What You Need to Know About Football

Association football, otherwise known as just football or soccer, is an organized team sport typically played between two teams of eleven players each. It is the world’s most common sport, with over 250 million people playing it in more than 200 countries and dependencies. It has a long history going back as far as Roman times, but it was discontinued in the 1930s due to the First World War. It was brought back again in the 60s, this time with a new emphasis on social participation.

There are two principal kinds of football; kicking and goal keeping. Both of these are played on a hard surface called a pitch. Other kinds of games played on grass include rugby and cricket, although football can also be played on artificial surfaces. The object of the game is to score points by attempting to convert passes into touches on the pitch. Goals are scored when a player wearing a protective equipment such as gloves or boots touches the ball towards the goal post or the goal touchline.

Most sports fans have their own traditions and customs associated with various sports. Football is certainly no exception. Football is commonly played between two groups of people who wear different colored shirts (blue for the home team and red for the opponents) and are usually separated by a fence. The referee will then dismiss any players who either take too many touches on the ball or try to kick the ball out from the field. Usually, there is some kind of penalty associated with misconduct.

A typical game session takes about 90 minutes. It starts with the referee introducing play, announcing the starting side and numbers for the game. Then players are grouped according to positions. The game rules are usually mentioned and the respective teams are scheduled to play. When the half hour is over, play is stopped and a new round begins.

Many people watch football professionally and wish to play the game themselves. In this case a few basics need to be mastered first. A ball has to be passed accurately to both sides of the playing field. Another important thing that needs to be mastered is kicking the ball. Other than that, there is little difference between an indoor game and an outdoor football game.

Most people get interested in football after watching the popular TV shows and games. Even though TV shows tend to exaggerate the real game, people can at least learn to play the basic principles. Another thing that is beneficial is having a friend or family member who is also keen on the game. They can offer tips and help improve players’ techniques. If one is unable to get outside and play the game, one can always watch a football field on one’s own.