History of Soccer:

The word football is used to mean any game played on foot where you kick the ball, such as rugby, American football and soccer. Most people in the USA do not call football, American Football, so to distinguish it from football as the rest of the world calls it, we call it soccer, as do a few other countries. Both have their origins from ancient games played with a type of ball and using primarily ones feet to move the ball up and down a playing field or court. The earliest known game of football was an ancient Chinese game called cuju that was being played around 476 BC. This game involved kicking a ball through a hole which had been cut in a silk cloth which was hung or tied between two poles. But it seems that many people all over the world have played some type of a football game for centuries. These games often had their own set of rules which varied from country to country and even from city to city. It was not until fairly modern times that rules began to be more standardized, which eventually led to a full league or association for each of the respective games of football.  Every four years there is an International Football Competition for the World Cup, where millions of fans all over the world tune in to either watch their home team or another favorite team play and hopefully take the Cup home. Go here to view a Young Man Playing Soccer.

Soccer Ornaments:

With millions of soccer fans around the world there are a variety of gifts and Sports Ornaments that can be used around the holidays to decorate your home or tree. As soccer for youth seems more popular in the US than the professional teams there are also youth ornaments and even Soccer Mom Sports Christmas Ornaments. So be sure to find something for your soccer fan for the holiday season at Christmas Decorations Ideas.

Playing the Game:

The field upon which a soccer or football game is played is called a pitch, it is usually about 110 to 120 yards long and about 70 to 80 yards wide. Each team is made up of eleven players with one of them being the goalie or goalkeeper. There are three officials or referees, one head referee and two assistants. A match or game is made up of two 45 minute halves with a 15 minute half time break. In case of a tie at the end of regular play, the game can go into two extra time periods of 15 minutes each. Go here to view more on Christmas Ornaments.