Laws of Sport is an independent reference site for the official rules, playing-field dimensions, equipment standards, terminology, records and history of football, cricket, basketball and tennis. We explain the rulebooks in clear language and link to the governing bodies' official documents.
ACTIVE REGULATORY REVISIONS & MAJOR TOURNAMENT MILESTONES
Now in force with 73 material changes: laminated bats in open-age cricket, new ball sizes 1–3, and completion of the day's final over after a wicket.
5-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks, 10-second substitution exit limit, and expanded VAR review scope.
Spain defeated Argentina 1–0 after extra time; Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at six World Cups (146 international goals).
The International Tennis Federation rebranded as World Tennis; the official 31 Rules of Tennis remain active across tour and Grand Slam events.
Choose a sport to find beginner-friendly rule explanations, measurement guides, key terms, and sourced records. Rules can vary by competition and edition, so each guide identifies its scope and links to the relevant official source.
Football is governed by 17 Laws set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Our guides cover pitch dimensions, fouls and cards, DOGSO, VAR, semi-automated offside technology and the new 2026/27 changes: countdowns for throw-ins and goal kicks, faster substitutions, and an expanded VAR protocol.
The 42 Laws of Cricket are written and maintained by the MCC at Lord’s. We cover pitch and crease measurements, the ways a batter can be dismissed, the LBW law, Test/ODI/T20 formats, and what changes from 1 October 2026: laminated bats, ball sizes 1–3 and end-of-day over rules.
Basketball is played under FIBA international rules and NBA rules. We explain the differences: game length, court size, the 24-second shot clock, the 14-second reset, the restricted-area arc, goaltending and traveling.
The Rules of Tennis are maintained by World Tennis, formerly the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Our guides cover singles and doubles court sizes, net height, Love-15-30-40 scoring, the 25-second serve clock, and tiebreak formats at Grand Slams and on tour.
DIRECT, SIMPLE EXPLANATIONS FOR HIGH-FREQUENCY QUESTIONS
A player is in an offside position if any part of their head, body or feet is in the opponents' half (not counting the halfway line) and is nearer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. Being in an offside position is not an offence by itself. An indirect free kick is given only if the player becomes involved in active play.
Every sport on Laws of Sport follows the same eight sections, so you always know where to find what you need.
Codified laws, foul interpretations and refereeing procedures.
Origins, codifications and rule changes over time.
Formations, player roles and zone responsibilities.
Glossary of technical jargon, slang and officiating calls.
Pitch, court and boundary sizes in metric and imperial.
Ball specifications, protective gear and hardware.
Verified all-time records and tournament leaderboards.
Verified trivia, statistics and landmark sporting events.
| Sport | Playing field | Match ball | Match length | Governing body | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football | 105 × 68 m recommended (Law 1 range 90–120 × 45–90 m) | 410–450 g, 0.6–1.1 atm | 90 min (2 × 45) | IFAB / FIFA | Details → |
| Cricket | 22-yard (20.12 m) pitch | 155.9–163.0 g (5.5–5.75 oz) senior ball. 2026 Laws classify balls as Size 1, 2, 3 | Test: up to 5 days; ODI: 50 overs; T20: 20 overs | MCC / ICC | Details → |
| Basketball | FIBA 28 × 15 m; NBA 94 × 50 ft (28.65 × 15.24 m) | Size 7: 567–650 g; NBA inflated to 7.5–8.5 psi | FIBA 4 × 10 min; NBA 4 × 12 min | FIBA / NBA | Details → |
| Tennis | 78 × 27 ft singles; 36 ft wide doubles (23.77 × 8.23 / 10.97 m) | 56.0–59.4 g (1.975–2.095 oz) | Best of 3 or 5 sets | World Tennis (ITF) | Details → |
Sources: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, MCC Laws of Cricket, FIBA Official Basketball Rules, NBA Rulebook, World Tennis/ITF Rules of Tennis 2026.
