Study Guide
HISTORY
Soccer-like games have been played in many parts of the world for over 3,000 years. Today soccer is the most popular sport in the world. It is known to the rest of the world as “Football”. The World Cup is soccer’s most prestigious international competition and it has taken place every four years since 1930. Soccer has been part of the summer Olympic Games since 1900 for men and 1996 for women.
THE GAME
Soccer is a ball game played by two (2) teams of 11 players each. The object of the game is to put the ball into the opponent's goal to score a point. The winning team is the one that scores the most goals.
PLAYING THE BALL- Except for throw-ins, the goalkeeper is the only player allowed to play the ball with the hands or arms, and they may only do so within the team's Penalty Area. The goalkeeper may NOT use the hands or arms on a ball that has been passed back to them by a teammate.
Any player may, however, use any other part of the body to stop, control or pass the ball, move with it or score: for example, the head, feet, thigh
and chest.
SCORING
A goal is scored when the entire ball has crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts.
STARTING THE GAME
The game is started with a kick-off from the center spot.- At that moment every player must be in their own half of the field and no opponent may come into the center circle until the ball is kicked.
- Once kicked, the ball must travel its own circumference forward and the player taking the kick-off must not kick it again until it has been touched by another player.
After a goal is scored, play is restarted the same way by the team that did not score the goal.
POSITIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES
In class we played with teams of 8 - 10 players with 2 - 3 Forwards, 2 - 3 Mid-Fielders, 2 Defenders and a Goalie.
In regulation soccer, a team consists of 11 players: Forwards, Mid-Fielders, Defenders and a Goalie.
Forwards - A player whose job is to score goals. Forwards play on the team's front line (in the attacking half of the field). They must stay spread out and get open for passes from the mid-fielders and work with the other 2 forwards for an open shot on the goal.
Mid-Fielder- A player positioned in the middle of the field between the forwards and the defenders. They play both an attacking role and defensive role. When the defenders on their team intercept a pass or steal a ball, the mid-fielders are ready and get open for a pass from the defenders so they can then pass the ball up to their forwards. When the opponents steal the ball from the forwards on their team, the mid-fielders are the first line of defense to stop the opponents.
Defenders - A player who works mainly in the back half of the field. They are responsible to stop
the opponents from scoring.
Goalie- The player positioned directly in front of the goal who tries to prevent shots from crossing the goal line. They are the only player allowed to use their hands and arms.
SOCCER TERMS
Dribbling - using the inside and outside of feet to advance the ball down the field.
Passing - using various parts of the body to move the ball to a teammate, most often the foot.
Trap - the technique used for stopping the ball and bringing it under control so it can be passed or dribbled. The ball can be trapped using the foot, knee, thigh, or chest.
Heading - a skill used to hit and direct the ball with the upper half of the forehead. A player can score a goal with this skill.
Marking - a term that refers to guarding an opponent.
Hand Ball - a foul called for using any part of the hand or arm to play the ball.
- Off-Sides: When a ball is passed to a player and he is on his own half of the field, he must have at least 1 opposing player nearer to the goal than he is.
OUT OF PLAY- The ball is out of play (out-of-bounds) when it completely crosses the boundary line.
- Play is restarted by:
· A Throw-in when the ball crosses the sideline.
· A Goal Kick when the offense sends the ball over the goal line (end line).
· A Corner Kick when the defense sends the ball over the goal line (end line).
THROW IN
A Throw-in is taken along the (sideline) at a point where the ball went out of play. - It is taken by the team that did not send it out of play.
The ball must be thrown with both hands, from behind and over the head.
- Both feet must be touching the ground either behind or on the touchline.
GOAL KICK
A Goal Kick is awarded to the defending team when the offense sends the ball over the goal line.- The kick may be taken by any player on the defending team, but it is usually the goalkeeper.
- The ball is placed on the ground within the Goal Area (Goal Box).
CORNER KICK- A Corner Kick is awarded to the offense when the defending team has last touched the ball before it crosses the goal line.
- It is taken from the corner of the field closest to where it went out of bounds.
- Opponents must remain at least 10 yards away until the kick is taken.
- A goal CAN be scored directly from a Corner Kick.
FOULS
Major fouls include the following:
Tripping Holding Kicking Pushing Charging Striking Deliberate Hand Ball
DIRECT AND INDIRECT FREE KICKS- A Direct Free Kick is one from which the player taking the kick CAN score directly.
- An Indirect Free Kick is one from which a goal CANNOT be scored until the ball has been touched by another player.
- Both Free Kicks are taken from the point where the offense occurred.
- For both Free Kicks, all opponents must be at least 10 yards away from the ball.
PENALTY KICKS
A Penalty Kick is taken from the Penalty Mark (12 yards from the center of the goal line).- All players except the goalkeeper and the player taking the kick must stand outside the Penalty Area at least 10 yards away from the ball.
- The player taking the kick must kick the ball forward and may not play it again until it has been touched by another player.
The goalkeeper must stand on the goal line without moving the feet until the ball is kicked.
Any player may, however, use any other part of the body to stop, control or pass the ball, move with it or score: for example, the head, feet, thigh
and chest.
After a goal is scored, play is restarted the same way by the team that did not score the goal.
POSITIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES
In class we played with teams of 8 - 10 players with 2 - 3 Forwards, 2 - 3 Mid-Fielders, 2 Defenders and a Goalie.
In regulation soccer, a team consists of 11 players: Forwards, Mid-Fielders, Defenders and a Goalie.
Forwards - A player whose job is to score goals. Forwards play on the team's front line (in the attacking half of the field). They must stay spread out and get open for passes from the mid-fielders and work with the other 2 forwards for an open shot on the goal.
Mid-Fielder- A player positioned in the middle of the field between the forwards and the defenders. They play both an attacking role and defensive role. When the defenders on their team intercept a pass or steal a ball, the mid-fielders are ready and get open for a pass from the defenders so they can then pass the ball up to their forwards. When the opponents steal the ball from the forwards on their team, the mid-fielders are the first line of defense to stop the opponents.
Defenders - A player who works mainly in the back half of the field. They are responsible to stop
the opponents from scoring.
Goalie- The player positioned directly in front of the goal who tries to prevent shots from crossing the goal line. They are the only player allowed to use their hands and arms.
SOCCER TERMS
Dribbling - using the inside and outside of feet to advance the ball down the field.
Passing - using various parts of the body to move the ball to a teammate, most often the foot.
Trap - the technique used for stopping the ball and bringing it under control so it can be passed or dribbled. The ball can be trapped using the foot, knee, thigh, or chest.
Heading - a skill used to hit and direct the ball with the upper half of the forehead. A player can score a goal with this skill.
Marking - a term that refers to guarding an opponent.
Hand Ball - a foul called for using any part of the hand or arm to play the ball.
The ball must be thrown with both hands, from behind and over the head.
The goalkeeper must stand on the goal line without moving the feet until the ball is kicked.