Despite being a sport with roots reaching out to medieval and even ancient times, soccer was never really played under a set of strict rules until 1863.
On 26 October, 1863 several amateur and semi-professional clubs from England gathered up in London and formed up the Football Association and devised a "constitution" for the game, including a set of standardized soccer.Obviously the "Laws of football" as they were called back then were just a set of basic soccer rules and they didn't cover all aspects of the game.
The main points covered by the Football Association were regarding violence on the pitch, as oftentimes the tense clashes in no-rules matches lead to bloody fistfights between the teams. Since then, soccer rules constantly evolved and began covering more and more of the game's principles and also adapting soccer to the age it was played in.
A simple example of this would be the offside rules which was introduced later on in the game, when matches became more and more tactical.
Without the offside rule, attackers would often have a hibernating role in the team, simply staying up front and waiting for the ball to come, hence with the new rule, they were forced to work as much as the other players on the pitch.
Let's take a look at some of the official soccer rules of today and give them a small explanation for why they are there and how they affect the game:
Soccer field dimensions - since not all soccer pitches could share the exact same size, FIFA decided a small length and width size threshold in order for a pitch to be playable. So the minimum length of a soccer field must be of 100 yards (90 meters), whereas the maximum length must be 130 yards (120 meters).
A bigger size difference was allowed for the width, which can be as small as 50 yards (45 meters) and as big as 100 yards (90 meters). You might have noticed that the minimum length coincides with the maximum width! Although strange indeed, soccer could actually be played on a square field, however for entertainment's sake no one built that kind of pitch yet (thankfully).
Number of players - The official soccer rules book states that each team can enter the field with 11 players (one of which is the goalkeeper).
The number of substitutes depends on the competition the match is played in, but in official FIFA matches the number of substitutes can range from none to 7, with 3 substitutions eligible for each of the two teams.
However, in friendly matches, it's often the case that both teams agree upon a set number of substitutions or simply go all-out and allow every bench player to get in the game at some point, replacing one of the first team members.
Ball in/out play soccer rules - The ball is in play whenever the referee doesn't intervene whistling a game stop and whenever it stays inside the play area.
If the ball crosses the goal line or touch line by more than half its circumference, then it goes out of play and a goal kick/corner or throw in is given to one of the teams (the opposition of the team that last touched the ball). If a ball hits the referee ,the corner flag, the goal post or any other object on the pitch, the game remains in play.
Fouls - Fouls are one of the most problematic soccer rules nowadays, since they can be easily misjudge or interpreted by the referee, which often causes arguments on and off the pitch. Theoretically, a foul is whistled and a direct or indirect kick is given when a player trips, kicks, pushes, punches, charges or holds an opponent.
However, in the fast pace of the game, it's often hard for the referee to see if a tackle touches the feet of the attacker or the ball. It's considered a foul even if the defending player doesn't touch the attacker at all, but has a dangerous intervention such as a high kick.
Goals - Last but not least, the essence of soccer rules and the object of the game itself, the goal.
In order to score a goal, the attacking team must pass the ball beyond the other team's goal line. The attacker can kick the ball, head the ball or push it in with any other body part other than the hand (in which case it is considered handball).
Not all shots that end up in the net are goals though, as a goal can be cancelled if it was scored after the attacker broke one of the other soccer rules, such as fouling a defender or the goalkeeper, using his hand to control the ball, being offside or scoring directly from an indirect free kick.
These are the basic soccer rules and although there are a few smaller twists to learn, if you manage to understand these, you'll be able to watch, and understand a soccer match without problems. Outside the offside rule the other official soccer rules are quite easy to grasp.
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer Fans website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, soccer rules, famous soccer players, soccer fundamentals and soccer conditioning.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Niv_Orlian
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Soccer Players Are Far Superior Athletes - Proven At Last!
Think back the last time someone told you that soccer is nothing more than just an act of showmanship. It hurts, doesn’t it? You were wishing that you had a way of debunking this.
Well, starting from today, do not allow people to talk you into believing that soccer is detrimental to your health, much less an act of showmanship. Sure, due to the robust nature of play, soccer players often suffer from a multitude of injures, fractures and sprains. A few of them even fall prey to the Sudden Death Syndrome and perished on the pitch. But if you currently an active soccer player, rejoice as the latest scientific research has proven to a certain extent (which I will detail later) that soccer players are far superior athletes – mean and lean running machines with plenty of lung power. Here’s proof taken from the recently concluded British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference 2007.
This study was led by Associate Professor Peter Krustrup from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with Copenhagen University Hospital and Bispebjerg Hospital.
Krustrup and his team randomly selected 37 male couch potatoes and had them undergo three hours per week of soccer, jogging or no exercise over a continuous period of three months. It turned out that those who went through the soccer regime became the fittest of the lot.
