re: New to soccer

quote:

---

best way to get into watching

---

One does not watch soccer. One puts it on in their living room and goes about their morning house cleaning routine, taking breaks to look over when the crowd cheers/jeers. You can drink too.

quote:

---

learning all the rules

---

Players can't use hands/arms, except the goalie (unless the ball is passed backward from his own team).
If the ball goes out of play on the long ends, throw in for the other team. Ball out on short end, either a Goal Kick (if off of attacking side) or Corner Kick (if off of defending side).
Fouls called on dangerous play or non-play extracurricular. The worse the play, the more likely a yellow card.
Two yellow cards, or an egregious foul, or a foul from behind during a 1 on 1 situation with the goal scorer, will result in a red card and ejection.
A foul inside the large box results in a penalty shot
Other than that, learn the Offsides rule. It's 90% of the reason why soccer parents fight with referees in the US.