Soccer Study Guide

History of the Game:

  • The first records we have of games like soccer taking place date back to 2500 B.C. (China).
  • The English developed the rules of the game, as we know them, in October 1863.
  • Soccer is known as football outside of the United States and Canada.
  • Soccer is the most played sport in Canada and the United States.
  • The soccer World Cup is the largest athletic event in history.
  • FIFA is the international governing body for soccer.

Objective of the Game:

The objective of the games is to put the ball into the opponent’s goal. The winner is the team with the most points when the game is over. Hands and arms may not be used to move the ball by any player except the goalie.

Field of Play:

The field is rectangular, 100-120 yds. long to 55-75 yds. wide. High School is 110-by 65 yds. and Junior High is 100 by 55 yds. See the diagram below for specific markings of the field.

369

1 2 4710

5811

Players:

Two teams, each consisting of no more than 11 (including goalie). Refer to the diagram above.

1. Goalie 2. SweeperDefendersMidfielders/Halfback Forwards/Strikers

3. Left6. Left 9. Left

4. Middle 7. Middle10. Middle

5. Right8. Right11. Right

General Rules:

-The game begins with a kick-off from center field. A kick-off is also used to restart the game after each goal and at each half. For the kick-off to be legal all players must be on their half of the field and defensive players must be outside of the center circle. Another player may not play the ball until the offensive team makes initial contact with the ball (forward direction).

-The duration of the game consists of two 45-minute halves with a 10-15 min halftime.

- Goal: A team may score points when the ball crosses into the goal area.

- A team is awarded a throw-inwhen the ball goes over the touch line (sideline). A player throws the ball in from over the head with both hands, and with both feet on the ground at the moment of release.

- A corner kick is awarded to the opposing team when a player kicks the ball over his own goal line. For a corner kick, all opposing players must be 10 yds from the ball.

- A direct free kick is awarded to a team after the opposing team has committed the foul in the defensive team’s penalty area. The ball does not have to touch anyone before it can be counted as a goal. (Fouls for a direct free kick usually involve physical contact: kicking, tripping, pushing, holding, striking, jumping at, charging from behind, charging violently, and handling the ball.)

- An indirect free kick is awarded to a team when the opposing team has committed a foul that does not involve physical contact. The ball must contact another player before it can be counted as a goal. (Indirect fouls include: playing dangerously, goalkeeper wastes time, intentional obstruction of an opponent, charging the goalkeeper, goalkeeper takes more than 4 steps, offsides.)

- A goal kick occurs when a player kicks the ball over the opposing team’s goal line. The opposing team is awarded a goal kick anywhere along the six yard line.

- A penalty kick is used when a direct free kick has been awarded to the offensive team inside the defense’s penalty area. When the kick is taken, no more than the kicker and the goalie can be within the penalty area. If the kicked ball is taken form the 12 yd mark.

- A drop ball is used to restart play after an injury of emergency or if it is unclear who had passion.

- The player that kicks the ball off may not touch the ball until another player has made contact with the ball.

- The ball is considered out of bounds when the entire ball has rolled completely across the white line.

- Off-sides is when a player is in an offside position when nearer to his opponents’ goal line than the ball.

SOCCER CUES

InstepPass

  • PLANT opposite foot next to ball
  • POINT opposite foot at target
  • Use INSTEP

LacesPass

  • PLANT opposite foot next to ball
  • POINT toe
  • Use LACES

Dribble

  • TOP of foot
  • PUSH, not kick
  • 2 - 3 STEPS ahead (guarded)
  • 4-5 STEPS ahead (speed)