soccer basics

Have you all been following the World Cup this year? I’ve tuned in to a few games – those that are during my waking hours in the West Coast. I have several soccer fanatic friends, so it’s almost impossible to avoid it.

So for those of you who want to know just enough to have an idea of what everyone’s talking about, here are a few soccer terms and basics:


• players: there are 22 players on the field, 10 + goalie per team


• Players other than the goalie cannot touch the ball with their hands (hence, “football” makes so much more sense than “soccer”)


• the Laws of the Game are the official rules for soccer


• football pitch: what they call the playing field


• A standard game has 2 rounds, each round 45 minutes long


• Kick-off: begins each period of play


• Goal-kick: Good. Awarded to a team if the opposing team allows the ball to leave the field of play by crossing the goal line without scoring a goal.


• Yellow (penalty) card: bad. This is a caution to the player that the ref is watching him/her. A player who gets this can continue playing, but beware! Can be issued for non-sportsman-like behavior, persistent infringement of the game rules, etc.


• Red (penalty) card: really bad. If a player gets this, he/she is removed from the game without any replacements. Violence, spitting, offensive language and gestures, or a second yellow card in one game are usual causes for a red card. Imagine if the goalie got a red card. Hmmm…


• FIFA World Cup: THE world championship of soccer/football. Members of FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) can compete in the World Cup. It is held every four years. 2010 World Cup is in South Africa (The finals will be on July 11).


So, dear readers, the next time your boyfriend/husband/best bud/boy next door/[insert other soccer fan here] talks to you about soccer, you at least have some insights as to what they're talking about!


xoxo,

Bella