sport in the US, just in time for the World Cup! In short, entertaining episodes, We cover the rules, strategy, leagues, and more, comparing soccer with the major American sports. We'll help you wrap your head around, and maybe even fall in love with, the beautiful game.

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  1. 49 PHÚT TRƯỚC

    Soccer Rules Explained: Handballs, Offside, Diving, and More

    In this episode of Soccer Explained, we walk through the basics of the rules you need to know to enjoy a game. This is part one of a two-parter. Next time we’ll get into the punishments for breaking these rules, plus the referees who enforce them. Listen to the whole episode for the laughs and stories, including one of the greatest goals in soccer history, and another that might be the most controversial, both by Argentinian legend Diego Maradona in a single World Cup match. Handballs The basic rule is simple. Outfield players can’t touch the ball with their hands or arms below the armpit. Goalkeepers can use their hands, but only inside their own penalty area. Of course, every soccer rule has exceptions. If a player’s arm is in a “natural position” and the ball happens to hit it, the ref will usually let it go. If the arm is in an “unnatural position,” it’s a handball even if the contact wasn’t on purpose. Refs use the natural versus unnatural position idea as a stand-in for intent, since they can’t read minds. Two more wrinkles to know. First, if a player scores a goal immediately after the ball touched their arm, it’s a handball regardless of intent. Second, even goalkeepers inside the penalty area have limits. If a teammate deliberately passes the ball to the keeper, the keeper can’t pick it up. Once the keeper has handled the ball and let it go, they can’t pick it up again until another player touches it. The Offside Rule First, a public service announcement from us. It’s offside, not offsides. No “S.” Here’s the setup. You’re in an offside position when four things are true at the same time. Your team has the ball, you’re on the opponent’s half of the field, you’re ahead of the ball, and you’re behind the second to last opponent. Why second to last? The rule is really trying to make sure you’re not just hanging out behind the last defender with only the keeper between you and the goal. But as long as any two opposing players are between you and the goal, you’re not offside. Being in an offside position is not, by itself, illegal. The violation happens when a player in an offside position gets involved in the play. That means touching the ball, interfering with a defender, grabbing a rebound, or otherwise gaining an advantage for your team as they try to score. The most common scenario when these violations occur is a teammate passing the ball to a player who is in an offside position. In this case, the key question is where the receiver was at the moment the pass was kicked, not where they first touched the ball. Two more things worth remembering. Offside doesn’t apply on throw-ins, corner kicks, or goal kicks. And the rule isn’t there to punish fast players. If you’re level with the second-to-last defender when the pass is made and you simply outrun them to the ball, that’s great soccer, not a violation. Challenges and Fouls: Going for the Ball, Not the Person A challenge is when one player goes after another to win the ball, block a pass, or force them to change direction. A fair challenge is aimed at the ball and doesn’t involve careless or reckless contact with the other player. An unfair one involves things like tripping, kicking, pushing, grabbing, or going in with excessive force, even if the contact wasn’t fully intended. Diving: Soccer’s Most Controversial Habit Diving, officially called simulation, is when a player tries to trick the ref into thinking they were fouled when they weren’t, or they exaggerate the severity of a foul. It’s against the rules. It also happens constantly, and there’s a never-ending argument in the soccer world about whether it’s a betrayal of the spirit of the game or just smart strategy. Time Wasting You can’t deliberately drag your feet to restart play. Strolling to the ball