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Street Soccer Academy is a professional service provider that specialises in the rehabilitation and reintegration of people with complex and multiple needs. We work on behalf of some of the nation's hardest to reach groups within our communities including, people with homeless related issues, ex-offenders, those recovering from addictions, mental health conditions and disabilities and the long-term unemployed.

Street Soccer Academy is experienced in producing sports-based education programmes for our service users. Through the use of pro social models we focus on affecting the attitudes & thinking of those who engage with us, with particular emphasis on their relationships and roles in society. Through the use of professionally organised sport we are all about

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Street Soccer Academy - Isolation to Integration

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Street Soccer Academy is a professional service provider that specialises in the rehabilitation and reintegration of people with complex and multiple needs. We work on behalf of some of the nation's hardest to reach groups within our communities including, people with homeless related issues, ex-offenders, those recovering from addictions, mental health conditions and disabilities and the long-term unemployed.

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BASICS

The purpose of the game is to move the ball towards, and ultimately into, the opposition's end zone.

This is achieved by either running with the ball until tackled, or throwing the ball downfield to a team-mate.

DOWNS
Downs are the most fundamental, and confusing, part of the NFL rulebook.

The attacking team, or offence, needs to move the ball forward in chunks of at least 10 yards, which is why the pitch has yardage markings.

They have four chances, or downs, to gain those 10 yards.

When the ball has advanced that far another first down is earned, with four more chances to go a further 10 yards.

If the offensive team fails to move 10 yards within four downs, possession is surrendered, although the ball is usually kicked, or punted, to the defending team on fourth down.

While most scoring comes from near the defending team's end zone, a touchdown can be scored from anywhere on the field, and on any down.

PLAYS
These are the complicated movements involving all 11 players teams use to move the ball downfield.

Plays are called by the head coach or quarterback, who is the attacking lynchpin of any team.

While the term usually refers to attacking teams, defending teams also use set plays to stop their opponents' forward movement.

The offensive team has 30 seconds to get the ball in play or kick a field goal.

SCORING
Touchdown (six points)
A touchdown is scored when a team crosses the opposition's goal line with the ball, or catches or collects the ball in the end zone.

Field goal (three points)
These are usually attempted on fourth down if the kicker is close enough to the end zone to kick the ball through the posts, or uprights.

Extra point (one or two points)
A point is earned by kicking the ball through the uprights after a touchdown (similar to a rugby conversion). Two points are earned by taking the ball into the end zone again.

Safety (two points)
Awarded to the defensive team when a member of the offensive team is tackled with the ball in his own end zone.

POSITIONS
Although there are only 11 players from each side on the field at any one time, an American football team is made up of 45 players, ranging in size, speed and their roles within the team.
The offence
A team's attacking players who attempt to move the ball forward and score touchdowns.
The key man is the quarterback.

On the quarterback's signal, the centre snaps the ball back between his legs to the QB (similar to rugby league's play-the-ball).

The quarterback can then either run with the ball, hand it to a running back, or pass it downfield to one of his receivers.
The defence
The role of the defence is to stop the other team from scoring by tackling the ball-carrier, intercepting passes or causing fumbles.
1 & 11 Wide receivers
2 & 6 Tackles
3 & 5 Guards
4 Centre
7 Tight end
8 Quarterback
9 Fullback
10 Running back

The plays used by the quarterback can either be pre-arranged or improvised to take advantage of the game's changing shape.

The defence is made up of big, powerful players trying to stop the other team from running the ball, and fast, athletic players trying to prevent the quarterback's passes from reaching his receivers.

The defence's power players also attempt to tackle, or sack, the quarterback before he has thrown the ball, while any defender can cause a fumble by knocking the ball from a ball-carrier's grasp.

1 & 3 - Cornerbacks
2 - Free safety
4, 5, 6, 7 - Linebackers
8 - Strong safety
9 & 11 - Defensive ends
10 - Nose, or defensive, tackle

Special teams
Responsible for all plays involving kicks or punts.

Special teams play a small but vital role. They come onto the field to execute field goal or extra point attempts, and when the team wants to punt the ball downfield on fourth down.

They are also responsible for trying to block the opposition's kicks and punts, as well as attempting to return them as far as possible in the other direction.

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BASICS The purpose of the game is to move the ball towards, and ultimately into, the opposition's end zone. This is achieved by either running with the ball until tackled, or throwing the ball downfield to a team-mate. DOWNS Downs are the most fundamental, and confusing, part of the NFL rulebook.

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Football Skills Drills and resources to download.

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Football Skills Drills and resources to download.

