History, Rules, and Techniques of Soccer

Posted on Dec 13, 2024 in Physical Education

History of Soccer

In 2500 BC, a ball game was played in China as a form of military training.

In the third century BC, Greece had a game called Episkiros.

In Rome, a game called Harpastum was played, which consisted of bringing a ball from one town to another.

In the 7th century, Calcio was played in Florence.

In Normandy, France, they played Soule.

In 1863, England drew up the rules of the game we now know as modern soccer.

There was a rule that stated you could not take or touch the ball with your hands. This marked the difference with rugby.

FIFA is the International Federation of Association Football and was created in 1904.

Soccer was the first Olympic sport in the 1908 London Olympics.

The first Spanish soccer club was Recreativo Huelva, founded in 1889.

The first Catalan soccer club was founded in 1896 by Gaspar Palamos Matas.

In 1899, FC Barcelona was founded.

Rules of Soccer

Objective of the game: To hit the ball with any part of the body except the hands and arms, trying to get it into a goal. The team that scores the most goals wins.

Pitch: Usually outdoors, with a rectangular field of grass or sand, and two goals. It measures between 90 and 120 meters long and between 45 and 90 meters wide.

The penalty area is 40 meters wide and 16 meters long. The goal is 7.32 meters wide and 2.44 meters high. The ball is spherical with an air chamber and covered with leather. It weighs between 410 and 450 grams, and its circumference is between 68 and 70 centimeters.

There are 11 players, including the goalkeeper. There are four referees: one who leads the match, two linesmen, and a fourth official.

The game is divided into two periods of 45 minutes each, with a 15-minute break. A coin is tossed to decide who starts.

Fouls

  1. Touching the ball with hands, except for the goalkeeper within their area.
  2. Illegal contact (holding an opponent, crashing into them from behind, etc.).
  3. Offside: This violation occurs when an attacking player is closer to the goal than any defender except the goalkeeper just before a teammate makes a pass.

Free-kick: Taken from the place where the foul occurred. It can be direct or indirect.

Penalty kick: Taken from the penalty spot when a foul is committed inside the penalty area by the defending team.

In addition to the free-kick, a foul is punished with a caution, which may be:

  1. Yellow card.
  2. Red card: The player is ejected. This is given when the foul is very serious, when a player is alone on goal, or when a player accumulates two yellow cards.

Types of Kicks

  1. Kick-off: When the game starts and after each goal.
  2. Throw-in: When the ball goes out of bounds along the sideline. The ball is put into play from where it went out. It is thrown with both hands and over the head.
  3. Corner kick: When the ball goes out of bounds along the end line after being touched by a defending player. It is taken from the corner.
  4. Goal kick: A shot taken with the ball stopped in the goal area. It is taken when the ball goes out of bounds along the end line without being touched by a defending player.

Technical Principles

Motor Skills

  • Impact
  • Control

Shot: Within shooting, we can find two types: shooting at goal and passing.

Shooting is making contact with the ball. The difference between shooting at goal and passing lies in the intention. There are different shots depending on which part of the foot touches the ball.

  • With the inside of the foot: From the big toe to the heel. It’s a sure shot but not very powerful.
  • With the inside instep: A little higher. With this, we have a little more power.
  • With the outside of the foot: The shot is short and fast. Depending on how you make contact, you can make the ball curve.
  • With the instep: Closer to the tip of the ankle. Thus, we get a high and long shot. Usually used in long shots.
  • With the toe: It is less precise. Used when the ball is stopped.
  • Header: Depending on where you hit the ball, it can be a shot or a pass.
  • Dribbling: Rolling the ball along the ground in a controlled manner. Usually done with the instep or the outside of the foot. The touches are short and controlled.
  • Feinting: A movement of deception. Pretending to go one way and then going another.

Other Actions Without the Ball

  • Tackle: When a player tries to take the ball from the opponent.

Goalkeeper Techniques

  • Parry: Deflecting the ball.
  • Block: Stopping the ball.
  • Save

Player Positions on the Field

  • Goalkeeper
  • Defenders: Closest to the goalkeeper. Right, left, center, and sweeper.
  • Midfielders: Organize the game. Their passing must be very precise. Inside and central midfielders.
  • Forwards: The fastest and most technical players. Wingers and center forwards.

Game Systems

  • Pyramid System:

    • 1 Goalkeeper
    • 2 Defenders
    • 3 Midfielders
    • 5 Forwards

  • 1-3-4-3 System:

    • 1 Goalkeeper
    • 3 Defenders
    • 4 Midfielders
    • 3 Forwards

  • 1-4-3-3 System:

    • 1 Goalkeeper
    • 4 Defenders
    • 3 Midfielders
    • 3 Forwards

  • 1-3-5-2 System:

    • 1 Goalkeeper
    • 3 Defenders
    • 5 Midfielders
    • 2 Forwards