for a throw-in or a corner, kicking the ball far away after the ref blows the whistle, keepers holding the ball for too long—these are all against the rules. Fouls for wasting time exist to stop a team who is ahead from doing things solely to run down the clock. There’s no taking a knee in soccer. If you’re winning and you want to kill time during open play, you can pass the ball around or dribble into the corner, and the ref will usually treat that as acceptable game management. It’s the other team’s job to come take it from you and make something happen. Substitutions: It’s Complicated, So Here’s the World Cup Version Substitution rules vary a lot from competition to competition, but they all share the same shape. You have a starting XI, a bench full of players, and a limited number of subs you’re allowed to put in during certain moments in the match. Here’s how it works at the World Cup. You get twelve players on the bench, but only five of them can enter the match. There are four opportunities to put those five subs in: halftime, plus three “substitution windows” during play. The team chooses when those windows will be, but they have to happen during a stoppage in play like a throw-in, corner kick, or injury. If the match goes to extra time, you get one more substitution and one more window, and any unused subs or windows  from regulation carry over. Technical Area Rules The technical area is the marked zone where the substitutes, coaches, and other staff hang out during the match. Only one person at a time is allowed to stand and give instructions. Whoever is giving instructions can’t be disruptive, and players and staff are supposed to stay in the area except for specific moments like injuries or substitutions. Dissent: Don’t Argue With the Ref Dissent is the official soccer term for arguing with the referee, and the rule is basically: don’t. You can’t verbally argue a call, you can’t make clearly dissenting gestures, and you can’t crowd the ref with multiple players. Many competitions now have a rule that only the team captain is allowed to approach the referee. Excessive Celebration Goal celebrations are a huge part of soccer culture. Players choreograph them, write messages on undershirts, and put real creativity into the moment. But they can go too far. If a celebration drags on, threatens security, lacks decorum, involves taking off your shirt, gets lewd or offensive, provokes opposing fans, or sends a player into the crowd, it can be flagged as unsporting conduct. Offensive Speech and Racism Racist, homophobic, and other offensive speech is against the rules. Racism can even be disciplined when it comes from the crowd. This is in response to a long-standing problem in soccer fan culture. Refs now follow a three-step process. First, they stop play and a warning is given over the loudspeaker. If the racism continues, they suspend the match for several minutes and warn that the next step is calling the game off entirely. If it still continues, they end the match. That’s Part One That’s the basic rules tour. Next episode we’ll get into what happens when these rules are broken: yellow cards, red cards, free kicks, penalties, and the referees who hand them all out. Listen to the full episode for the rules in our own words plus the stories, jokes, and tangents that are honestly the best part of the show. Follow Soccer Explained! Follow the show to hear one American fan who owns a soccer team, and one who works for her, explain the essentials of soccer in short, digestible episodes. We also tell stories and share our passion for the game so you can join the excitement around America’s fastest-growing sport. Credits and Contact Cohosts: Treencee Russell and Sy Hoekstra Production and editing: Sy Hoekstra Podcast logo: Riley Quarders Theme music: Andre Louis Website: soccerexplainedpod.com Get in contact: soccerexplainedpod@gmail.com Hand of God goal clip originally broadcast by the BBC. Retrieved from YouTube Argentine radio commentary for the “goal of the century” by Víctor Hugo Morales. Retrieved from YouTube Soccer Explained website created using Podpage This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    33 phút

