Name:______________________
SOCCER
HISTORY (you do not need to know this information for the quiz, it’s just fun to know).
Soccer is not an “invented” game it is one that has evolved over thousands of years. The
Romans are credited with bringing the game to England where it was given the name football.
Football is still the preferred term in Europe. In 1904 the Federation Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) was established and represented 170 nations. FIFA is responsible for
publishing the international rules, controlling all international matches, and for promoting the
world soccer championships.
The governing body of most United States soccer interest is the United States Soccer
Federation (USSF) which was founded in 1913. The United States Youth Soccer Association
(USYSA) and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) developed a youth movement in
soccer by promoting the sport to those under age 19.
The first World Cup Championship was played in 1930. In 1992 and 1994 the United
States hosted the World Cup Championship. As a result of hosting the 1994 World Cup, Major
League Soccer (MLS) was established and initiated play two years later. Soccer was first played in
the Olympics in 1900. In 1996, the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team won the gold medal.
GAME PLAY OVERVIEW:
The object of the game of soccer is to score the most points by propelling the soccer ball
completely across the opponent’s goal line and into the goal. The ball is moved by using the head or
the feet. Using the arms, hands, or shoulders is illegal by all players except the goalie. The
Goalie may use any part of the body when he or she is in the penalty box. The fundamental skills of
soccer are: passing, dribbling, heading, shooting, marking, trapping, tackling, and goal
keeping. The soccer game consists of two teams of 11 players. One team is attempting to move the
ball toward the opponent’s goal in order to score. The team with possession of the ball is known as
the offensive team. The defensive team is trying to stop the offense from scoring and/or regain
possession of the ball.
The game starts with a coin toss and whoever wins the coin toss decides whether they want
to play offense or defense first. All players start on their half of the field with two members of the
offensive team inside the center circle. All defensive players must be outside the center circle. The
referee blows the whistle and the offensive kicker passes the ball to his teammate who is in the
center circle with him. After that has happened game play has begun.
KEY TERMS
1. Blocking: intercepting the ball with any part of the body except the arms or hands (usually
to keep it from another player)
2. Corner Kick: if the defense kicks the ball across the endline, the offense gets to kick the ball
in play from the corner kick area
3. Defense: team without the possession of the ball; trying to stop the offense from scoring
4. Dribbling: moving the ball forward with a succession of kicks or touches in which the ball
is kept under control
Cues for Dribbling
1. keep head up
2. use inside, instep(laces) or outside of foot
3. keep ball close to feet
4. stay on toes
5. Drop-kick: ball dropped by the goalie who kicks it before it touches the ground
6. Fouls: include tripping, using hands, holding and pushing
7. Free Kick: taken by the team that the foul was committed against where the foul occurred
8. Goal Kick: if the offense kicks the ball across the endline, the defense gets to kick the ball
from the corner of the penalty area closest to where the ball went out
9. Heading: using the head to pass or shoot the ball
10. Offense: team with possession of the ball that is trying to score
11. Offsides: there must always be 2 defensive players closer to the goal than an offensive
player at the moment the ball is passed
12. Passing: moving the ball from one player to another
Cues for Passing:
I. Plant non-kicking foot beside the ball
II. Use the instep (inside) of the foot
III. Contact ball in the middle
IV. Follow through with kicking foot to target
13. Penalty Kick: a kick taken by a member of the team that the foul was committed against
inside of the penalty area (only the goalie can block the kick).
14. Throw-In: putting the ball in play after it has crossed the sidelines (it must be a twohanded overhead throw with both feet on the ground)
15. Trapping: stopping the ball in order to gain possession or control of it
Cues for Trapping
I. move feet quickly so you get your body in front of the ball
II. relax the body part you are trapping with
III. pretend the body part is a pillow or something soft.
THE FIELD AND POSITIONS…
Sideline