Football: Oldest Sport, Most Popular Event - World Cup - Essay Sample

Introduction

Football, also known as soccer, is one of the oldest sporting events in the world, and among the most recognized and loved sports. In the contemporary world, the pinnacle of soccer is the football world cup competition which is conducted after every four years (Biron, n.d.,). Nonetheless, there are other tournaments which professional footballers talk part in such as the Europeans Champions League, African cup of nations, Copa America, and various leagues in Europe among others (Stewart, 2018). However, to play a soccer game; there are few steps that a person must follow to ensure that all the rules are observed, the player does not get injured in the process, and victory is achieved.

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The first step involved in playing a soccer match is having the desire to achieve success in the playing field. Typically, soccer is a physically demanding game that requires the player to give their best in the 90 minutes playing time which is split into two halves of 45 minutes each (French & Carson, 1993). As a player, you can have all the talent in the world, but without the dedication and endless endeavor, one can never realize their full potential. The player must understand that the aim of the game is to score more goals than your opponent in a 90 minute playing time (Stewart, 2018). Also, it is essential to remember that soccer requires a team to consist of 11 players who are made up of one goalkeeper, and ten outfield players; thus one should be familiar with the role they will be playing and adequately train.

Secondly, it is critical for a player to understand all the rules that govern a soccer match. Having adequate knowledge of the code of conduct expected will save the player from being penalized which might lead to expulsion from the field of play. The first rule of soccer is that even though there should be 11 players, the football federation stipulates that a minimum of 7 players are needed to constitute a match. Also, the players should not handle the ball with their hands, apart from the goalkeeper who is allowed to catch the ball within the 18-yard box. The second rule is that a team can come up with seven substitute players and that substitutions can be made at any time of the match, but every team is allowed to make a maximum of 3 changes (Stewart, 2018). When the replacements have been depleted, and one of the active players has been hurt or made to leave the field of play, the team will be forced to play with ten players. Third, every game must include at least one referee and two assistant referees. The function of the referee is to keep time and decide when a foul has been made, free kicks, throw-ins, penalties and the amount of time to be added at the end of each half (French & Carson, 1993). Forth basic rule stipulates that a ball must wholly cross the goal line for it to constitute a goal. And lastly, when a player commits a foul, he or she could receive a yellow card or a red card depending on the severity of the offensive, a decision which is made by the referee. The yellow card stands as a warning, while a red card is a dismissal of that player. Also, two yellow cards will amount to a red card.

After getting familiar with the rules, the play must work together with his team in the training ground to ensure that the skills are sharp and that he gains teamwork with other members of the squad. The success of a team in a soccer match depends on how various departments within the team coordinate themselves in attacking and defending themselves from being scored. Apart from the goalkeeper, there are other divisions which include the forwards, midfielders and the defenders (French & Carson, 1993). During the playtime, the fullbacks stay behind the other teammates, ensuring that the opponents are denied a goal scoring opportunity. When under attack, they will mark the opposing players and prevent them from receiving the ball. Midfielders have the most challenging job, as they support the defenders, control the center of the field and set up scoring chances for the forwards. The attackers tend to play on the opponents half and aim at scoring as many goals as they can. Lastly, the match is won when one team scores more goal than their opponents, either through direct scores or penalty shootouts (Biron, n.d.,). In some cases, the game will end as a draw if the players are unable to score, or end up with an equal number of goals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a soccer game is a relatively simple game with some basic steps that must be followed to ensure that the team is successful in the field of play. The players and the fans tend to enjoy the game when both sides are evenly matched. Also, soccer is a respected sport as it brings people of various cultures, ethnic backgrounds and races together to work towards a common goal of entertainment. Similarly, by participating in soccer, one can burn off excess calories and maintain physical fitness that is hard to obtain in most games. The game also impacts the good attributes such as being disciplined, having patience and learning to cope with failure.

References

Biron, D. (n.d.). Soccer (Amateur) Worldwide. Encyclopedia of Play in Today's Society. doi:10.4135/9781412971935.n375

French, L., & Carson, K. (1993). How to Play Soccer: A Step-By-Step Guide. Jarrold Pub.Stewart, D. (2018). How to Play Soccer (Classic Reprint). London, England: Forgotten Books.