The name football comes from the English word "football", which means "foot" and "ball", also known as football or soccer. It is a sport that is played on a rectangular field with two goals between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is the most widely practiced in the world and also the most popular with viewers, with a following of millions of fans.
The objective of the game is to introduce the ball as many times as possible into the opponent's goal, this is called scoring a goal, the winning team is the one that manages to introduce the most goals. The duration of a match is 90 minutes, divided into two halves of 45 each.
A team on the court is made up of the goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders or midfielders and forwards. The specific skills that the player must master are running, jumping, dribbling (with the feet), heading and kicking or kicking hard and hard.
Players cannot touch the ball with their hands other than to take throw-ins, and only the goalkeeper can use his hands, but only to avoid goals in his goal. The playing field can be made of grass (natural or artificial), or of earth.
The game is directed by referees (the main one, the linemen), who are in charge of enforcing the rules, and penalize violations of the regulations with free kicks (direct or indirect) and penalties (foul in a goal). They can take yellow and red cards from the players, with the latter the player must withdraw from the field leaving his team with ten.
Soccer competitions can also be played between teams from the same country (national club competitions), between teams from different countries (international club competitions), such as the Champions League and the Copa Libertadore, among others. There are national team championships such as the Eurocup, the America's Cup, the Asian Cup and the African Cup.
Football history
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With regard to the history of soccer, there are very old records of soccer-like games being played in Japan, China, Greece, and Rome. However, in Great Britain it was where football evolved and it is what we know today.
The modern history of football is almost 150 years old, its beginnings were in 1863, when England made the separation of Rugby-football and the football association and the Football Association was created and the oldest in the world called Football Association.
Despite this, there is a precedent that soccer can be located in the Han dynasty in China during the year 200 BC, this game was called tsu chu, which means kicking a ball made of leather, this game being very pleasant for the Chinese emperors.
The epicurus and the harpastum were some of the games that arose in Greece and Rome, some were played with the feet and others with the hands.
During the Middle Ages, various types of football arose, which took place between regions, towns, parishes and rival groups. A large number of players played and the goals were located more than a kilometer from each other. These games were called carnival football, since they were associated with this time of year and were violent.
Starting in the 18th century, this game became popular in public schools, but many players for each team still participated. It was until 1846 at the University of Cambridge when H. de Winton and JC, held a meeting in that university, between the most important public schools and try to create rules that will govern football games, from it ten rules emerged, which they called, the Cambridge rules.
In the year 1855, the oldest club in the world, the Sheffield Football Club, was created, the Notts County league club was created in 1862 and in 1863 the FA Football Association was created in London.
In 1871, and with the idea of contesting a Cup, the FA secretary, Charles Alcock, proposed a meeting to which they invited the members of all the clubs of which twelve clubs attended.
In 1872 the first competition was held in which fifteen clubs participated and the Cup was won by Wanderers, until 1982 all the finals of these competitions were held in Kennington Oval, London.
Football spread throughout Europe at the beginning of the 20th century and most nations had already formed their football confederations for example, in 1885 Belgium, in 1901 Czechoslovakia, in 1907 Luxembourg, in 1902 Norway, in Portugal, 1908 Romania, in Spain 1913, in Sweden 1904 and in 1895 in Switzerland.
In South America the first Club was created in the 1870s after the game played by the British sailors in Brazil and under the impulse of Charles Miller, he encouraged the English to form clubs in this South American country and led to the founding of Associacao Atlética Mackenzie in São Paulo.
Soccer arrived in Argentina in 1891 from the hands of English residents who inhabited that country, and the AFA was founded in 1891, despite this, what really made this sport popular were the Italian immigrants.
The federation was created in Chile in 1895, in Uruguay 1900 and Paraguay 1906.
In Paris, in 1904, the International Federation of Associated Football (FIFA) was created, and in 1930 the first World Cup was organized in Uruguay. Since then it has been held every four years and is the sport competition with the most spectators worldwide. Soccer is also for women, since 1991 they have their own World Championship.
By 1992 FIFA already had 179 members and in 2008 / with 208 affiliated associations.
Rules of Soccer
The soccer regulations were designed to be applied to all matches regardless of their level, although they can be allowed to be modified in the seniors, juniors and women's games. For its application there is a certain flexibility depending on the nature of the game. Soccer currently has 17 rules that are:
- The serve: before starting the game a draw is made, the winning team chooses the goal they want. The match begins with a throw-in from the center of the field by the team that lost the toss. The opposing team's players may not get closer than ten yards (9.14m) until after service. Currently the winner of the draw has two options, choose the goal or serve from the center.
- Goal: after a goal has been scored, the team that has scored it must take it out of the center and change goals. Currently, the goal is not changed after a goal.
