Laws of the Game Change Summary - 2024-25

There are only a few changes to the Laws of the Game for this season that affect most BAYS games, and referees should have reviewed these in their courses.

For the full text of the recent changes to the Laws of the Game (LOTG) with interpretations and explanations please see the IFAB Laws of the Game Changes.

Full BAYS league playing rules can be found here: Playing Rules and Regulations for BAYS Soccer Competition.

BAYS Playing Rules            IFAB Laws of the Game

Law 4.  Equipment

Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards.

Law 12.   Fouls and Misconduct

Non-deliberate handball offenses for which penalties are awarded are to be sanctioned in the same way as fouls which are an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball.

Law 14. The Penalty Kick

Part of the ball must touch or overhang the center of the penalty mark.

Encroachment by players will be penalised only if it has an impact (same philosophy as goalkeeper encroachment)

More details for the Law 12 changes:

Cautions for unsporting behavior

  • a player must be cautioned for unsporting behavior:

    • if they handle the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack, except where the referee awards a penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offense
    • If they deny the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offense

Sending-off offenses

A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offenses is sent off for:

  • denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offense (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area)
  • denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offense outside their own penalty area

Further clarifications re: Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)

  • where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offense, the player is sent-off wherever the offense occurs (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area).
  • Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offense, and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned.

This summary reflects some of the most common situations in BAYS matches. Full changes with interpretations/explanations can be found in the 2024/2025 IFAB Laws of the Game as adopted by FIFA.

It is recommended that you download the IFAB Laws of the Game APP  on your smartphone. 

Still have questions regarding the changes, contact: [email protected]. 

Click the file link below to download this as a PDF:

File: 

PDF icon Laws of the Game Change Summary - 2023-24.pdf