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Soccer (or football in Europe) is the most popular sport in the world, at both grassroots and international level. Its popularity is due to the relative simplicity of the game as well as the accessibility and inexpensive nature of equipment and opportunities.
Football Injury Prevention

Due to the very physical, fast-paced and semi-contact nature of the sport, injuries are a regular occurrence. There are however ways in which the chance of injury can be reduced:

Warm-up
Warm-ups should be practiced in all sports as they aim to increase the muscle temperature and range of motion. Performing a warm-up consisting of light aerobic work (e.g. jogging/cycling/skipping), active (or dynamic) stretching (e.g. walking lunges/heel to bum/high knees) and skill drills can dramatically reduce the incidence of muscle strains especially.

Fitness
More injuries occur when an athlete becomes tired and fatigued. For this reason, conditioning should be a major aspect of any athlete's training. This means being fit to play the sport. For example, football players require bouts of sprinting, followed by jogging, walking and sprinting again. Their training, therefore, should represent this and not involve pointless training such as continuous slow runs.

Resistance training
Resistance or strength training can greatly benefit a player's performance and also reduce the risk of injury. Football strength is mostly required in the legs, although the core and upper body should not be neglected as they play a role in centering the player and maintaining balance.

Equipment
Using the right equipment can be important in avoiding injuries. In terms of protective equipment, most outfield soccer players use only shin pads (shin guards). The Goalkeeper may wear a shirt with padded elbows and shorts with padded thighs to reduce abrasions occurring when diving. Goalkeepers also wear gloves, although these offer limited protection to the hands and fingers. They are worn with the main aim of improving grip on the ball.

Other equipment which can contribute towards preventing injuries are the boots. Selecting the correct footwear for yourself and for the playing surface and conditions can make a massive difference. For example, on a dry, hard pitch, traditional studded boots may not be as suitable and may be replaced with an astro boot or specific dry ground boot.

Cool down
Not performing a thorough cool down is a mistake made too regularly by all but professional players. A cool-down serves to reduce muscle aching over the subsequent 48 hours. However, it also has a long-term effect on injury prevention. Research has shown that stretching the muscles following sport will help to reduce the post-exercise tightening of muscles. Over a long period reducing this tightness will help reduce the chance of injury.

Common Football Injuries

Soccer is thought to be a relatively safe sport. This is in comparison to sports such as American football and ice hockey. A high-school football player is at 85% risk of injury, where a soccer player is only 30% at risk. Within soccer, players over 25 and female players are more at risk of injury than their younger male counterparts.

Injuries to the lower limb are most common, especially to the ankle and knee. The most common moderate to severe lower limb injuries are listed here. Other minor injuries include contusions, minor muscle strains, and abrasions.

Ankle sprains
Ankle sprains are the most common injury amongst all levels of a soccer player and account for a massive 36% of all injuries. This injury is most commonly sustained when running and changing direction quickly, or when tackling or being tackled. An inversion (lateral) sprain of the ankle occurs when the ankle is rolled over so that the sole of the foot faces inwards. Eversion (medial) sprains are far less common. Find out more about ankle sprains.

ACL tears
The ACL is the anterior cruciate ligament which is one of the most frequently damaged ligaments in the game of soccer. It is situated deep within the knee joint and has the job of maintaining the position of the Tibia (shin bone) underneath the Femur (thigh bone). The majority of these injuries occur in a non-contact situation at a point where the player lands or decelerates with a twisting motion. Injury to the ACL can also occur following side on contact such as a slide tackle from an opponent. Learn more about ACL injuries.

Hamstring strains
The hamstrings are the most commonly torn muscles in soccer, followed closely by the adductor (groin) muscles. A tear to one of the hamstring muscles most often occurs during a burst of speed especially in muscles which are either fatigued or have been inadequately warmed-up. Learn more about hamstring strains.

Meniscus Injuries
The meniscus is two rings of cartilage which sit on top of the Tibia (shin bone), between this and the Femur (thigh bone). A meniscus tear is not uncommon in soccer and usually occurs in a tackle in which there is a twisting motion, usually with the foot fixed. Degeneration of the cartilage can also become a problem in older players, especially following previous knee injuries. Find out more about meniscus injuries.
Ingrown toenail
Although not a specific football injury this is a common complaint which will make playing football difficult. The toe, usually the big toe or great to grows into the skin at the edges. See ingrown toenail.

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Soccer (or football in Europe) is the most popular sport in the world, at both grassroots and international level. Its popularity is due to the relative simplicity of the game as well as the accessibility and inexpensive nature of equipment and opportunities. Football Injury Prevention Due to the very physical, fast-paced and semi-contact nature of ...

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Football offside / Law 11 completely explained