The game of soccer has long been one of the most popular sports in the world, with over 250 million players in over 200 countries. With origins that date back many centuries, soccer has been a sport predominantly played by men, however in modern times there has been a huge growth in the number of women participating in the game. In soccer there are two teams of eleven players. Soccer is played on a large grass field with a goal at each end. The game of soccer is built around the pursuit of scoring goals, more specifically, which team scores the most goals (this team will be named ‘the winning team’).
What is soccer?
Associate football, or more commonly known as soccer, is a team sport, involving 11 players (10 field players and a goalkeeper) on two opposing teams (11 players/team) who use their legs, head and torso to pass a spherical ball and score goals. Soccer is played on a field 90 to 120 meters long and 45 to 90 meters wide. The nature of the game means that players may be sprinting or running fast or slow.
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The objective of soccer is to score goals by advancing the ball down field into the opposing team's goal. You simply want to score more goals than the opposing team. Traditionally goals are scored when a team moves the ball down field through passing and shooting of the ball.
(Who can play?) What fitness components are crucial to this game?
Although the game of soccer allows people of any age, skill level, and size to play, various health and skill related fitness components are often essential to play a successful game of soccer, some of many include:
Aerobic endurance (the ability to exercise continuously for extended periods of time), flexibility (a range of movements in a joint or muscle), muscular endurance (the ability of a muscle to sustain contractions), muscular strength (the ability of a muscle group to exert force for extended periods)
Agility (the ability to move quickly and easily), power (great speed or force in as short a time as possible), speed (to move quickly), coordination (the ability to move two or more body parts under control, smoothly and efficiently), reaction time (the ability to respond quickly to a stimulus).
The sections of a soccer field
- The different soccer positions
Different teams and formations have different positions, but most soccer positions can be divided up into three categories: forwards, midfielders, and defenders.
The most common setup is known as the 4-4-2 (four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards)
Forwards are the players on a soccer team who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals
Forwards must be fast and able to dribble the ball well
There are two-four forwards that play in the offensive half of the pitch
Forwards defend less than other positions
Forwards apply pressure when the opposition's defenders have the ball but usually stand and watch when the ball is in the defensive half of the field
Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players
A wing forward plays to the right or the left of the field. Their primary job is to dribble the ball quickly up the sidelines and then center the ball with a pass to the center forward. Wing forwards can also shoot on goal if they get a break away or get a clean shot when coming up the sidelines
The center forward's job is to score goals. They should be fast and aggressive and be able to get the ball past the goalkeeper. They need to be able to dribble the ball well, but also to move well without the ball to get open for a pass.
Midfielders play mostly around the middle of the field, and usually have both offensive and defensive responsibility. They need to be able to dribble and pass the ball up to the forwards as well as help to break up the opponent's attack
Midfielders are sometimes called halfbacks or linkmen.
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