Catswatch

Games involving kicking a ball have a long history and were recorded in China as 300BC; in medieval Europe, street football was banned as a menace to the public; only in 1863 were the rules established, specially banning carrying the ball for all players except the goalkeeper, and separating rugby from soccer. Soccer, officially termed association football, is a team sport in which players attempt to score goals by passing and dribbling the ball down the field past opposing defenders, and kicking or heading the ball into the goal net, outwitting the defending goalkeeper. Each team consists of ten out field players (defenders, midfielders and strikers) and a goalkeeper. Players from the opposing team may challenge the player in possession of the ball, but an illegal or foul tackle results in a penalty area or a free kick if outside the penalty area. The round ball used in soccer is more easily controlled than the oval balls used in soccer is more easily controlled than the oval balls used in American, Canadian and Australian rules football and in rugby. The result is a more “open” or flowing game which is played and watched by millions of people worldwide.