New Football (Soccer) Rule 2025! Everything you need to know
Video Overview & Insights
⚽ The 6-Second Rule Has CHANGED! | New Law Explained for Referees
Big thank you to @refereechannel for use of the IDFK footage
Big changes are coming to one of football’s most misunderstood rules — the 6-second rule for goalkeepers. In this video, I break down everything you need to know about the law change:
✅ What’s changed
Spurs keeper had it in his hands for over 20 seconds, on multiple occasions, yesterday against City
✅ Why it’s being introduced
✅ What referees, players, and coaches need to understand
What about 2nd and subsequent offences by same goalkeeper in that match ? Come on, explain this properly !
✅ How it will be enforced in matches
Whether you’re a referee, a coach, or just a football fan, this update is crucial to understand ahead of the new season.
Rules of the special game are getting far too complicated. What we need is something uncomplicated that will make it easier to score goals (goal-scoring gets fans excited). Goal keepers are much taller than they used to be, and seeing as the technology exists, why not make the goals bigger? Add a foot to each side and make the crossbar a foot higher. Nothing complicated, easy to understand and such a change should bring more goals and excitement. There is obviously cost involved in this so it could be rolled out gradually (top-tier teams first, or whatever).
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I feel like the part of this that will have the biggest impact on the flow of the game is the countdown mechanic. The fact that it doesn't start immediately (only beginning the countdown at 5 seconds remaining) gives the freedom to use discretion before beginning to signal, while also holding the referee accountable to actually make the call once they reach zero, because you know the opposition will be watching. I have a feeling that I'll shout "five" when I begin the countdown as a way to say "get moving", while alerting everyone on the pitch that the count has begun. That way, when it reaches zero there can be no argument that I'm being unfair (which is what happens under the old rule, because nobody thinks it will ever be enforced).
Corner kick as the restart simplifies things greatly at the grassroots/youth level, too, because setting up an indirect free kick inside the penalty area is always a nightmare. I end up wasting a minute or more making sure the players are where they're supposed to be because none of them have any idea what they're doing. That's the opposite of speeding up play by making the call. Everyone knows how a corner kick works, so the ball will be put back in play much sooner, with fewer headaches for poor, suffering referees like me XD
More User Perspectives
We see a culture of GKs taking a simple catch and flopping onto the ground for no reason other than to delay restart. They need to be aware that this will be included in the 8 seconds. Although it’s not up to refs to inform everyone on the laws of the game they could help by explaining it
@David_10-k1uOne of the biggest problems is keepers flopping on to the ground unnecessarily, then taking their time to get to their feet and then still taking their time to dispose of the ball. From when will the 8 second clock start ticking? If it is from the time they get to their feet you'll still have a problem. If the referee has the discretion to start the countdown from the time the keeper hits the ground I'm a fan of the change.
@gustaaf1892I like the ck option over a dfk. I worry attacking players will impeded the GK preventing him/her from releasing prior to 8 seconds in an attempt to get the ck.
@gordondunkeld6237Really? I've enforced the 6 second rule exactly once since it became a rule.
@AbsoluteNut1Always pick on goalkeepers don't they? All they need to do is drop the ball then it's in play again. Why not get rid of useless referees who don't appear to know a foul is anymore and leave goalkeepers alone.
@andytomhall6006Very interesting to hear that referees thought an indirect free kick inside the penalty area was "too great a punishment". Only 1.8% of them are scored, compared to 2-3% of corners!
@Paul_LucasI CAN count on one hand the number of times I have enforced that rule. I’m with you. 8 seconds isn’t different enough. It will also continue to be subjective in terms of when you start counting.
@monday6524It might be that teams prefer to build out tactically in their half as you can more easily get into formation as well, instead of pushing high up the pitch
@Tronous1171:10 Giving more time to set up misses the point. We are in this mess because we allowed the extra time to reset in the first place!
@magnusmcgee993The thing that gets me wound up is keepers on goal kicks out of hand, they carry the ball outside of the box sometimes before kicking it and I can't remember one ever getting a foul against them.
@shagaireAs a GK and a Ref I never had a problem with 6 sec - I agree making it a corner kick and and not an IFK as this was too central. As a Ref I would make time wasting gestures and yell out to keepers to get a move on 6 secs loud and proud - and many would avoid time wasting after that.
@cjnichols3878I guess a crowd will shout the seconds out!
@robmontier3770It would help if goalies didn't collapse every time they got the ball and look round...and round before they get up; also bouncing the ball from on corner of the penalty area to the other; some goalies I have seen this season take 20 seconds in all, every time. WAAAY too long.
@robmontier3770Nice rule to implement in football with a visual countdown so it doesn't feel unfair. It's the case in futsal where GK has 4 seconds to play the ball whenever they are in their half. You also have this 4 seconds rule to put the ball back in play (touch, corner, free kick). Refs will countdown with their fingers and turn the possession immediately if it reaches four. It truly makes the game greater to be honest.
@julienbourdic8933Wow some common sense being added woohoo. Although having to hold your hand up for the count down seems a bit over the top and I doubt keepers will spending any valuable seconds looking for it.
@colincampbell876You going to do a video on the other bundesliga referee video?
@Jay-123-JDJHopefully gets rid of the goalkeeper "flop". I wonder if this rule change will also apply to U11 soccer?
@chrisbradley1192I'll be doing the old '1 elephant - 2 elephant' method
@gingerwoods616Unfortunately, like most rule changes, they will be all over it for the first couple of weeks of the season and then forget all about it, just like the yellow cards for taking too long on a throw in.
They need to do something about keepers going down ‘injured’ for treatment while the rest of the team go to the sidelines for tactical coaching.
To be pedantic.. most stadiums and all referees have a clock/watch so you can count on that.
@Tutts93In the last few kids matches I counted quite loudly so everyone can hear, which helps because coaches and teammates would also scream at the goalie, instead of me :D
@tszhin814