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The sport of soccer (called football in most of the world) is considered to be the world's most popular sport. In soccer there are two teams of eleven players. Soccer is played on a large grass field with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to get the soccer ball into the opposing team's goal. The key to soccer is that, with the exception of the goalie, players cannot touch the ball with their hands, they can only kick, knee, or head the ball to advance it or score a goal.
Soccer is played at all levels throughout the world from small kids leagues to professional and international teams. Perhaps the most famous soccer tournament is the World Cup. Held every four years, the World Cup is a soccer competition among countries and is one of the most watched events in the world.

https://www.ducksters.com/sports/soccer.php

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While modern soccer — commonly known as association football — was formalized in England during the 19th century, variations of the game existed way before then.

The game of Kemari was played in Japan as far back as 600 A.D. while other variations of early soccer saw the Native Americans having Pahsaherman, the Indigenous Australians having Marn Grook and the Moari’s having Ki-o-rahi.

However, according to FIFA, the game of Cuju (also Tsu-Chu which translates to “kicking the ball”) originating from China during the period of the Han Dynasty which ruled from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. is the earliest form of the sport for which there is evidence.

That would mean the origins of the sport of soccer was invented by the Han Dynasty during the imperial dynasty of China over 2,200 years ago. Historians have claimed that the sport was played even before then as far back as 5,000 years ago. But based on historical evidence, it is the Han Dynasty.

However, modern soccer is a different story. The sport that is watched and played today that is loved by everyone was formalized in the United Kingdom in 1863.

In October of that year, the Football Association was formed with the merging of 11 London schools and clubs. They met at the Freemason’s Tavern and established rules for the game with the first ever soccer match being played in December between Barnes Football Club and Richmond Football Club. The rest, of course, is history.

So to answer who invented soccer, it ultimately depends on what you’re specifically asking about — modern soccer or the first variation of soccer.

If it’s the former, it was invented by the Football Association — a group of 11 London schools and clubs who met in 1863 to standardize the game. If it’s the latter, based on historical evidence, it was China’s Han Dynasty during the period of 206 B.C. to 220 A.D

https://soccerballworld.com/where-was-soccer-invented/

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Records trace the history of soccer back more than 2,000 years ago to ancient China. Greece, Rome, and parts of Central America also claim to have started the sport; but it was England that transitioned soccer, or what the British and many other people around the world call “football,” into the game we know today. The English are credited with recording the first uniform rules for the sport, including forbidding tripping opponents and touching the ball with hands.
https://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-soccer-football.htm

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how do you play soccer and what are the rules?

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how do you play soccer and what are the rules?

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The typical game play in soccer involves one team that has possession of the ball dribbling the ball and passing it amongst themselves to try and get to where they can kick or head the ball into the goal. The other team is constantly trying to take the ball away.
https://www.ducksters.com/sports/soccergameplay.php

A match consists of two 45 minutes halves with a 15 minute rest period in between. Each team can have a minimum off 11 players (including 1 goalkeeper who is the only player allowed to handle the ball within the 18 yard box) and a minimum of 7 players are needed to constitute a match.

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If a team ends the game having scored more goals than the opposition they are awarded 3 points. If both teams end the game having scored the same amount of goals they are both awarded 1 point. If a team ends the game having scored fewer goals than the opposition they are awarded 0 points.
https://yoursoccerhome.com/a-goal-in-soccer-what-it-is-the-rules-and-its-worth/#:~:text=Soccer%20scoring%20system%3A,they%20are%20awarded%200%20points.

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There is no clear documentation stating the date and place of origination of today's most popular sport - world football. However, most historians agree that some type of a ball game has been played for at least over 3000 years
https://www.topendsports.com/sport/soccer/history.htm

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The Olympic Games come around every 4 years and are one of the most-watched sporting events on the planet. There are so many events that take place it can be hard to keep track. As a soccer fan, you want to know if soccer is one of the events that are part of the Olympics. I am happy to let you know that they are!
Soccer is an Olympic sport. Men’s soccer has been a part of the Olympics since 1900, and women’s soccer has been a part of the Olympics since 1996.

Soccer has been in the Olympics since 1900, and there has only been one Olympic Games where soccer did not feature. Interestingly the International Olympic Committee(IOC) and FIFA disagree on whether the first two Olympic games that included soccer should even be recognized. But we’ll talk about that further on in this article.
https://yoursoccerhome.com/is-soccer-in-the-olympics/

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Equipment
Soccer has limited equipment requirements. However, most AYSO teams play in uniforms (shirt shorts and socks) supplied by the local region. Shin guards are mandatory during practice and games. Full-coverage shoes are required, and it is advisable to use shoes designed specifically for soccer. Regions also provide field equipment, such as goals, nets and flags.

The Field
The field is divided in two halves. The center circle in the middle of the field is used to start the game, to start the second half and to restart after a goal has been scored.

There is a large rectangular area and a smaller rectangular area found at each end of the field. These are vital areas for both teams, and are where penalty kicks are taken. The four corners of the field are inscribed with three-foot arcs where corner kicks are taken.

The Team

A team has a maximum of 11 players on the field at any one time, although a game can be played with as few as seven players on a team. Regions use short-sided teams in younger age divisions. Players get more "touches" on the ball, learn skills quicker and have more fun using this method.
https://www.ayso214.org/Default.aspx?tabid=863381

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Soccer is the world's most popular sport, played by over 250 million people in more than 200 countries. It is particularly popular in Europe, Central and South America, and Africa, though has a growing influence in North America and Asia.
https://www.bundesliga.com/en/faq/all-you-need-to-know-about-soccer

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t's also about strength. ... Other benefits of strength training for soccer players include: Decreased risk of injury. Functional movements such as squatting and deadlifting strengthen the muscles that stabilize joints, such as hips and knees – and we know how knee injuries affect soccer players
Why Strength Training is Important for Soccer Players – Blog ...

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No one knows exactly when soccer was created, but the earliest versions of the game can be traced back 3,000 years

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Soccer was played by prisoners at London’s Newgate Prison in the early 1800s. Ahaving their hands cut off for their crimes, prisoners came up with the game using only their feet.

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A soccer field is called a “pitch,” because fields that are made to regulation standards are pitched or sloped five degrees upwards from one end to the other. The teams switch sides so each has to play slightly uphill.

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There are two basic categories of soccer shoes: cleats and turf shoes. Cleats work well on wet, muddy, and loose grass surfaces. Cleats with long studs work best in extremely slippery conditions because they dig deep into the surface. Cleats with short studs work best when the field is partially wet but mostly firm.

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From 1919 to 1921, the first American professional soccer league, the USSA, paid its players just 35 cents per goal scored.

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i would like to try this sport because it looks so challenging and it looks fun to play with some friends