- The goal: it is constituted by the space between two posts, the goal will be valid when the ball passes between the two posts regardless of its height, and without having been thrown or touched with the hands or arms. Currently, a crossbar has been included and the undefined height in the goal has been eliminated.
- The throw-in: when the ball leaves the playing area, the first player to touch it must serve at a right angle with a line through the place where it came out and it will not be in play until it touches the ground. Currently, the straight line has been eliminated and the ball will be served by hand.
- Offside: a player is offside when his teammate has hit the ball, and he is closer to the goal line than an opponent. This player may not touch the ball or ask another player to do so, until the ball is back in play. At present, this rule has varied many times, today the attackers who are closer to the goal than the defenders are sanctioned, when another attacker gives a pass.
- The corner: if the ball goes behind the goal line, if it is a player of the defending team who touches the ball first, this team may give a free-hit from the point where it came out. If, on the other hand, it is a player from the other team who first touches the ball, they may give the ball a free hit, but only towards the goal and from a point of 15 yards or 13.7 m, in a straight line to the place where the ball came from. ball and the opposing team will stand behind the goal line until the ball is thrown. At present, the corner is taken from the apex of the field, with no more limitations on the position of the players than those imposed by them outside the game.
- Free hit: when a player takes the ball cleanly with his hands, he is entitled to a free hit, provided that prior to this he claims it by making a mark with the heel of the shoe. When taking the serve he must go back and then advance until he hits it. At present, this rule has been eliminated.
- The hand: no player may run with the ball in their hands. If this is the case, a direct free kick will be awarded to the opposing team and the offender will be penalized. It is still present, and rules have been introduced to the goalkeeper rules.
- The fouls: stumbling or obstacles are not allowed, neither are kicks and it will not be possible to shoot or support an opponent with the hands. Today, this rule is still in effect.
- Other fouls: the ball is prohibited from being thrown with the hands, nor can it be passed to another player. Today, it is still present.
- Infringements: under no pretext may the ball be taken from the ground, while it is in play. Today, it is still present.
- The passes: a player is allowed to throw the ball if it was caught cleanly, or after the first bounce. At present, it was eliminated.
- The equipment: no protruding nails, gutta-percha or solid rubber reinforcements, iron plates, the heels or insoles of the boots. Currently, uniform limitations have been expanded and updated.
The soccer field
The regulations establish that the soccer field or field has the measures officially established by FIFA, this must be respected by the clubs in order to carry out official competitions. Despite this, clubs are free to decide the measurements of their playing fields, in terms of the width and length of their pitch. These regulations have caused some controversy over these regulations, as some consider that it may be an advantage for the club, compared to the rival team during the game.
According to FIFA when it comes to local matches, the playing field must be a minimum of 90 meters and a maximum of 120 meters in length. The width of the field must be between 45 and 90 meters and the fields must be rectangular.
Measures according to FIFA
Length 90-120 mts
Width 45-90 mts
As for FIFA international matches, a minimum length of 100 meters and a maximum of 110 meters is established. The width of the playing fields must be between 64 and 75 meters.
Official measures for FIFA international matches
Length 100-110 mts
Width 20-25 mts
According to recommendations given by FIFA, the measurements of the playing fields for national or international professional level matches must be 105 meters long by 68 meters wide and are the mandatory measurements for World Cup soccer games.
Soccer ball
The ball is one of the most important elements of soccer games, its history dates back to ancient times when it was used as an instrument of entertainment.
The models and materials of soccer balls vary through the years, in China, for example, they used raw leather, the Romans and Greeks played with inflated bladders, everyone tried to get a ball as round as possible.
In 1863 the designer Charles Goodyear, designed the first vulcanized rubber soccer ball, it was as spherical as possible but also the hardest. In this year the first soccer rules were established.
In 1872, the official football organizations established that the balls should:
- Be spherical in shape.
- A circumference between 21.65 and 22.29 cm in diameter.
- A weight between 368 and 425 gr.
- An inflation pressure of 1.6 to 2.1 atmosphere.
Since then the changes were minor, until Germany 2006 a model called Teamgeist appeared, which means in German, spirit of the game, this stood out for its innovative design of 14 panels, previously there were 32, for this reason it is the same spherical but the surface The exterior is completely smooth, as well as the improvement in the pressure.
FIFA has established certain standards on the quality of the ball, the first is the approval of FIFA, which is very demanding and a laboratory analysis must be approved, where weight, rebound, water absorption, measurements and elasticity.
Soccer Players Positions
Soccer is one of the sports that has the most followers in many countries of the world. According to their functions, each player occupies a place on the field of play. The positions are grouped according to the same: goalkeeper, midfielders or midfielders, defenders and forwards.
Goalie
The task of this player is to avoid goals, his position is delayed and he is allowed to use his hands.
Defenses
- Central defense: it is the player who directs the defensive zone, he must have intelligence and leadership, in general they are usually strong, tall players with the ability to intercept and go to court.
