In countries other than the United States, soccer is called football, and it is played with a soccer ball in a field. In this game, two different teams are in place on a field, and metal frames with woven soccer nets, or soccer goals, are behind each team's members. The object of the game is to kick the ball into the other team's goal, and the team with the most soccer goals, or points, is the winner.
Players cannot use their hands, so what seems easy is in fact quite challenging, with only the use of their head, bodies, and feet to get the ball into the other team's goal. However, each team has a goalkeeper who is allowed to use any part of his body, including his hands, to keep the ball out of the soccer net.
The referee will issue you a severe penalty if the ball is touched with your hands while playing. Even if a soccer ball that is airborne collides with another player's hand, it is known as a hand ball, and the opposing team is given a penalty kick for punishment. Elbowing, holding, or tripping other players, as well as kicking, can also result in penalties while playing the game of soccer.
Soccer has 11 players of each team, although in youth soccer games, they can have as few as 6 players on either side. Soccer players have uniforms that match the other players on their team, and include: jerseys, socks, shorts, cleats or soccer shoes, and shin guards. Oftentimes, a goal keeper will be dressed unlike the other team members, so that he is easily distinguishable, and he may also wear gloves that allow him to grab the ball easier. There are two linesmen that stay on the sidelines, to ascertain who is responsible for balls that are kicked over the line, and a referee presides over the game as well.
When the game starts, the teams get on either side of the field, with one team making a kickoff from the spot in the center that has been designated for this purpose. After that, the soccer ball is always in play, that is until a penalty whistle goes off by a referee. The advancement of the ball down the field in an attempt to make a soccer goal, is known as dribbling and passing. However, it is hard to keep possession of the ball while getting it down the field, so often times, possession changes are occurring.
Unless there is a tie, the team that is able to score the most soccer goals by the end of the game is the winner. Depending on the format of the competition, if a tie happens, then they either have a penalty shootout, or the game goes into overtime. Soccer is now one of the world's premier sports, perhaps because it takes a lot of skill and determination to play the game.
by Joshua Bake
