Soccer is a popular sport played all over the world. Even though it has only
been popular in North America for the past 30 years, soccer has been a long time
favorite most everywhere else. It is the national sport of most European and
Latin-American countries, and of many other nations. Millions of people in more
than 140 countries play soccer. The sport dates back to the Egyptians, who
played games involving the kicking of a ball. Now, the sport has grown to a
global pastime, including men’s and women’s teams, and the World Cup (which
is played every four years). History and Origins Games similar to soccer were
played in China as early as 400 BC. In about 200 AD the Romans played a game in
which two teams tried to score by advancing a ball across a line on the field.
The Romans passed the ball to one another but they never kicked it. London
children in about 1100 played a form of soccer in the streets. During the 1800's
the people of England played a game similar to soccer. Many rules changed and
each person interpreted the rules differently. The modern version came about in
the early nineteenth century, in England. It started as a game involving kicking
and handing, but later this branched off into two separate sports: rugby and
football (which is what the English call soccer). In 1848 a group of school
representatives met at Trinity College in Cambridge and drew up the first of
soccer rules. In 1863 English soccer clubs founded the Football Association. By
the late 1800's soccer began to spread to the rest of the world. The Canadian
Soccer Association was established in 1912 while the United States Soccer
Federation was set up in 1913. The first World Cup Championship was in
Montevideo, Uruguay. Since then it has been played every four years except
during WWII. The North American Soccer League (NASL) was formed in 1968 and the
sport began to gain popularity in the 1970’s. Modern Game and Rules The modern
game of soccer has a simple goal: kick or head the ball in to the goal of your
opponent’s team. Basically, there is also one simple rule: No one except the
goalkeeper may use they’re hands to play the ball. Soccer is a simplistic
sport. Eleven members of each team defend their side of the field to prevent the
ball from being forced into their goal, which results in a point scored by the
team kicking the ball. There are only three officials involved during play: The
referee, and two linesmen. The equipment used in soccer is also very simple. In
addition to the field itself, all that is needed for a game is two goals (eight
feet high and eight yards apart) and a ball. Each player wears hard plastic or
padded shin guard, covered by long socks, for protection during play. Cleats are
also worn for traction on the field. A goalie may also wear a special padded
shirt, and gloves to protect his or her hands. A standard field, as regulated by
the Federation International de Football Association (or FIFA), has a length
between 100 and 130 yards, and a width of between 50 and 100 yards. The rules of
play for soccer have deliberately been kept simple (see rules as appendix). The
referee makes most of the decisions, and attempts to encourage fair play. A
soccer game begins with a kickoff in the center of the field. A coin is flipped
to decide which team will kickoff. The other team kicks off at the start of the
second half when the teams switch sides or nets. After a team scores the other
team gets to kickoff to begin again. The kickoff takes place in the middle of
the field. When the ball is kicked it must travel the circumference of the ball
and touch another player before the kicker can touch the ball again. After the
ball is in play it remains in play unless it crosses a goal line or a touchline.
All players attempt to stop the ball from coming in their zone while at the same
time trying to score a goal. A player may kick the ball into the net with any
part of the body except the hands and arms. If the ball goes out of bounds the
play is restarted with a corner kick, a goal kick, or a throw-in. The referee
decides what type to use. If the ball crosses the goal line and the defensive
team touched it last then there is a corner kick by the offense. If the offense
touches the ball last and crosses the goal line then it is a goal kick. A throw
in happens when the ball crosses the touchline. When it crosses the touchline
the team that did not touch it last throws the ball in bounds. The ball is
thrown over their head with two hands. Fouls are called when a player does not
obey the rules and acts un-sportsman like. When a foul is called the opposite
team receives either a penalty kick, a direct free kick or and indirect free
kick. If the ball is kicked off the field over the length of the field, the
other team is given a throw-in, where the ball is thrown over the player’s
head, and back onto the field. If the ball is kicked over the goal, or across
the width of the field, either a corner kick results (by the offensive team,
where the ball is placed on the corner of the field and kicked into play) or the
defensive team is awarded a goal kick, where the ball is placed on the corner of
the goal box, and kicked back into play. If a goal is scored, the ball is taken
back to the center of the field, and the team scored against kicks off. Other
penalties include direct and indirect free kicks, and penalty kicks. For
offenses such as shoving and tripping, either a direct free kick (offenses not
in the goal box) or a penalty kick (inside the goal box) is awarded. Both allow
goals to be made directly from the kicks. If a minor offense is being punished,
then an indirect free kick is given, form which a goal cannot be scored. Most
soccer games have 45-minute halves, and the clocks is not stopped except for
injuries or deliberate time wasting. In professional soccer, only three to five
substitutions are allowed per half. Generally, more are allowed in lower
leagues. Physical Conditioning There are many exercises that people can do to
improve in soccer. Exercises that strengthen your legs and improve flexibility
are ideal. Physical conditioning is important if you plan on being good at
soccer. Here are five exercises that are ideal for soccer: Running: running
helps to improve cardiovascular fitness. In soccer there is lots of running for
the ball so endurance and a speed is a must. Leg Stretches: using weights can
help strengthen the legs. Using weights makes you kick harder and makes the ball
travel farther, as a result you become a better player. Leg Machines: exercising
all muscles in the leg makes you kick harder and prevents injury when you are
diving all over for the ball. The strong muscles help prevent injuries.
Stretching: stretching allows you to be more flexible. Sometimes soccer players
need to kick the ball in the most awkward positions. Flexibly helps the player
to kick the ball in those positions more effectively. Weight Training: all
around weight training makes a soccer player even better. A stronger body helps
prevent injury and improve all around performance. Practice Drills help the
soccer player be more skillful and a better player. There are many drills that
can be done. Drills like dribbling to head butting are often used. Some of these
drills include: Practicing kicking the ball is a very important and often done
drill. To practice the player will kick the ball into the net. Often there is a
goalie that they try to score on. Kicking is the most important skill in soccer.
Practicing will make your kick stronger and more controllable. Passing is also a
very important skill. One drill that can be done is to run side by side with
another player and pass the ball back and forth. This skill will improve your
passing and receiving skills. Passing is also vital in the game of soccer.
Heading is one of the only ways to legally hit the ball when it high in the air.
With another player heading can be practiced. One player throws the ball high
over top of the other player. The player then will jump up and hit the ball with
his forehead and try to control the ball. Heading is very hard and often lots of
practice are required. Control of the ball is also very important. By setting up
pylons in any order and distance and weaving through them in a pattern like
formation can improve your control of the ball. Trying to go quick can also
improve your speed of running while dribbling a ball. One on one practice
improves both your dribbling and tackling. With two players one is given the
ball and must keep the ball away from the other player. While one player is
improving his faking and dribbling the other is practicing his defense and
tackling. When this drill is done often it can improve your offense as well as
defense.