After three months, those who played soccer lost 3.3kg of fat measured using specialized x-ray imaging, compared with 1.8kg among joggers. In addition, the soccer players gained 1.7kg of muscles while joggers did not gain any measurable muscle mass. The soccer players also posted a significant reduction in so-called “bad” cholesterol while there was no reduction for the joggers. Finally, the players’ sprint time was found to have improved significantly while the scores of the joggers remained unchanged. Needless to say, those who had no exercise did not experience any health benefits.
A possible explanation for the results is that soccer players are required to stop and go, speed up, slow down, while joggers generally move at an even pace. In fact, part of the reason why the willowy David Beckham once captained England was not because he had silky dribbling skills or that he is pacy but because he inspired the rest of the team with his superior fitness. But be warned: long-time couch potatoes who see themselves as the next Ronaldinho in the short run will run a high risk of landing on the operation table instead.
While the results of this study quantitatively demonstrate the fitness of soccer players, comparisons must be made against other sports with a high playing tempo such as basketball. But even if such comparisons are available, I still believe that soccer players will come out among tops given the rigors and robustness of the modern game.
Kumcheong is a budding online businessman with a keen interest on European soccer. He would like to remind sports-lovers to take care of themselves while participating in their favorite sports. Always consult your physician if in doubt and never try to emulate Ronaldinho because there can only be one. For additional information on soccer, the reader is welcome visit his blog at http://soccerpedia.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kumcheong_Tang
Well, starting from today, do not allow people to talk you into believing that soccer is detrimental to your health, much less an act of showmanship. Sure, due to the robust nature of play, soccer players often suffer from a multitude of injures, fractures and sprains. A few of them even fall prey to the Sudden Death Syndrome and perished on the pitch. But if you currently an active soccer player, rejoice as the latest scientific research has proven to a certain extent (which I will detail later) that soccer players are far superior athletes – mean and lean running machines with plenty of lung power. Here’s proof taken from the recently concluded British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference 2007.
This study was led by Associate Professor Peter Krustrup from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with Copenhagen University Hospital and Bispebjerg Hospital.
Krustrup and his team randomly selected 37 male couch potatoes and had them undergo three hours per week of soccer, jogging or no exercise over a continuous period of three months. It turned out that those who went through the soccer regime became the fittest of the lot.
After three months, those who played soccer lost 3.3kg of fat measured using specialized x-ray imaging, compared with 1.8kg among joggers. In addition, the soccer players gained 1.7kg of muscles while joggers did not gain any measurable muscle mass. The soccer players also posted a significant reduction in so-called “bad” cholesterol while there was no reduction for the joggers. Finally, the players’ sprint time was found to have improved significantly while the scores of the joggers remained unchanged. Needless to say, those who had no exercise did not experience any health benefits.
A possible explanation for the results is that soccer players are required to stop and go, speed up, slow down, while joggers generally move at an even pace. In fact, part of the reason why the willowy David Beckham once captained England was not because he had silky dribbling skills or that he is pacy but because he inspired the rest of the team with his superior fitness. But be warned: long-time couch potatoes who see themselves as the next Ronaldinho in the short run will run a high risk of landing on the operation table instead.
While the results of this study quantitatively demonstrate the fitness of soccer players, comparisons must be made against other sports with a high playing tempo such as basketball. But even if such comparisons are available, I still believe that soccer players will come out among tops given the rigors and robustness of the modern game.
Kumcheong is a budding online businessman with a keen interest on European soccer. He would like to remind sports-lovers to take care of themselves while participating in their favorite sports. Always consult your physician if in doubt and never try to emulate Ronaldinho because there can only be one. For additional information on soccer, the reader is welcome visit his blog at http://soccerpedia.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kumcheong_Tang
Football Juggling Tricks
Football juggling tricks...the official name of today for this is called "Football Freestyle". Freestyle is all about skills while having the ball in the air. People have always been fascinated about juggling skills. In the 90's some people took this to a higher level. Juggling with all parts of your body, juggling while sitting and even when you're lying down.
When of the pioneers of this "circus" style was Mr.Woo. A very famous freestyler who used to play professional football. He wanted to take juggling skills to a new level. Mr.Woo could do things with a football no one else could do. He worked with many professional football players making commercials. He also worked with many big companies, not only football related companies. Freestyle attracts attention so people wanted to see more and more.
In the beginning of the 21st century there was a new era of freestyle born, it was later to be called "the air moves era". People started to do tricks with their feet spinning around the ball. One of the first air freestylers out there was Soufiane Touzani. This guy released a freestyle video back in the days which got a lot of people in to freestyle.
Palle, a guy from Sweden took freestyle to another level around 2005. His skills belong to the air moves section but he started to do no touch tricks. No touch tricks basically is when you do one trick and then you go straight in to another trick without a touch in between. This was something that had not been seen before and it got very popular. This variation of air moves is very hard but some people master the art of no touch tricks.
