FOOTBALL

Football or soccer,[a] is a team sport played with a spherical ball between

two teams of eleven players. It is played by 250 million players in over 200
countries and dependencies, making it the world's most popular sport. The
object of the game is to score by moving the ball beyond the goal line into
the opposing goal.

 Brief History
Football or soccer can be traced to as far back as the ancient period in China (Han
dynasty). The modern game of association football originates from Cuju, an
ancient Chinese football game, as recognized by FIFA.[1][2][3] The formation of The
Football Association was later implemented in London, England in 1863 based on
multiple efforts to standardize the varying forms of the game. This allowed clubs
to play each other without dispute and which specifically banned handling of the
ball (except by goalkeepers) and hacking during open field play. After the fifth
meeting of the association a schism emerged between association football and
the rules played by the Rugby school, later to be called rugby football. At the
time, football clubs had played by their own, individual codes and game-day rules
usually had to be agreed upon before a match could commence. For example,
the Sheffield Rules that applied to most matches played in the Sheffield area
were a different code. Football has been an Olympic sport ever since the second
modern Summer Olympic Games in 1900.

 Rules and regulations

 A match consists of two 45 minutes halves with a 15 minute rest period in between.
 Each team can have a minimum of 11 players (including 1 goalkeeper who is the
only player allowed to handle the ball within the 18 yard box) and a minimum of 7
players are needed to constitute a match.
 The ball must have a circumference of 58-61cm and be of a circular shape.
 Each team can name up to 7 substitute players. Substitutions can be made at any
time of the match with each team being able to make a maximum of 3 substitutions
per side. In the event of all three substitutes being made and a player having to
leave the field for injury the team will be forced to play without a replacement for that
player
 Each game must include one referee and two assistant referee’s (linesmen). It’s the job of
the referee to act as time keeper and make any decisions which may need to be made such
as fouls, free kicks, throw ins, penalties and added on time at the end of each half
 If the game needs to head to extra time as a result of both teams being level in a
match then 30 minutes will be added in the form of two 15 minute halves after the
allotted 90 minutes.
 If teams are still level after extra time then a penalty shootout must take place.
 For fouls committed a player could receive either a yellow or red card depending on
the severity of the foul; this comes down to the referee’s discretion. The yellow is a
warning and a red card is a dismissal of that player. Two yellow cards will equal one
red. Once a player is sent off then they cannot be replaced.
 If a ball goes out of play off an opponent in either of the side lines then it is given as
a throw in. If it goes out of play off an attacking player on the base line then it is a
goal kick. If it comes off a defending player it is a corner kick.

 Technique and skills

1. Passing
 Passing is one of the most fundamental skills in soccer, as it is how you move
the ball from yourself to another teammate. For a short basic pass, you will
turn your foot 90 degrees to the outside and swing your leg so that the inside
of your leg makes contact. If you want to send the ball farther, you will swing
your leg with more power and aim for the lower half of the ball, to pop it into
the air and use the inside of your toes.

2. Receiving a Pass
Whether you are receiving a pass that is on the ground or traveling through
the air, you will want to square your shoulders to the direction the ball is
coming from. If it is on the ground, turn your foot toward the outside as if you
were passing, and with your knees bent, cushion the ball so it stops right at
your feet. For a ball traveling through the air, you will most likely want to
receive the ball with your chest.

3. Shooting
There are a number of unconventional ways to score a goal, but the
fundamental way to try to score is by taking a shot. Follow through with
 your shooting leg, in a hopping motion that brings your plant foot off the
ground, and land on the foot you shot with for the most power.

4. Dribbling
Outside of passing, dribbling is the primary method of moving the ball up the
field. This works best when you have open field in front of you without
pressing defenders. The goal of dribbling is to move the ball quickly while
keeping the ball close to your body, so that you can make a quick decision to
pass, shoot or change direction whenever needed.

5. Goalkeeping
The goalkeeper is the last line of defense, in charge of doing whatever possible to
keep the ball out of the net. As goalie, you can use your entire body, including your
hands and arms, to stop the ball. The other fundamental skill for goalies is punting,
which is how you distribute the ball upfield after making a save
 Terminology and court

 Advantage: a special rule that allows play to continue after a

foul if it would be disadvantageous to the team that was
fouled.
 Caution: Yellow Card
 Challenge: Blocking or impeding an opposing player who is in
possession of the ball
 Centre Mark: The circle at the middle of the field. It should be
10 yards in diameter
 Corner Arc: An arc with a radius of 1 yard at the 4 corners of
the field where the touchlines meet the goal lines.
 Corner Kick: A direct free kick awarded if the defending team
was the last to touch the ball before it passed over its own
goal line
 Cross: A long pass into the centre from the wing
 Direct Free Kick: A free-kick resulting from a foul that can be
shot into the goal without having to be touched by another
player.
 Dribble: Controlling the ball on the ground with the feet
 Free-kick: Awarded after a player has fouled an opponent. May
be direct or indirect.
 Goal Kick: A free-kick awarded the goalie if the offense was
the last to contact the ball before passing over the goal line.
 Hand-ball: When a player other than the goalkeeper touches
the ball with his arm or hand.
 Indirect Free Kick: A free kick resulting from a foul that cannot
be shot directly into the goal. If the ball enters the goal
without touching another player, the goal is void.
 Injury Time: Additional time added to the end of each half to
compensate for the stoppage of play due to injuries, wasted
time, or the scoring of a goal.
 Mark: To cover a specific opposing player closely to prevent
him from receiving the ball.
 Obstruction: A foul caused by preventing an opponent from
playing the ball by blocking their path to the ball. Results in an
indirect free kick.
 Offside: An infraction of the rules in which an offensive player
does not have at least two defensemen (including the goalie)
between them and the goal line when the ball is played
forward by a member the offensive team.
 Penalty Area: Another box surrounding the goal that begins
and ends 18 yards to each side of the goal (from the inside of
the goal post) that extends 18 yards into the field.
 Penalty Kick: A direct free kick awarded for a foul occurring in
the penalty area. The ball is placed 12 yards from in front of
the goal. Only the goalie and fouled player may be in the
 penalty area during the kick, but any player may play the ball
once touched by the goalie.
 Penalty Mark: A 'dot' on the field that is 12 yards in front of
the goal, equidistant to each goal post, or in other words,
centered.
 Red Card: Card held up by a referee indicating that a player
has been ejected from the game.
 Screening: Also called Shielding. A technique where a
controlling player keeps their body between the ball and a
marking opponent.
 Slide Tackle: A technique of tackling (stealing) the ball from a
dribbler by making contact with the ball while sliding on the
turf. May be outlawed in youth leagues
 Striker: A forward whose primary responsibility is to pursue
goal-scoring opportunities.
 Sweeper: A defender the roams the defensive zone between
the fullbacks and the goalie.
 Tackle: To take the ball away from a dribbler using the feet.
 Through Pass: A passed ball that splits a pair of defenders.
 Throw-In: A technique returning the ball in play when it leaves
the field over the touchlines. The player must have both hands
on the ball, throw over his head while keeping both feet on the
ground.
 Trap or Trapping: To receive the ball in a controlled manner
with any part of the body. Usually trapped with the foot, thigh
or chest.
 Volley: Kicking the ball in or out of mid-air.
 Wall: A group of defenders standing near shoulder to shoulder
in attempt to defend a free kick near the goal.
 Yellow Card: A card held up by the referee that warns a player
that any further misconduct will result in their ejection from
the game.
.