Records change. Check the "as of" date on each row.
| # | Record | Holder | Country | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Most men's international goals (football) | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 146 goals | October 2026 · 234 caps; first player to score at six World Cups |
| 2 | Highest individual Test score (cricket) | Brian Lara | West Indies | 400* not out | Antigua, 2004 (vs England) |
| 3 | Most men's Grand Slam singles titles (tennis) | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 24 majors | After 2026 US Open (last title: US Open 2023) |
| 4 | Most regular-season points (NBA) | LeBron James | United States | 43,440 | End of 2025–26 season (still active; total will rise in 2026–27) |
| 5 | Fastest recorded serve (tennis, men) | Sam Groth | Australia | 263.4 km/h (163.7 mph) | Busan Challenger, 2012 · a Challenger-level mark, not an ATP Tour record |
| 6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup winner | Spain | Spain | Beat Argentina 1–0 a.e.t. | 19 July 2026, MetLife Stadium |
VAR helps the referee fix clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents. Under the 2026/27 Laws its scope covers goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards, mistaken identity, incorrect second yellows, wrong-player cards, corner-kick decisions, and pre-restart offences.
Multi-camera optical tracking and an embedded ball sensor help match officials make faster, consistent offside decisions, generating 3D positional animations for broadcasters.
Ball-tracking (Hawk-Eye), UltraEdge audio frequency detection, and thermal imaging review caught-behind, LBW, and run-out appeals in international cricket.
High-speed camera tracking systems call lines automatically in real time across Grand Slam and tour events, replacing on-court line judges with millimetre precision.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is founded at Lord’s, London, and later becomes the recognized custodian of the Laws of Cricket.
The Football Association meets at Freemasons’ Tavern in London and publishes the first universal 13 Laws of the Game, distinguishing football from rugby handling rules.
The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club hosts the inaugural tournament, establishing standard court geometry and scoring.
Dr James Naismith writes the 13 original rules for basketball at Springfield College, Massachusetts, using peach baskets.
The International Lawn Tennis Federation (now World Tennis, formerly ITF) is founded in Paris to administer worldwide rules.
Conceived by English referee Ken Aston to overcome multilingual barriers, disciplinary cards debut at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
Following international trials, IFAB formally writes Video Assistant Referee protocols into Law 5 of the Laws of the Game.
All four Grand Slam tournaments unify their final-set rule, adopting a 10-point championship tiebreak at 6–6.
IFAB 2026/27 Laws take effect (1 July); ITF rebrands as World Tennis (25 June); MCC 2026 Laws take effect (1 October).
Key differences in pitch size, tackling, forward passes, scoring systems, and disciplinary frameworks.
Comparing overs to innings, 360-degree batting fields, pitch mechanics, and strikeout vs dismissal rules.
Court enclosure glass walls, underhand serve rules, racket materials, and scoring variations.
Quarter lengths (10 vs 12 min), court sizes (28m vs 94ft), three-point line distance, and foul-out limits.
Red-ball multi-day stamina vs 50-over strategy and 20-over explosive powerplay regulations.
India vs Pakistan Asian Games Cricket Final 3 october 2026: Live Updates, Match Time, Rules & Gold Medal Guide
Football and rugby share 19th-century English roots but differ fundamentally in ball handling, tackling, scoring, and team structure. Football is primarily played with the feet by 11 players, while rugby uses 15 players and centers on carrying, passing, and tackling an oval ball.
The first-ever Test match was played between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1877, with Australia winning by 45 runs. Learn more about cricket rules, history, records, and official sports information at Laws of Sport.
The NBA shot clock gives teams 24 seconds to attempt a qualifying field goal, with specific situations allowing a 14-second reset or another adjustment. This guide explains the NBA shot clock rules, violations, resets, and how the rule changed modern basketball. Explore more basketball rules and sports regulations at Laws of Sport.
Rules, dimensions, and officiating procedures are referenced directly against published primary documents from IFAB, FIFA, MCC, ICC, World Tennis/ITF, FIBA, and the NBA.
Guides display their last-reviewed dates and are updated when international governing bodies publish revised rule editions (IFAB 1 July, MCC new editions, Tennis 1 January).
Laws of Sport is an independent educational reference site helping fans, players, coaches, and students understand sports rules in accessible, plain language.
