I'm sure that many of you know the basics of soccer. If not, lets do a quick recap:

• First accounts of soccer played by ancient Chinese, Native Americans, and the British.

• First formal rules set by Italians

• Two teams composed of eleven players on each team. This consists of ten players (defense, midfield, and offense) along with the goal keeper.

• The object: get the ball in the goal more times than the other team at the end of 90 minutes without use of hands.

• Players must be wearing the same jerseys and shorts as well as appropriate shin guards covered by long socks and the appropriate footwear.
• Goal keepers wear colors that distinguish them from the rest of the team
• The referees toss to see which team will have the choice of first with ball or which side of the field they would like to play on first.
• The clock rarely stops during the game. If the ball goes out of bounds on the sides of the field, the team that didn't kick it out throws it in to their teammates.
• If the ball goes out on the ends of the field by the team defending that end, it is a corner kick by the opposite team. If it goes out on the team attacking that end, however, the goalie is able to kick it from the goal line out to their teammates.

Pentalties:

• Most agressive play is tolerated during a soccer game; however, if a player is excessively agressive the referee may warn the player, or award a direct kick to the opposing team
• These pentalties may include:

  -kicking, tripping, charging or pushing an opponent

  -tackling an opponent and coming in contact with the player before the ball

  -holding an opponent or handling the ball

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