Rule changes for the new season

Two changes apply before the game kicks off: From this season, the captain who wins the toss will no longer only decide which end they are attacking. This term there is the option of choosing to kick-off.

In addition, the coaches will now have a greater number of substitutes to choose from. Instead of the previous seven subs, nine players can now be on the bench with the matchday squad extended from 18 to 20 players. At the same time, only six players from a team are permitted to warm up at the same time.

There is no change to the number of substitutions. However: In order to avoid wasting time, the substituted player must leave the field by the shortest possible route – that is from the nearest perimeter line (goal or touchline). Up to now, substitutions have been made exclusively at the half-way line. The substitute will continue to enter the pitch from the half-way line.

Discipline, handball and dropped balls

From this season, not only players can be shown the yellow or red card. (Head) coaches plus team officials and staff can be sent off by the referee. If the offender guilty of misconduct cannot be identified then the senior coach will automatically receive the card.

From now: Every goal scored with the hand or arm will be ruled out. Here it does not matter if there is any intention or not. Also, if an (advantageous) handball is identified in the build-up to a goal in the referee can take action.

The "unnatural extension of the body area" is to be judged by the referee. For example, if a player holds his arms above shoulder height then he can be penalised – even with a sliding tackle. The situation is different if the ball has been deflected immediately before so that there is insufficient time to react.

In future, action will be taken if the ball is touched by the referee (or another match official) and goes into the goal, leads to a change of possession or helps create an attack. A dropped ball will be awarded.

The dropped ball will now only involved one player. And that is a player from the team last in possession – at the point where the ball was last touched. All other players must be at least 4 metres (4.5 yards) away.

Free-kicks, goal-kicks, penalties, throw-ins

It will now be possible to speed the game up or take free-kicks quickly even if the referee wants to show a yellow or red card. In order to avoid an advantage or possible goalscoring opportunity, the referee can issue the card at the next stoppage in the game.

Talking about free kicks. With set plays near the goal, players from the side taking the kick will no longer be able to stand in the wall. They will have to be a metre away – providing the wall is made up of three or more opposition players.

Up to now, the ball had to leave the penalty area from a goal-kick before it could be touched by another player. Passes from team-mates can now be taken in the penalty area. The ball is in play as soon as it is touched with the foot and clearly moves. The same applies to a direct or indirect free-kick for the defending team in their own penalty area. Opposing players must be at least 9.15 metres (10 yards) away and can only move towards the ball when the free-kick has been taken.

Another rule change at set plays: The goalkeeper must now only have one foot on the goal-line when a penalty is taken. This also allows the goalkeeper to take a step in anticipation as the taker can stutter in their run-up. Moreover: A fouled player may now – if required – be treated before he then takes the penalty himself.

With throw-ins, the opposing team must now be at least two metres away from the point on the touchline where the throw-in his taken – even if the player taking the throw-in is standing behind the line.

An article by bundesliga.de on the subject of "Rule changes in the Bundesliga" is available here.