  2. 2 THG 4

    S1E4 The Structure of a Soccer Match Explained: A Roadmap from Kickoff to the Final Whistle

    On this episode of Soccer Explained, we break down the basics of how a soccer game proceeds, from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, extra time, and penalty shootouts. Below is a summary of what we covered, but as always, listen to the full episode for the stories, laughs, and passion that make the beautiful game so fun! If you need a refresher on the different parts of a soccer pitch, check out the post and handy diagram from episode 2, The Soccer Pitch Explained! The Basics: Kick the Ball, Don’t Use Your Hands You probably know the big idea: soccer is the one where you try to kick the ball into the big goal, and you can’t use your hands. More precisely, you cannot intentionally touch the ball with your hands or arms. There are two exceptions: the goalkeeper can handle the ball inside the penalty area, and players throw the ball in when it goes out of bounds over the touchline. Otherwise, keep your mitts off the ball. Soccer Rarely Stops for Weather Soccer is played in just about any weather. Officials can stop games due to weather if the players are actually in danger, but that almost never happens. We talked about the 2025 Canadian Premier League championship game that was played in a blizzard, featuring an incredible bicycle kick goal that the press dubbed “the icicle kick.” How the Game Is Structured A soccer match is 90 minutes long, split into two 45-minute halves with about a 15 or 20-minute halftime. So the whole game takes roughly two hours. There’s a coin toss before the match. The winning captain chooses to either kick off or pick which goal to attack in the first half. The team that lost the coin toss does whichever option is not selected by the winner. Teams switch sides of the pitch at halftime, and whichever team didn’t kick off the first half gets to kick off the second. When Does Gameplay Stop? One thing that makes soccer unique: gameplay rarely stops, and when it does, it’s usually brief. Here are the main reasons play pauses: Throw-ins: When the ball crosses the touchline, whichever team did not touch the ball last throws it back in. You’ve probably noticed that specific two-handed, over-the-head throwing style soccer players use. They have to throw it that way; it’s the rule. Goal kicks: If the attacking team is the last to touch the ball before it crosses the goal line, the defending team restarts play with a kick from their goal area. The opposing team has to be outside the penalty box until the kick happens. Corner kicks: If the defending team touches it last before it goes over the goal line, the attacking team gets a corner kick. The ball is placed in the corner arc, and the defending team has to stand at least 10 yards away until the ball is kicked back into play. This is a tense moment because a lot of goals come off corner kicks. So you’ll see nearly every player on the field crowd around the goal to try and either score or defend. Play also stops for injuries, fouls, goal celebrations, and a few other moments that are also typically brief. The Clock and Stoppage Time Unlike football, basketball, or hockey, the clock in soccer only stops in extremely rare circumstances; certainly not for any of the gameplay stops listed above. Instead, the officials add “stoppage time,” also called “added time” or, informally, “injury time,” at the end of each half to make up for the time when gameplay stopped. Just after the 45 or 90 minute goes by, the officials announce the minimum amount of stoppage time that will be played, and the game usually runs a bit longer than that. The ref decides when to blow the final whistle and end the half. Waiting for the final whistle at the end of the match is incredibly tense if the game is tied or a team is up by only one goal. One quirky detail about the clock: during first-half stoppage time, it keeps counting past 45. But when the second half starts, it resets to 45:00. In writing, you might see first-half stoppage time noted as “45+1” instead of 46, or “45+3” instead of 48, to distinguish it from the early minutes of the second half. Second-half stoppage time just keeps going past 90:00 into the 91st minute, the 92nd, and so on. Here’s a pro tip to immediately make you sound like you watch soccer: the minute of the game is the number to the left of the colon on the clock plus one. So if the clock reads 15:37, you’re in the 16th minute, not the 15th. Getting this wrong is the soccer equivalent of calling a run in baseball a “point.” It lets soccer fans know right away that you’re not one of them. Extra Time (a.k.a. Overtime) In tournaments like the World Cup or in playoff matches, games can’t end in a draw. Someone has to win. If the score is tied after 90 minutes (plus stoppage time), the game goes to “extra time,” which is soccer’s version of overtime. Extra time consists of two 15-minute halves, so the maximum total minutes of play in the game is 120 plus stoppage time. The clock resets to 90:00 for the start of extra time. Refs can add stoppage time to extra time, but they usually don’t because everyone is running on fumes by that point. Penalty Kick Shootouts: The Most Nerve-Wracking Thing in Sports If the game is still tied after extra time, it comes down to a penalty kick shootout, which might be the single most stressful thing in any sport. What is a penalty kick (PK)? One player places the ball on the penalty spot and takes a shot at the goal with only the goalkeeper in front of them. The keeper has to keep at least one foot on or behind the goal line until the ball is kicked. The odds heavily favor the shooter, but it’s far from a guaranteed goal. What is a PK Shootout? Each team takes five penalty kicks, alternating turns. If one team is mathematically eliminated before all five rounds are done, the shootout is over. For example, if Team A makes their first three kicks and Team B misses all three, the shootout is over because Team B can’t catch up. If it’s still tied after five rounds, the shootout continues one round at a time until there’s a round where one team scores and the other does not. Think about it like extra innings in baseball. Teams choose the order of their shooters, but every player who was on the field at the end of the game has to take a shot before anyone goes twice. So if it goes long enough, you can see goalkeepers stepping up to the penalty spot, which is always entertaining. Follow Soccer Explained! Follow the show to hear one American fan who owns a soccer team, and one who works for her, explain the essentials of soccer in short, digestible episodes. We also tell stories and share our passion for the game so you can join the excitement around America’s fastest-growing sport. Credits and Contact Cohosts: Treencee Russell and Sy Hoekstra Production and editing: Sy Hoekstra Podcast Logo: Riley Quarders Theme music: Andre Louis Website: soccerexplainedpod.com Get in contact: soccerexplainedpod@gmail.com Soccer Explained website created using Podpage This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    21 phút