This is pretty much were freestyle is 2007. Sometime soon there might come new people who will break the boundary's of freestyle and create a new era of freestyling. Only the future can tell!
To read more about Football Freestyle you could read this article - http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Wonderful-Art-of-Football-Freestyle!&id=705885
If you want to watch football freestyle videos and get more info about the sport I would advice you to visit - http://www.freestylefactory.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Coolio
When of the pioneers of this "circus" style was Mr.Woo. A very famous freestyler who used to play professional football. He wanted to take juggling skills to a new level. Mr.Woo could do things with a football no one else could do. He worked with many professional football players making commercials. He also worked with many big companies, not only football related companies. Freestyle attracts attention so people wanted to see more and more.
In the beginning of the 21st century there was a new era of freestyle born, it was later to be called "the air moves era". People started to do tricks with their feet spinning around the ball. One of the first air freestylers out there was Soufiane Touzani. This guy released a freestyle video back in the days which got a lot of people in to freestyle.
Palle, a guy from Sweden took freestyle to another level around 2005. His skills belong to the air moves section but he started to do no touch tricks. No touch tricks basically is when you do one trick and then you go straight in to another trick without a touch in between. This was something that had not been seen before and it got very popular. This variation of air moves is very hard but some people master the art of no touch tricks.
This is pretty much were freestyle is 2007. Sometime soon there might come new people who will break the boundary's of freestyle and create a new era of freestyling. Only the future can tell!
To read more about Football Freestyle you could read this article - http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Wonderful-Art-of-Football-Freestyle!&id=705885
If you want to watch football freestyle videos and get more info about the sport I would advice you to visit - http://www.freestylefactory.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Coolio
Watch Scotland vs Italy Live Online - Watch Euro 2008 Live Online
Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero will not be included in Italy's squad for the final two European championship qualifiers against Scotland and the Faeroe Islands. Italy will face Scotland on Saturday in Glasgow, then host the Faeroe Islands in Modena four days later. Juventus forward Raffaele Palladino was called up into the squad announced by coach Roberto Donadoni on Sunday. The 24-man squad is made up of forwards Luca Toni, Antonio Di Natale and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Italy must fear a repeat of the European 1984 qualifiers when they failed to qualify for the European finals as a world champion. It was lowly Lithuania who inflicted damage all those years ago and a disappointing home draw last year against the same opposition could prove costly.
Italy seem to take a while to find their best possible form but they do not have the luxury this time around. A defeat on Saturday will prove fatal unless knocked-out Ukraine can have a surprise victory against France the following Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Scotland manager Alex McLeish named a full-strength squad for the Saturday game at Hampden Park. This has been possible by the fact that top clubs Celtic and Rangers have postponed this weekend's league games.
Scotland is second in the group, a point behind France and one ahead of world champion Italy and will secure a place in next year's championship by beating the Italians. It can also advance with a draw if France loses its final game against Ukraine or Italy stumbles against Faeroe Islands. However, a loss will mean elimination and Scotland can say goodbye to the European championship.
Although Scotland does not have any star player, McLeish has assembled a squad of players who perform above themselves against the top teams. The Scots have beaten France 1-0 home and away previously. McLeish said that even though those players are disappointed for not being selected for the squad this Saturday, they will still be happy to support each other.
Jesaiah is a die-hard football fan and have watch Live Football Matches Online using a special software with high quality streaming video. You can click here to download the software.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jesaiah_C
Italy must fear a repeat of the European 1984 qualifiers when they failed to qualify for the European finals as a world champion. It was lowly Lithuania who inflicted damage all those years ago and a disappointing home draw last year against the same opposition could prove costly.
Italy seem to take a while to find their best possible form but they do not have the luxury this time around. A defeat on Saturday will prove fatal unless knocked-out Ukraine can have a surprise victory against France the following Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Scotland manager Alex McLeish named a full-strength squad for the Saturday game at Hampden Park. This has been possible by the fact that top clubs Celtic and Rangers have postponed this weekend's league games.
Scotland is second in the group, a point behind France and one ahead of world champion Italy and will secure a place in next year's championship by beating the Italians. It can also advance with a draw if France loses its final game against Ukraine or Italy stumbles against Faeroe Islands. However, a loss will mean elimination and Scotland can say goodbye to the European championship.
Although Scotland does not have any star player, McLeish has assembled a squad of players who perform above themselves against the top teams. The Scots have beaten France 1-0 home and away previously. McLeish said that even though those players are disappointed for not being selected for the squad this Saturday, they will still be happy to support each other.
Jesaiah is a die-hard football fan and have watch Live Football Matches Online using a special software with high quality streaming video. You can click here to download the software.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jesaiah_C
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