Hands Off! The No-Grabbing Rule in Soccer

Soccer rules say you cannot grab other players. Grabbing someone stops them from moving freely on the field, which is against the rules.

What Counts as Holding in Soccer?

When you play soccer, you need to keep your hands to yourself! Holding happens when a player uses their body to stop another player from moving normally. This includes:

• Grabbing someone’s jersey
• Holding onto arms or legs
• Using hands to pull players back

Pushing with your arms stretched out is also not allowed. Referees might give you a yellow card if you push too hard!

The Right Way to Make Contact

You CAN use your shoulders! Going shoulder-to-shoulder with another player is completely legal in soccer. This is a great way to push someone off the ball without getting in trouble.

In my opinion, learning proper shoulder technique is one of the most important skills young players should master. It helps you play physically without breaking the rules.

What Happens When You Hold?

If a referee catches you holding, the other team gets a direct free kick from the spot where it happened.

The worst place to commit a holding foul? Inside your own penalty box! This gives the other team a penalty kick, which often leads to a goal.

If you throw someone down with too much force, you might get a yellow or even red card. This hurts your team and can change who has the momentum in the game.

Common Holding Problems I’ve Seen

In youth soccer games, I often see these holding situations:

• Players grabbing jerseys when they lose the ball
• During corner kicks, players grabbing others so they can’t jump
• Defenders pulling attackers’ jerseys from behind

Better Ways to Win the Ball

I believe that players who rely on grabbing never develop proper defensive skills. Instead of using your hands, try these better ways:

• Use your shoulder strength
• Move quickly to beat opponents to the ball
• Keep players in front of you
• Time your tackles carefully
• Use your body positioning instead of your hands

Remember: don’t grab your opponents – beat them with skill instead!