  3. 26 THG 3

    S1E3 Soccer Positions Explained: A Guide to Every Player on the Field

    On this episode of Soccer Explained, we broke down the three main position groups on a soccer team, how formations work, and the numbering system people use to talk about players. This post gives you the information in the episode, but the episode itself has a lot more color, stories, and our Pitch Side segment where we share something that caught our eye in the soccer world recently. Give it a listen! The Starting XI: 11 Players, Three Groups Every soccer team puts 11 starting players on the field, called the “starting XI.” Yes, it’s always Roman numerals. One of those is the goalkeeper, whose job you can probably guess: keep the ball out of the net. The other 10 players are divided into three groups: defenders, midfielders, and forwards. How many players go in each group is entirely up to the coach. The only hard rule is there must be eleven players, one of whom is a keeper. Coaches get creative with the strategy of who goes in the starting XI and what role they play. Defenders, a.k.a. “Backs” You’ll basically always have at least a right back and a left back, with one or more center backs in between. Center backs are typically the big brick-wall types on the team, trying to menace the other team’s offense. Backs play closest to the goalkeeper, and the overwhelming majority of the time their job is exactly what you’d expect: defense. You might also hear the entire defensive group, minus the keeper, called the “back line.” Midfielders, a.k.a. “Mids” Midfielders play, predictably, in the middle of the field. And yes, you’ll hear people shorten “midfielder” to just “mid.” (Gen Z readers, this is not an insult). Midfielders have the most varied roles. Their job depends heavily on team strategy. A midfielder can be primarily defensive, primarily offensive, or a mix. Center midfielders generally hold down the very center of play, flanked by right and left “wingers.” There can also be “defensive midfielders” playing slightly ahead of the backs, and “Attacking midfielders” who will often appear to be forwards. You will also hear the acronyms “CDM” and “CAM,” which stand for “central defensive midfielder” and “central attacking midfielder” respectively. Forwards, a.k.a. "Strikers" Forwards, or strikers, are your primary goal scorers, and they play closest to the opposing team’s goal. Along with attacking midfielders, they’re the ones putting the ball in the net or delivering assists (assists in soccer are the same as in basketball/hockey: passing to the player who scores). Because gameplay in soccer is so fluid, any player can score, but it’s usually the forwards and attacking midfielders who do. Formations: What Those Three Numbers Mean When you hear a commentator or read that a team is playing a “4-4-2,” that’s called a formation. The three numbers tell you how the ten outfield players (everyone but the keeper) are arranged: defense, midfield, and forwards. So 4-4-2 means four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards. A 3-5-2 formation means three defenders, five midfielders, and two forwards. The numbers always add up to 10 because the goalkeeper is assumed and not included in the formation. Formations describe a team’s general strategy and where players start on the field, but there’s a lot of movement. Players don’t rigidly stick to their spots. As we put it on the show: imagine how fluid positions are in basketball or hockey, then multiply it by a playing field four times the size with double the number of players. That gives you a sense of the fluidity of soccer positions. The Position Numbering System If you follow baseball, you’re familiar with a system of numbering the players’ positions. Soccer has its own version of this, but with important caveats. Each position is traditionally assigned a number from 1 to 11, and commentators or analysts refer to them all the time. The catch is these numbers are based on formations that were popular in old-school British football, so they don’t necessarily match what’s happening on the field today. But they’re still how people reference positions, so knowing them helps you follow along. Here’s the traditional breakdown: #1 – Goalkeeper #2 & #3 – Right Back & Left Back #4 & #5 – Center Backs #6 – Defensive Midfielder #7 – Right Winger #8 – Center Midfielder #9 – Striker #10 – Attacking Midfielder #11 – Left Winger A team’s number 1 is always their goal keeper, even today. And numbers 2 and 3 are always the right and left back. But things can get muddled from there. And you may have noticed 7, 8, and 11 are the three players traditionally across the center of the midfield. It doesn’t make sequential sense, but that’s tradition for you. The Romantic Number 10 The number 10 holds a special place in soccer culture. Number 10s are the creative playmakers. The ones who score goals, rack up assists, and make something out of nothing. Many of the most legendary players in history played in that role, and number 10s tend to get the most attention and recognition. So it’s often the position kids in soccer dream of playing. The Numbers on Lineup Cards When coaches submit their starting XI to the refs, they still assign these traditional numbers, always moving from back to front, starting with the keeper. Lower numbers near their own goal, and higher numbers near the opponent’s. But whether a player’s assigned number on the lineup card actually matches the traditional position number is less guaranteed these days. The important thing is that when a commentator refers to “a number 6,” they’re talking about someone playing a defensive midfield role, regardless of their number in the starting XI. Follow Soccer Explained! Follow the show to hear one American fan who owns a soccer team, and one who works for her, explain the essentials of soccer in short, digestible episodes. We also tell stories and share our passion for the game so you can join the excitement around America’s fastest-growing sport. Credits and Contact Cohosts: Treencee Russell and Sy Hoekstra Production and editing: Sy Hoekstra Podcast Logo: Riley Quarders Theme music: Andre Louis Website: soccerexplainedpod.com Get in contact: soccerexplainedpod@gmail.com Soccer Explained website created using Podpage This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    18 phút

