Soccer

History and Rules

Soccers Beginnings

The origin of soccer can be found in every

corner of geography and history.
The Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Ancient
Greek, Persian, Viking, and many more
played a ball game long before our era.
The Chinese played "football" games
date as far back as 3000 years ago.
The Ancient Greeks and the Roman used
football games to sharpen warriors for
battle. In South and Central America a
game called "Tlatchi" once flourished.

Ancient Civilizations and

Soccer

Mesoamerican civilizations also

devised a game played with rubber
balls, which resembled a combination
between soccer, basketball and
volleyball.
The game involved two teams, playing
in a sort of basin dug below ground
level, with baskets strapped in several
locations on the side walls.
The teams would then have to kick the
ball towards these baskets, and score a
goal.

Soccer in Europe

As we go forward on the history of

soccer timeline, we notice that the
game has gradually entered European
territory, Europe being the place where
modern day soccer will start in several
centuries.
Middle age soccer is covered in a
combination of myth and historical
facts.
One popular form of the game (Mob
soccer) involved entire villages or
towns and was rather chaotic.

Soccer in Europe (cont.)

The teams could have unlimited players,

as long as they were from the same
village or town. Both teams had to kick
the ball towards specific landmarks, and
defend their own.
To add more chaos, the ball was made out
of inflated pigs' bladders, or leather skins
stuffed with all sorts of materials.
Picture two masses of people running
towards a poor pig bladder ball, kicking,
stomping, punching and pushing each
other in the attempt to kick the object to
some area.

Soccer in Europe (cont.)

In medieval France, a game called "La

Choule" was usually played in town
gatherings, such as just after Sunday
church, or on special occasions or
holidays.
The game itself looked like a combination
of soccer, handball, hockey, baseball and
kickboxing, since the players of each team
had to strike the ball into the opponent's
goal, using whatever means necessary and
whatever accessories necessary.
For example, one record shows that
players were allowed to use sticks or clubs
to hit the ball around, although it wasn't
always the ball that got hit.

History Continued

The game was violent in

nature and I assume there
were plenty occasions where
the after-church Choule match
ended up with another trip to
the church to confess some
violent sins.
In England, the game was
surrounded by an aura of
violence and was considered
a dangerous and sinful game.
As such, it was banned in
1314 by Nicholas de
Farndone, the Mayor of
London.

Soccer Grows Popular

Despite this ban, soccer became to

grow in medieval England and it was
not long that it was introduced in
English public schools in order to keep
young boys fit.
Since soccer was growing strong in
English public schools, the idea of
having an organized tournament
sparked in the 19th century.

In 1862, a solicitor by the name of Cobb

Morley, formed a semi-professional soccer
club in Barnes, called the Barnes Club.
Cobb Morley is rightfully considered the
father of soccer, but that's not just because
he was the one to spark the idea of the
Soccer Association.
He also drew up the Laws of the Game,
probably the most important document in
the history of soccer, since it held all the
official rules around which the game would
be played.

Soccer Becomes Official

Cobb Morley's rules were accepted by the

Soccer Association on the 8th of December,
1863 and have since stood as the game's
constitution, although they were slightly
modified throughout time to meet the needs of
modern soccer.
It only took around 3 decades after the first
official rules of soccer were laid down by Cobb
Morley and the English Football Association and
the game was already wide spread throughout
Europe, Australia and the Americas.

The Rules of Soccer

There are 11 players

for each team.
All players wear shin
guards to in order to
protect their shins.
The goalkeeper is
the only player who
can get the ball with
his hands.

Soccer Rules

A goal is scored when

the whole of the ball
passes over the goal
line, between the
goalposts and under
the crossbar, provided
that no faults has
been committed
previously by the
team scoring the goal.

The team scoring

the greater number
of goals during the
match is the winner.
If both team are tied
at the end of
regulation, the
match will be
recorded as a tie
during regular the
regular season.

The Soccer Field

Penalty kick

Penalty Kick is
when a player
commits any foul
within his own
Penalty box.

Corner kick

Corner kick is
when the ball
goes out of
bounds over the
end line and was
last touched by
the defending
team.

Cards

Yellow card:
indicates caution.

A player who
receives 2 Yellow
Cards is given a
Red Card.

Red card: the

player must
leave the field
and he cant play
the next game.

Slide Tackle

When a defender
slides on the
ground and kick
the ball away
from the player.

The Players

A. goalkeeper
B. left fullback
C. right fullback
D. center back
E. left back
F. right back
G. left midfield
H. right midfield
I. left forward
J. center forward
K. right forward

Spanish Words for Playing

Soccer

Fuera de lugar
offsides
tiro de esquina corner kick
tiro libre - free kick
falta - foul
penal - penalty
lateral - throw in
saque del arco - goal
kick
delantero - forward

portero - goalkeeper
se fue - the ball went out
mano - handball (literally
means "hand")
empujon - push
pelota - ball
mediocampista - midfielder
defensor - defender
cruze - cross
cabezazo - header

Toque - pass it back

Hay que bajar or baja - guys we need to get downfield and
defend more or specifically you need to go help out
downfield.
Dos - when two teamates are running towards a loose ball
and one needs to ease off so as to avoid a mishaps.
Centro - cross it in
Solo - no pressure is on you so go ahead and shoot it or
dribble it upfield
Te llegan! - man on!
Calmado - don't rush your passing or dribbling
Tiro- shoot it
Marca - defend your nearest or assigned oppenent
Entrale - tackle your opponent now or apply pressure
Psame la pelota pass me the ball