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Soccer Guide For Those New To The Game

Soccer (or football as it is otherwise known) is the most popular sport in the world, although not having the same status in the United States and in some other countries. Soccer is so popular in countries in Central America and Asia, Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and has gained more following that it can be likened into a religion.

Soccer only needs a small area of land and a ball and needs no expensive equipment. It consists of eleven players on each side, one goal-keeper and ten players on the field for each team. The aim of the soccer game is to kick the ball between the opposition’s goalposts. The team who has scored more goals by the end of the game is the winner.

The soccer players are positioned in any of three general groups which make up attacking players, defensive players and midfield players. Their roles may very depending on the game but they generally have the following role and responsibility:

Attacking players – also known as strikers, these players are the frontliners and are responsible for scoring goals by kicking the soccer ball between the opponent’s goalpost.

Defending players – also known as the backline, these players are positioned in front of the goalkeeper and defend the goal from the opponents and stop them from scoring

Midfield players – these players’ job is to help defend their own goal by, first, stopping the opponent’s players from running through the midfield with the ball helping the goalkeeper protect the goal, and passing the soccer ball to their own attacking players to assist them in scoring. They have the most strenuous job since they play the ball forward towards the opponent’s goal area to create a scoring opportunity and break down the opponent’s attacking play by winning the soccer ball from them.

Offside Rule

The offside rule is a violation of the soccer game that happens when the offensive player is positioned closer to the opponent’s goal than the ball and also the next-to-last player from the opposing team at the time the ball gets passed to an offensive player by their teammate. It can easily be understood by using the following guideline: You cannot be offside if you are:

- Personally in possession of the soccer ball wherever you are in the field.
- Behind or inline with the soccer ball.
- In your own half of the playing field.
- Receive the ball directly from a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in.
- You don’t go past the last opponent’s field player (except their goalkeeper) before the ball is kicked. Once the ball leaves the foot of any player kicking the ball, you are free to move past this last opponent’s player.

Soccer can be very confusing for spectators especially if the rules are not clear to them. However, after watching a few games, one becomes quite familiar with them and can begin enjoying the game.