FOOTBALL FUN! by Nick Warren
Who? Why? What? Who invented football? Why is it called "the beautiful game"? What makes it the most popular team sport in the world? How many people can play? How do you win? What are the rules? And why is it such a fun game for anyone? Find out the answers to all these questions – and learn some fun facts about football!
Who Started It? Football started was in England in the 12th century – that’s about eleven hundred years ago! But it looked nothing like the game played today. In those days, players ran about kicking and punching the ball (and each other!), and there were many injuries. Early football was so dangerous that they banned it for a few hundred years! A more recognisable form of football began again in London in the 1600s, but even then, the rules allowed a player to carry the ball as well as kicking it. Everybody had their own ideas about the rules, and they only agreed on one set of rules in 1863. This was the beginning of the game of football as we know it today.
What Makes It Beautiful? Some say it's because anybody can play – young and old, boys and girls, rich and poor, from any race or religion, speaking any language. For others, it's because you can play almost anywhere – on a patch of grass or sand, an empty street or car park, even a tennis or basketball court. Some say it's because it creates joy and passion, fairness, teamwork, building character and physical fitness. But everyone agrees that it is beautiful to watch a game that is full of drama, surprises, emotion, individual skill and teamwork!
Why Is It so Popular? It’s so easy to play. All you need is some space, some people, and a ball. It's so fun to play! Even players who are not as good as others enjoy playing together as part of a team. It's exciting! Scoring a goal is a great feeling, but so is saving a goal, passing a ball, receiving a pass, tackling and winning the ball, being tackled but keeping the ball. It's all this and more that makes billions of people around the world watch and enjoy football!
What Kit And Equipment Do You Need? You don’t need any special equipment to have fun playing football. You can wear anything that lets you run around and kick a ball. You don’t even need special football boots. You can kick a ball in any sports shoe or school shoe. Bare feet work too! You don’t need real goalposts either. You can mark your goals and pitch with sticks, stones, schoolbags or anything really! You don’t even need a special football! You can play with any spherical ball. You can even make your own, all you need are some newspapers and some tape!
What Skills Do You Need? The most important football skills are: Courage – to get on the field and start playing! Fairness – to play fair and do the right thing! Discipline - to follow the rules as agreed! Teamwork – to play together with your friends as a team! These skills are also important in life. Once you master them, you can do anything and handle any situation or obstacle.
How to Play the Game? The idea is simple - score as many goals against the other team as you can! You score a goal when the whole ball goes past the line between the goalposts and below the 'crossbar'. The crossbar is the top piece that connects the goalposts. When you make your own goals, each team must agree on the height of the imaginary crossbar. If you hit the ball past your own goal, it is a goal for the other team! A full game is 45 minutes each half, but even when you've only got a few minutes to spare, you can still play football!
What Are the Basic Rules? A full team is 11 players on the field. Other players can watch from the sides and can be swopped as substitutes. Both sides agree on ending the game by scoring a certain number of goals or setting a time limit. The teams toss a coin, and the winner gets to take the first kick-off. The kick-off starts the game and puts the ball into play. The ball is on the centre spot is passed to another team player. Players use their feet, head or chest to play the ball by running with it or dribbling, passing it, or by shooting it at goal. The goalkeepers can use their arms and hands but only inside the 'box'. The box is the rectangular area just in front of the goalposts. It extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. It is also called the penalty area. If a player makes the ball cross the side-line, the other team gets a throw-in. If a player makes the ball cross the end-line, the other team gets a corner kick. Players must not hit, push, trip, kick or be too rough with other players. If they do, it is a 'foul'. When a foul happens outside the box, the other side gets a free kick from that spot. When a foul happens inside the 'box', the other teams get a penalty – a free shot at the goal against the goalkeeper. If a player makes more than one foul, they can be sent off for the rest of the game!
What Positions and Formations Are There? There are many ways to arrange the players, but all formations use defenders, midfielders and attackers. Defenders stay at the back of the pitch and try to stop shots at goal. Midfielders stay in the middle of the pitch and pass the ball to their defenders or attackers. Attackers play at the front and try to beat the defenders to shoot at goal. The most famous formation is 4-4-2 – that is 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 attackers.
The Referee A referee understands all the rules of the game and makes sure both teams play fair. They usually have a whistle they blow to start and stop the game. They also blow the whistle to stop play when they see a foul or the ball goes out of play. A referee can award free kicks and penalties, warn players who are not playing fair, and even send players off. The referee can also give extra time if the game is over and there is no winner. The referee's decision is final, and even if you disagree, there's no point arguing with them!
Time to Play! Now that you know the history of the game, the equipment you need and the basic rules. All you have to do now is play! And remember, the more you practice your skills of Courage, Fairness, Discipline and Teamwork, the better you will become at football – and at life! Go, team!