History

Soccer is the world's most popular and widely played game. It is governed by FIFA (Federation de Football Associations). There are 135 countries that belong to FIFA.

The modern game was invented about 120 years ago in England. It is played in the Olympics every four years. Two years after each Olympics, the World Cup is played by professionals formed into national teams. All member countries field a team who begin playoffs in different regional divisions. The teams are eventually eliminated until sixteen teams remain. These teams go to the host nation and playoff until there is a World Champion. Some of the world's greatest stars have been Pele, Stanley Matthews, and Dino Zoff.

America has come a long way in the last few years. We will soon be able to hold our own with the rest of the world in the game of soccer.

Rules

1. To start the game, the ball has to be kicked with the circumference of the ball forward. The kicker can only touch it once without someone else touching it.

2. Direct free kicks are kicks from which a goal can be scored directly against the offending side. Penalties can result from:

A. Charging an opponent violently or dangerously.

B. Charging an opponent from behind.

C. Holding an opponent by hand or arm.

D. Pushing an opponent by hand or arm.

E. Striking or attempting to strike an opponent.

F. Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.

G. Intentionally tripping an opponent.

H. Intentionally jumping at an opponent.

I. Intentionally handling the ball.

3. Indirect free kicks are kicks from which a goal cannot be scored without the ball touching or being played by another player. Penalties are as follows:

A. Off sides - when a player is ahead of the ball in the opponent's half of the field and nearer to the goal than any two opponents.

B. Obstruction - blocking a player from playing the ball.

C. Dangerous play - any play considered by the referees to be dangerous to either a player or the opponent.

4. Ball in and out of play.

A. Ball is in play after throw ins, goal kicks, corner kicks, kick offs, etc.

B. A ball that goes over the sideline results in a throwin.

C. A ball that goes over the end line by an offensive player is a goal kick; a ball that goes over the end line by a defensive player is a corner kick.

D. A ball is considered in play until it has passed entirely over the out-of- bounds line.

5. Game duration - 2 times, 45 minutes - no timeouts.

Systems of Play

A. - 2-3-5 This is the oldest formation and very offensively-minded: 2 fullbacks, 3 halfbacks, 5 forwards.

B. - 3-4-3 A system to control the midfield.

C. - 4-2-4 The midfielders are considered both offensive and defensive players.

D. - 4-3-3 This is one of the most popular systems today.

E. 4-4-2 A very defensively-minded formation.

Goal is 8 feet high and 8 yards wide.