Football

Pictorial evidence suggests that people kicked a ball as a game more than 2,000 years ago in ancient China. The Greeks and Romans also lay claim to having played the first games of football. Later, in medieval time, people played contests by kicking balls. In the 1800s, it evolved into a game and after 1863 basic rules (no tripping, no hands) were slowly implemented and accepted.

Football, known in North America as "soccer," became an Olympic sport in 1900 – the first team sport to be included. Since then, it is an Olympic mainstay. Europe dominated the sport until the 1990s. Spain was the last European team to win an Olympic gold medal in football. Women's football was introduced at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Football was at the inaugural Pan American Games in 1951.

The game is played in two 45-minute halfs and players move the ball using any part of the body except the arms or hands and attempt to score into the goal defended by the opposing team. Only goaltenders may use their hands to stop or move the ball, and then only within a certain area.

Body contact is not allowed as a means of gaining or maintaining control of the ball. In order to remain 'onside', a player who goes into the opposite team's half must be either controlling the ball, have at least two defenders ahead of him/her or have the ball go over half first. If the ball goes out of bounds at the goal line off a defender, the offensive team returns the ball to play with a 'corner kick.'

Penalties are enforced with free kicks or "cards". A yellow card is a warning while a red card expels a football player. Two yellow cards equal a red card.

Athletes

Comments (2)

You must be logged in to leave a comment.

Sign Up or Login

  • Older
  • wedx7

    wedx7 - 1 year ago

    how hard is it to make it to the olympics? i've been working super hard on my soccer skills since i was 5. but' thers not many opurtunitys to get noticed in manitoba.

    Recommend

  • Mchughd

    Mchughd - 6 days, 22 hours ago

    Woot! Canada makes it to London with their win over Mexico! Job well done!

    Recommend