For a new referee, you’d think this would be an easy one. Usually it is straightforward, but there are aspects of this Law that sometimes need a little closer attention. Here, we take a look at the different aspects of the rules surrounding the actual field of play – its shape, markings and dimensions.

As one would imagine, newer referees may encounter some issues with the field of play at lower levels. There are also some limitations that may impact referees, which we will consider in a little more depth here.

As with the first of the rules, the field of play, on the surface the last thing you’d think you need to worry about is the ball. While it’s often taken for granted, there are some regulations for the ball, and some things to watch out for, and do.

While you may expect that the ball is simply a ball, there are some parts of the Law to look out for, and also some tips to make things run more smoothly.

Easy. Eleven players on each team. Right? Well, there are a few caveats, and a few things to be aware of, which we will cover in depth here.

On the surface, it’s another relatively easy Law, there are 11 players on each side. But, as with most things, it’s not as straightforward as that. Here, we take a look at some of the practical aspects of the players on the field.

Law 3 is all about players, but it also covers substitutions, and to spare you a huge article, we’ve split it into two.