SOCCER STUDY SHEET

Soccer is the world's most popular sport--whether measured by the number of participants or by the number of
spectators. It is played by more than 100,000,000 people in over 150 countries. No one really knows when the
game of soccer began. Some sort of recreation involving kicking and chasing a round object seems to have
existed as long as mankind. Soccer as it is played today developed in England during the 1800's. In England
and many other countries, soccer is called FOOTBALL.

The game is played by 2 teams consisting of 11 players each. Although coaches have different systems, the
most common line-up is a 5-3-2. This means there are 5 forwards (sometimes called wingers), 3 midfielders,
and 2 defenders who play in front of the goalie.
Forwards must be shifty and extremely fast. They must be able to pass the ball accurately, dribble down
the field and they score most goals.
The midfielders, also called halfbacks, unite the offense and the defense. They must have good physical
endurance, always help out on defense and sometimes they score goals.
The defenders, sometimes called fullbacks, form the last line of defense in front of the goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper has a very difficult job. He must move quickly to all parts of the goal box to stop shots
and to take the ball from the opponent. The goalie is the only player who may touch the ball with the
hands or arms. He is allowed only 6 seconds after gaining possession of the ball and releases the ball by
kicking or throwing the ball to a teammate.

The field is rectangular and may vary in size, from 100 to 130 yards long and 50 to 100 yards wide. The
boundary lines on the side of the field are called TOUCH LINES and the ball is not out of bounds if it is on the
boundary line. Those lines on each end are called GOAL LINES. Each goal measures 24 feet wide and 8 feet
high. The ball is usually made of leather and is inflated with air. The game is divided into two 45 minute
halves, with a brief rest period between halves.

The game begins with a KICKOFF in the center of the field. The opposing captains flip a coin for choice of
ends or for the right to kick off. The team that did not kick off will start the second half with a kick off, when
the teams change goals. After every goal, play resumes with a kickoff by the team scored upon. Players line up
on their own half of the field with three players on the kicking team usually standing close to the ball. Kicking
the ball forward to a teammate, the ball must take at least one revolution. Opponents must be at least 10 yards
away.

For violations such as off sides, obstruction, and dangerous play, an INDIRECT FREE KICK is given to the
opposing team. The player taking the indirect kick is not allowed to kick the ball directly into the goal. The
ball must first be touched by another player before entering the goal.
The opposing team gets a DIRECT FREE KICK if a player kicks, trips, jumps at, violently charges, charges
from behind, strikes, holds, or pushes an opponent or intentionally touches the ball with the hands or arms. A
goal may be scored on a direct kick without the ball being touched by another player.
If any of the direct free kick offenses is committed by a defending team in its own penalty area, the opposing
team is given a PENALTY KICK from the penalty spot, which is 12 yards in front of the goal. Only the player
taking the shot and the goalkeeper are allowed inside the penalty area during the shot.
 SOCCER TERMS

DRIBBLING--Moving the ball along the ground with the inside/outside of the foot. The most efficient way to
dribble is using the instep, keeping the ball close by the body and keeping the head up.
PASSING--Playing the ball from one player to another.
TRAPPING--Controlling the ball by stopping it with any part of the body except the arms and hands.
INSTEP--The inside of the foot is used when attempting a low, accurate pass or shot.
FULL INSTEP--Contacting the ball with the shoestrings, is used for maximum power when shooting or
passing.
HEADING--Method of controlling, passing or shooting whereby the forehead meets the ball.
TACKLE--Attempting to win the ball from an opponent by using the feet.
CORNER KICK--Method used for the attacking team to restart the game after the defending team has put the
ball over their own goal line. A direct free kick.
GOAL KICK--Kick awarded to the defending team when the attacking team has played the ball over the
defenders' goal line. The kick must travel outside the penalty area before it can be played. Any player can take
the kick.
KICK OFF--Starting the game or restarting after a goal. The ball must travel one forward rotation.
OBSTRUCTION--Illegally stepping in the path of an opponent to slow their progress.
FREE KICK--Is either direct or indirect and is taken from where the offense occurred.
DIRECT FREE KICK--Awarded for a foul such as kicking, tripping, charging, holding, pushing, hand ball.
Player taking the kick can score.
INDIRECT FREE KICK--Awarded for a foul such as high kicking, obstruction, goalie delays, off sides, etc.
The ball must touch another player before a goal can be scored.
WALL--Usually four or five defensive players standing in front of a direct free kick to prevent a goal. The wall
must be 10 yards from the ball.
OFF SIDES--An offensive player must have 2 defenders between themselves and the goal when the ball is
played to be legal. Less than two defenders between them would be off sides.
PENALTY KICK--A direct free kick taken from the peanlty spot resulting from a foul inside the penalty area by
the defensive team. All players must be outside the penalty area except the shooter and the goalie.
THROW IN--Restarting the game after the ball goes over the side line (touch line). A throw must be made with
two hands, over the head with the feet remaining on the ground.
YELLOW CARD--A caution, given by the referee, occurs when a player persistently infringes the laws of the
game or is guilty of ungentlemanly conduct.
RED CARD--An ejection from the game, given by the referee, occurs when a player is guilty of violent
conduct, uses abusive language, or acquires two yellow cards in one game. The player must also sit out the
following game.