- Side: they are fast players, of great resistance, they are the offensive support of the team and occupy the center of the rear.
- Carrilero: this position had stopped being used, at present they have reappeared, you can see 5 or 3 centrals. It performs the same functions of the wings, only more advanced and not having any player in front.
- Libero or free: this position is hardly used today. His main objective is to cover if a defense partner fails and occupies the most backward position of the centrals.
Midfielders
- Pivot: this player is located in the central position of the field. Performs a balancing act, in attack and defense. Its function is to provide permanent coverage to the central players and midfielders. It can be played with one or two pivots and these players possess tactical intelligence and great passing ability.
- Interior: this position is used in football with the intention of concentrating the largest number of midfielders. These players must be creative, and of good bearing to displace the opponents.
- Midfielder: this position is more advanced than the modular one, this player participates in the creation and completion of the game. They must have skills for the last pass and with great offensive talent and trained to make the shots inside the area and the shots from long distance.
- Steering wheel: at present it is called interior or extreme, this player is located close to the band of the medullary. Its function is to try to overwhelm the defense, give amplitude to the field and center the ball and give the final pass. The players must be specialists in the feint of the ball and good goals of the ball, in addition to sacrificing themselves to help the lateral players in the defense tasks.
Forwards
- Wingers: they have functions very similar to those of the steering wheel, but with a more offensive condition. They are fast players trained to make the passes and centers for the shots of the other players.
- Second Forward - This player is a combination of the forward and midfielder roles. This combination depends on the phases of the game, generally he is a player with agility, good outside shooting, good movements and hangs on the band. You must unhook the break behind the back of the defense in order to create a space and create an exit in the game.
- Center forward: he is the player with the most advanced position in the game, his objective is to score the goals, for this reason the players who occupy this position are the ones who have the ability to finish off with the least amount of touches possible.
It is important to mention that American football, emerged at the end of the 19th century, this sport is a variation of British rugby, it is practiced by two teams made up of 11 players each, on a field with measures of 100 yards which is divided into ten parts. the same and is shared in four quarters of 15 minutes each, with a break after the first two quarters.
It is a sport with great physical contact between its players, it can be played in an open field or in closed spaces, although preferably they are carried out in open fields, these have measures of 109.7 meters by 48.8 meters in a rectangular field.
Before the game a draw is made to establish which of the two teams will kick the ball first. This kick comes from the 25 yard and is directed to the end zone of the opposing team
Due to the fact that this sport has a strong physical impact, certain protective accessories are necessary, such as: protective helmet, shin guards, mouth guard and gloves, in addition to these, the jockstrap is necessary, which is essential in any contact sport.
This game is very popular in universities and professional level and lasts for one hour, divided into 4 quarters of 15 minutes each, although they can last longer than this, depending on the demands of the game.
When these games are narrated they use the following terms, All Pro Team is the ideal game, the coaches are called assistant coaches, the visiting team is called Away game and the main judges are back judge.
The most desired event by all the soccer teams in the world is the World Cup, this competition, only for men, is held every four years and the best national teams in the world participate in it. FIFA is in charge of organizing this world event.
For a country to win a place in the World Cup, it must pass pre-tournament competitions. Elimination competition is held where almost 200 national teams participate, from there about 32 teams classify, which will compete for a month in the host country designated by FIFA and achieve the world cup championship.
The Mexican Football Federation has been affiliated with FIFA since 1929, and is in charge of directing the Mexican soccer team, the team that represents that country, in addition to this selection there are other teams among which are, the Women's, the Sub 20, the Sub 17, the beach and the Olímpica.
The origins of the Mexican soccer team are in the 20s, its first game was on December 9, 1923. This team has stood out as one of the best in the Concacaf area, crediting five gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Games in the years 1935, 1938, 1959, 1966 and 1990, in addition to six silver medals in the years 1954, 1962, 1982, 1993, 1998 and 2002 and a Bronze in 1986. In addition to this, it has medals in competitions such as the Pan American Games, Concacaf Championships, NAFC Cup, North American Cup of Nations and in the 1999 Confederations Cup.
The Mexican soccer team has participated 16 times in the Soccer World Cup and has hosted twice in the years 1970 and 1986. This team is identified by the colors white, green and red, the same as the national flag of this country, for this reason it is known as El Tricolor. The black color with gold details, are the colors used in the secondary uniforms.
For many, soccer is an important part of their lives, for this reason it is very important to be aware of what happens minute by minute in their matches, especially if they are live soccer games. Technological advances offer the possibility of watching these games live and for free, thanks to the internet.
It is no longer necessary to have a television to watch live football games, you can enjoy the games from anywhere you are, there are applications that allow you to enjoy them. The apps to watch the games live are available on devices with Android and iOS operating systems.
