A sports journalist shouldn't only be enthusiastic about watching sports. He must also be skilled and courageous enough to gather news on sports and other tasks related to it. The main duties of a sports journalist is first of all know the different sports and be able to cover both local and international sports news. As professional, he must also be able to write and edit sports stories, produce and anchor sports coverage as a photojournalist and at the same time a sports journalist at the station and the event location where sports coverage is greatly needed. And traveling coverage is included in his duties.
Rules of Football
Law 1: The Field of Play
There are very few fixed dimensions for soccer fields, even at the highest level. FIFA only stipulates that for professional 11-versus-11 competition, the length must be between 100 yards and 130 yards and the width between 50 and 100 yards.
Law 2: The Soccer Ball
The circumference of a soccer ball must not be more than 28 inches (70 centimeters) and not less than 27 ins (68 cm).
The size 5 ball, used by ages 12 and above, is spherical and made of leather or some other suitable material.
It must not weigh more than 16 ounces (450 grams) and not less than 14 oz (410 g) at the start of a match.
The ball must be of a pressure equal to 0.6 – 1.1 atmosphere (600 – 1,000 g/cm2) at sea level (8.5 Ibs/sq in – 15.6 Ibs/sq in).
Law 3: The Number of Players
A match is played by two teams, with each allowed no more than 11 players on the field at any one time, one of whom is a goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team has fewer than seven players.
Law 4: The Players' Equipment
The FIFA ‘Laws of the Game’ state that players are not allowed to use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or any other player (including any kind of jewellery).
A player’s basic equipment consists of a jersey or shirt with sleeves, shorts, stockings, shinpads and footwear.
The two teams must wear colors that distinguish themselves from the opponent, referee and assistant referees.
Law 5: The Referee
The referee has the full authority to enforce the laws of the game and his decision is final. He controls the match in cooperation with the assistant referees, and where applicable, the fourth official. The referee ensures that the ball and players' equipment meets the requirements, acts as timekeeper and stops play for infringement of the laws among several other duties.
Law 6: The Assistant Referee
In professional soccer there are two assistant referees whose job it is to call off sides and throw-ins, and help the referee make decisions. Carrying a flag to signal their observations, assistant referees, or linesmen as they are commonly known, must monitor the side lines and goal lines and flag if the ball goes out of play, signalling which team the goal kick or throw-in should be awarded to.
Law 7: The Duration of the Match
Matches consist of two 45 minute halves, unless the two teams and referee agree otherwise before the start of play. The half-time interval must not exceed 15 minutes, and can only be altered upon consent of the referee. A referee may play added time because of substitutions, assessment of injuries, removal of injured players from the field of play, time wasting and any other cause. An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules state otherwise.
Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play
Kick-off is the way of starting or restarting play:
- To begin a match
- If a goal has been scored
- To begin the second half
- To begin a period of extra-time.
Law 9: The Ball in and out of Play
The ball is out of play when:
- It has wholly crossed the goalline or touchline
- Play has been stopped by the referee.
-The ball is in play at all other times, including when:
-It rebounds off a goalpost, crossbar or corner flag and stays on the field.
-When it hits a referee or assistant referee when