More recently, soccer balls have started to be made out of many different arrangements and quantities of panels, such as the 2006 FIFA World Cup Ball. Some soccer balls are made up of only 2 leather panels.

Official match balls must weigh between 410 and 450 grams. When choosing a soccer ball to buy, it is important that you spin it up in the air and watch it to see whether or not it shakes. If it remains spinning evenly then it is a good ball as it isn’t out of shape.

Some famous soccer players are:

• David Beckham
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Zinedine Zidane
• Pele
• Kaka
• Ronaldinho
• Dida
• Thierry Henry
• Michael Owen
• Wayne Rooney
• Lionel Messi
• Allessandro Del Piero
• Allesandro Nesta
• Diego Maradona
• Robinho
• Steven Gerrard
• Peter Crouch
• Diego Maradona
• Gabriel Batistuta

Aim Of Soccer - Basic Rules Of Soccer

The basic aim of soccer is very simple: using all body parts except your arms, try to kick the ball into your attacking goals to score a goal (1 point). Defend your goals in an attempt to stop the opposition from scoring goals. You may run dribbling the ball as far as you like although there is a high chance you will be dispossessed of the ball by the opposition.

Tackles And Fouls - Basic Rules Of Soccer

The basic rules of soccer say that tackles may be made in an attempt to take the ball off your opponents. However, if you miss the ball or deliberately hit your opponent you will have a foul against you. If the tackle is dangerous enough, you may be either yellow carded (warning) or red carded, which means that you must leave the field and your team must play one man short. You must also not grab onto shirts or point your studs up. This is seen as dangerous and will get you fouled against or carded. The biggest mistake you can make in soccer is to tackle the opposition team’s goalkeeper. Do this and you will be automatically red carded.

Free Kicks And Penalties - Basic Rules Of Soccer

The reward to a team for being fouled against is a free kick. This is a kick, off the ground, from the place the you were fouled. The only exception to this rule is if the foul against you occurs in your attacking goal box. You will not receive a free kick, but instead a penalty. A penalty is when one man takes a shot on goal with only the goalkeeper to stop it, and all other players from both teams must stand outside the goal box.

Throw-in’s- Basic Rules Of Soccer

Throw-in’s occur when a player is the opposite team touches the ball last before it goes outside either sideline. One member from your team must take the ball and throw it over his head into the field of play to a teammate. The ball MUST be released before your hands move over your head. Defenders and midfielders usually take throw-in’s.

Offside - Basic Rules Of Soccer

Offside occurs when the attacking team has a man on the attacking side of the opposing teams last defender when the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper is not a defender. A free kick is awarded to the opposing team in the location where the offside occurred as a result.

Drop Ball’s - Basic Rules Of Soccer

Drop ball’s are a rare occasion and occur when the referee stops the game for a particular reason. e.g. an injury. The ball is dropped from shoulder height between two opposing players and they aim to kick the ball out to a teammate.

Soccer Field And Game - Basic Rules Of Soccer

A soccer game consists of two halves of 45 minutes each, plus injury time. Between these halves is half time, in which the team gather to recover and discuss tactics. The field played on must be rectangular with a length of 90 - 120 metres and the width being 45 - 90 metres.

The invention of soccer is still regarded as quite a big mystery. Many countries claim them game for themselves. However, early evidence suggests that the game was created over 2000 years ago in either China or Japan. Teams would use their feet to kick around a leather ball. China and Japan would compete against each other in soccer.

Artefacts from the United States dating over 6000 years have also been discovered that may suggest the games invention was there. Stone balls were used in a game called “cuju” (kickball).

Who Invented Soccer - The Game Today

But who was it that formalised the game into the competitive and globalised sport it is today? The English created the first league in the early 1800’s, and the Football Association was formed in 1863. Soccer soon spread fast, first across Europe, before taking the world by storm. The last few decades have seen the biggest increase in the popularity of soccer, especially in juniors, inspired by the awesome skills of the professionals.

However, soccer as we know it today originated in Europe in the mid to late 1800’s when the Football Association was formed. Since the origination of soccer, the modern game of soccer has spread over the world, becoming the main sport in many countries and attracting more and more players and followers each year.

Find the answers to all of your questions, such as where did soccer originate? and who invented soccer?

Dribbling - How To Play Soccer

Learning dribbling is probably the most important aspect of learning how to play soccer well, along with good communication. It allows you to take a player on with confidence and make ground, while keeping control. Good ways to practice dribbling is by going down to a park or field and running with a ball, touching it on every step. Then mark out cones and weave through them, slowing increasing speed as you improve. Always try to maintain control of the ball and possession. If in a game you are dribbling forward and there are no options, stop and control the ball and look for options behind you. Play to their feet to maintain possession.

Throw-ins - How To Play Soccer

Throw-ins are essential to know how to perform correctly, as foul throws can cause a lot of turnovers. The ball must be in two hands behind your head, and as you approach the sideline to release the ball, your feet must be touching the ground. The ball must be released behind your head. If either of these rules are broken a foul throws is called and the opposition receives a throw-in from that spot. If when throwing in there are no options then your best option is to throw distance down the line (forward).

Heading The Ball - How To Play Soccer

Heading the ball can seem daunting to players due to their thoughts that it hurts. It will only hurt if you header the ball incorrectly. The ball must be hit off the front part of the top of the head and the force you impose on it depends on where you want it to go. Remember to jump high to reach the ball. However, if in a contest, do not push your opponent. This will result in a foul.

Keeping Possession - How To Play Soccer

Keeping possession in the team is an extremely important aspect in a side if they wish to be competitive in soccer play. If the ball is approaching you, take the first touch to gain control. Then dribble or play it off. Do not take a big swing on your first touch. This is not how to play soccer. To stop the ball, use your chest, head, leg or foot, depending on the height of the ball. Make sure you train yourself to have accurate passing skills. This is extremely important to becoming good at soccer play. Your aim is to hit your target every time.

Kicking The Ball - How To Play Soccer

Kicking is probably the first thing you will try to achieve when learning how to play soccer. Depending on the type of kick you want to do, different techniques must be implemented. To kick the ball in the air, which comes in handy for corner kicks, free kicks or balls down the wing, you must lean back when making contact with the ball, and aim to make contact with the side of your foot just below your big toe, hitting the ball on the under side. To bend it/curve it, make contact with the ball on an angle and follow through. To do an accurate pass along the ground in play, lean forward, make contact with the ball using the inside of your foot and swing your foot so that you make contact with the back side of the ball and not the under side.

Remember to stretch extensively before practicing how to play soccer and when playing soccer, as soccer players have high rates of muscle pulls. Warm up well and warm down well.