Our youth soccer gifts for boys are 6 inches long including a 3 inch long, gold cord hanger loop. The youth soccer gifts for boys have a young boy kicking the soccer ball. The boy is wearing a youth soccer uniform. The youth soccer gifts for boys, uniform includes a white jersey and red shorts with a green stripe down the sides and across the shoulders. The youth soccer gifts for boys uniform also consists of red soccer socks and black soccer shoes.
Information on Soccer.
Soccer is the worlds most popular sport. It is the national sport of most European and Latin countries and of many other nations. Millions of people in more than 200 countries play soccer. Soccer’s most famous international competition, the World Cup, is held every four years for both men and women.
In a soccer game, two teams of 11 players try to kick or head a ball into each other’s goal without using their hands.
Soccer is played with a round ball instead of an oval or elliptical one. Scoring is one point for each goal. No player except the goalkeeper may use his hands or arms to move the ball toward the opponent’s goal. The others may kick the ball or butt it with their heads or shoulders.
Soccer teams are made up of eleven men each. The teams line up beyond the centerline. The first line has five attack men and includes the two wings, left and right, the center forward and the left ad right inside players. In the second line are the left, center and right halfbacks. These are both offensive and defensive players. In front of the goaltender are two fullbacks. The players usually dress in unpadded jerseys, shorts, shin guards, long socks and shoes with blocked leather toes.
A referee and two assistants officiate most games throughout the world. In high school ad college games in the United States, two referees or a referee and two assistants may be used. The referee serves as the timekeeper and enforces the rules. This official decides all disputes and may put a player out of the game for repeated fouling. The assistants help decide which team gets possession of the ball after it goes out of bounds. The assistants also signal the referee when they see a player commit a foul. They cannot, however, make decisions. The assistants only assist the referee, who has the sole responsibility for calling fouls and breaches of conduct.
Soccer Players.
The players of a soccer team, except the goalkeeper, who normally remains within the penalty area, use certain formations for offensive or defensive strategy. The score of the game determines a team’s strategy. For instance and team that is behind may choose one that emphasizes offense. Some formations are designed to take advantage of the weaknesses of the opposing team, other formations center around the special abilities of a star player.
The Forwards.
The forwards have the primary responsibility for scoring goals. They are sometimes called strikers. They must be exceptionally skillful with the ball, pass accurately, dribble and shoot accurately. A good forward can fake an opponent out of position and then score a goal with the head or foot. Forwards may also put pressure o the opposing team’s players when possession of the ball is lost.
The Midfielders.
The midfielders, also called halfbacks, unite the offense and the defense. The se players have a role in every play and require exceptional physical endurance. Midfielders sometimes score goals but they must always be in position to help the defense.
The Defenders.
The defenders, sometimes called fullbacks, form the last line of defense in front of the goalkeeper. A defender tries to take the ball away from the other team and pass it to a midfielder to start an attack. A defender called a sweeper tries to intercept passes by roaming from side to side behind or in front of other defenders.
The Goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper has perhaps the most difficult job. A goalkeeper must move quickly to all parts of the penalty area to stop shots or take the ball from an opponent. After stopping a shot, a good goalkeeper controls the ball and starts an attack by kicking or throwing the ball to a teammate. The goalkeeper is the only player who may touch the ball with the hands or arms.