The Laws of the Game

This book applies theories, methods, and concepts from game studies to soccer. This is a game studies book about soccer that studies the rules and design of soccer and the impact that technology has on the game's evolution.

The book comprises nine chapters that approach soccer from different game studies angles. The different chapters study the game off the pitch (the design), on the pitch (the gameplay), and around the pitch (the culture). The book establishes conversations with game studies, illuminating what we take for granted in the field and showing what is left to study. At the same time, it provides readers with a deep understanding of the importance of soccer, why we should pay attention to it, and how it reflects broader trends in culture, technology, politics, and play.

This book will be of great interest to game, media, and sports scholars, as well as undergraduate and graduate students in those fields.