Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

471

EquipmEnt

Cleated shoes are the most important part of a

soccer player’s equipment. they enable the player

to use both the inside and outside of the foot

while passing and kicking the ball. Shin guards

are usually worn inside knee-high socks, to

protect the vulnerable shins from stray

kicks. the ball itself is made of leather.

HiStory of SoCCEr

Soccerlike games have been played

for thousands of years, from China

to ancient rome. the birthplace of

modern soccer is England, where a

uniform set of rules was established

at trinity College, Cambridge, in

1848. the first professional soccer
      league, England’s football
      Association, was founded in 1863.

plAyErS

there are 11 players on each

team—one goalkeeper and

10 outfield players. the outfield

players include defenders, who

try to stop the opposition from

moving into goal-scoring

positions, midfielders, who

switch between offensive

and defensive play, and

forwards, who try to score

goals. the ball may

be kicked, headed, or

dribbled (moved with

the foot). Each team has

a goalkeeper to defend its

goal. the goalkeeper is

the only player allowed

to handle the ball.

SoCCEr CompEtitionS

the most famous international soccer

competition is the World Cup, held

every four years. over 100 national

all-star teams compete to reach the

final game, which attracts a worldwide

television audience of a billion people.

goAl!

there are several ways to score a goal,

including sliding in a low shot with the

foot, volleying the ball through the air,

and heading the ball. Some goals are set

up with a sequence of precise passes, while

others are the result of individual skill.

Goalkeeping

gloves

Soccer shoe,

with cleats (studs)

SoCCEr fiEld

A soccer field is a rectangle, divided in two

by the halfway line. the goals stand in the

center at each end of the field. Each goal

is 24 ft (7 m) wide and 8 ft (2.4 m) high.

the large rectangle in front of the goal is

known as the penalty area; the smaller

rectangle is the goal area. penalties (free

shots) are awarded to players fouled by

the defending team in the penalty area.

Goalkeeping gloves

give a good grip on

the ball and take the

sting out of saving

hard shots.

tHE moSt populAr tEAm Sport in tHE World, soccer is played

around the globe. the roots of today’s game lie in England, where the sport

developed in the 1800s. Soccer is played on a rectangular field, with two

nets, called goals, at either end. two teams of 11 players compete to put

a ball into the opposing team’s goal, using only the feet, head, or body.

one player on each team serves as the goalkeeper. this player must

guard the goal and block shots to prevent the other team from scoring.

A referee ensures that the rules of the game are followed. the team that

scores the most goals during two 45-minute halves of play wins the game.

one of the greatest players in soccer history, Brazil’s pelé, called soccer

“the beautiful game.” today, the beautiful game is one of the most

popular participation sports for young Americans.

Soccer

World

Cup

trophy

Goal area

Halfway line

Goal Penalty area

Basketball

football

Health and fitness

Sports

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Shin guards

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