  4. 19 THG 3

    S1E2 The Soccer Pitch Explained: Understanding the Dimensions, Lines, and Key Areas

    -        For a labeled diagram of a soccer pitch, click: Soccer Explained Labeled Pitch Diagram.png Introduction The soccer field, officially called a pitch,  contains a lot of structure that helps organize and direct game play. In the first regular episode of our new soccer podcast, we help casual viewers and people curious about soccer understand the layout of the markings, areas, and equipment on the pitch to make watching soccer much easier and more enjoyable. This guide summarizes the points we talked about in the episode to explain the dimensions of a soccer pitch and its most important lines, boxes, and other features. The Shape and Size of a Soccer Pitch A soccer pitch is rectangular, but its exact size can vary widely depending on the league or competition. For international matches and Major League Soccer (the top soccer league in the US), the field has to be between 110 and 120 yards long and 70 to 80 yards wide. That makes it roughly the same length as an American football field including the end zones. But soccer pitches are noticeably wider; football fields are only about 53 yards across. A commonly recommended soccer pitch standard is 115 yards long and 74 yards wide (for a run of jokes about how soccer pitches change size, see this clip from Ted Lasso). Boundary Lines and the Halfway Line The long sides of the pitch are called touchlines, while the short ends are known as goal lines (often informally called end lines). Dividing the pitch into two equal halves is the halfway line. You may also hear it referred to as the midline or center line. Americans sometimes mistakenly call it the midfield line, or even the 50, like the equivalent line on a football field. Don’t do that! The Center Circle and Kickoff Spot In the middle of the pitch is the center circle, which has a diameter of 20 yards. At the exact center of that circle is the center spot (officially called the center mark, but you won’t hear that as often). The center spot is where kickoffs happen. Goals and the Goal Frame At each end of the pitch sits the goal. It’s 8 feet high and 24 feet wide. The vertical sides of the frame are called posts, and the horizontal bar connecting them is the crossbar. The posts and crossbar sit directly on the goal line, so if a shot misses the frame, the ball is almost always out of bounds. Together, the posts and crossbar are sometimes referred to as the “woodwork,” a relic from the time when goals were actually made of wood (now they’re metal). You will often hear commentators talk about “front” and “back” posts. These are relative terms referring to their distance from the player in possession of the ball. The post nearer to the ball is the “front” post, and the far post is “back.” The Penalty Area and the Goal Area In front of each goal is a large rectangle called the penalty area. There are many alternative names for this area: the 18‑yard box, the penalty box, or simply “the area” or “the box.” It extends 18 yards from the goal line and spans 44 yards across. Inside it is a smaller rectangle called the goal area, or six‑yard box, which is 6 yards deep and 20 yards wide. The Penalty Spot and the ‘D’ Twelve yards from the goal line and centered between the posts is the penalty spot, often simply called “the spot.” Like the center spot, its technical name is the penalty mark, but you won’t hear that very often. This is where penalty kicks are taken after certain fouls. Just outside the penalty area is a curved marking called the penalty arc, often nicknamed the “D.” Its purpose is to ensure that players remain at least ten yards away from the spot when a penalty kick is taken, similar to the function of the free throw lines in basketball. Corner Flags and Corner Arcs Each corner of the pitch has a flag and a small arc drawn one yard from the flag, connecting the touchline and goal line to form a quarter circle. This arc marks the area where the ball must be placed for a corner kick. The Technical Area Outside the field of play are two technical areas. These contain the benches where coaches, substitute players, and staff sit during the match. The area must be positioned at least one yard away from the touchline, but it’s typically much farther back. Why Learning the Pitch Matters Once you understand the layout of a soccer pitch, commentary and game strategy become much easier to follow. For new fans, learning pitch structure will make you feel more confident watching the beautiful game. Our upcoming episodes will build on this knowledge to explain positions, game play, fouls, and much more! Follow Soccer Explained! Follow the show to hear two American fans who work for a soccer team explain the essentials of soccer in short, digestible episodes. We also tell stories and share our passion for the game so you can join the excitement around America’s fastest-growing sport. Credits and Contact -        Cohosts: Treencee Russell and Sy Hoekstra -        Production and editing: Sy Hoekstra -        Podcast Logo and pitch diagram: Riley Quarders -        Theme music: Andre Louis -        Get in contact: soccerexplainedpod@gmail.com -        Soccer Explained website created using Podpage.

    20 phút

  5. 19 THG 3

    S1E1 Intro: The Fastest-Growing Sport in the US with the Deepest Talent Pool in the World

    Welcome to Our New Show! In our first episode, we introduce ourselves, explain how we got into soccer after growing up watching American sports, and tell you what’s coming in season one of this show, leading up to this summer’s World Cup and beyond. Then we talk about two ways soccer contrasts with the big four American sports: it’s global, and games can end without a winner and loser. We’ll tell you how both make the game fresh, fun, and fascinating for fans in the US. Plus, our regular segment where we each share a story or an aspect of soccer that explains why we’re passionate about the beautiful game. Follow Soccer Explained! Follow the show to hear two American fans who work for a soccer team explain the essentials of soccer in short, digestible episodes. We also tell stories and share our love for the game so you can join the excitement around America’s fastest-growing sport. Credits and Contact -        Cohosts: Treencee Russell and Sy Hoekstra -        Production and editing: Sy Hoekstra -        Podcast Logo: Riley Quarders -        Theme music: Andre Louis -        Get in contact: soccerexplainedpod@gmail.com -        Soccer Explained website created using Podpage. -        2014 world cup audio clip from FIFA, retrieved from YouTube -        Clips from US Women’s National Team training camp via the USWNT Instagram account -        Crowd noise from 2025 USL League Two final from University of Vermont Men’s Soccer Instagram account This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    31 phút

  6. TRAILER

    How to Become a Soccer Fan

    A New Soccer Podcast for Casual Viewers and the Soccer Curious. Learn the essentials, and maybe fall in love with the beautiful game Visit us at soccerexplainedpod.com. First two episodes drop Thursday, March 19! Hosts: Treencee Russell: https://www.instagram.com/treencee1/ Sy Hoekstra: https://syhoekstra.com Production and editing by Sy Hoekstra Podcast Logo by Riley Quarders Get in contact: soccerexplainedpod@gmail.com This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    1 phút

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Giới Thiệu

A guide to the essentials of soccer for casual viewers and the soccer curious. Two American fans, one of whom owns a soccer team, give you everything you need to join the excitement around the fastest growing sport in the US, just in time for the World Cup! In short, entertaining episodes, We cover the rules, strategy, leagues, and more, comparing soccer with the major American sports. We'll help you wrap your head around, and maybe even fall in love with, the beautiful game.

Thông Tin

  • Nhà sáng tạo
    Treencee Russell and Sy Hoekstra
  • Năm hoạt động
    2 N
  • Tập
    6
  • Xếp hạng
    Sạch
  • Bản quyền
    © Sybren Hoekstra
  • Trang web chương trình
    Soccer Explained