Soccer Rules: Positions, Tactics and Gear Selection Guide

Soccer player numbers often correlate to specific positions and tactical roles on the field. Learn the official Fifa handball rules and how to choose the best soccer shoes from Nike, Puma, or Adidas.

Opposite players tackling footballer

Facts About Soccer in France

Soccer in France is known as football and the national league is one of the most successful international teams in the world. The sport gained popularity in the country after the first World War. Soldiers played the game in the trenches during extended periods of downtime.

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What Are the Best Cleats for Artificial Turf?

Artificial-turf fields, typically harder and shallower than natural-grass surfaces, have been blamed for increases in serious knee injuries and lower-body ligament strains to athletes using the surface.

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Kids practicing soccer

Length of a Youth Soccer Game

The U.S. Youth Soccer organization is a nonprofit agency that uses the sport of soccer to ignite a youth's physical, emotional and mental growth. The American Youth Soccer Organization provides youth soccer programs in a fun, family environment.

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Soccer player kicking the soccer ball in mid air, in the stadium with the sky

Weight of an Official Soccer Ball

Soccer, or football as it is known in most of the world, is without question the world's most popular sport. More people are involved with soccer, as players or spectators, than any other sport. However, to ensure a fair match, soccer balls must conform to certain standards.

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Soccer ball in grass

Party Games for Soccer Kids

Whether planning a birthday party for your soccer player or coordinating a team gathering, include party games to provide entertainment. Soccer party games can differ from the actual game played on the field, shifting the emphasis from winning the game to simply playing for fun.

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Soccer players stretching

Which Colleges Give the Best Soccer Scholarships?

A scholarship is a type of full or partial financial aid awarded to a student who exhibits outstanding performance in a specific academic field or sport. Athletic scholarships are regulated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

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Flag of Spain

The History of Football in Spain

In Spain, football -- the sport known in the United States as soccer -- is the most popular sport. The Spanish national football team won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and also has been successful in the UEFA European championship and multiple Olympic tournaments. The Spanish word for football is "futbol."

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People playing football outdoors,low section

Differences & Similarities Between American & European Soccer

In its early years, Major League Soccer in the United States briefly modified FIFA’s Laws of the Game to avoid ties in the regular season. As of 2010, soccer in the United States had dropped this and other modifications to stay in step with FIFA.

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What Is the Difference Between Latin American & European Soccer?

More than a century of competitive world soccer has shaped the perceived differences between Latin American and European soccer styles. Some of these generally accepted differences have almost become stereotypes, surviving despite the continually changing nature of the modern game.

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Footballer taking penalty at game, low section, surface view

What Are the Fundamental Skills in Soccer?

Soccer is a sport unlike almost all others, as the feet are needed for technical skills more than the hands. A number of fundamental skills are needed to play soccer, with advanced players able to build on the fundamental skills for more complex and precise dribbling, passing and shooting.

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Soccer players in stadium

How to Play Right Back in Soccer

The right back in soccer is a fullback position that is known as a defensive spot. According to Expert Football.com, the right back or right fullback is positioned on the right side of the stopper or center fullback.

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Group of young people playing soccer

Diet & Nutrition Tips for Soccer Players

If you want to bend it like Beckham or just compete in your local soccer league, the right diet is a must. Soccer is an intense sport requiring massive amounts of strength, speed and agility.

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Soccer Action

How Many Calories Do You Burn in a Soccer Game?

Playing soccer, either as a member of a competitive team or in a neighborhood park with a number of other fans, is an ideal way to keep in shape. The long distances you'll run throughout the game burn calories quickly and lead to a number of benefits, including stronger muscles and higher endurance.

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Two boys (11-13) playing football, lens flare

Youth Soccer Conditioning Drills

While in general, the best training for soccer is soccer, specific conditioning activities can help enhance a players' physical skills. The more time a youth player spends in conditioning work, the more she will have the requisite strength to fend off challenge on the soccer pitch.

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Leg Press Fitness

Training for Soccer in the Gym

If you don't have a grassy field or even a soccer ball, you can still train for soccer using the equipment you find in a gym or fitness center. You can build muscle, improve your cardio-respiratory functions and train your heart and lungs for the high-intensity, start-and-stop demands of soccer.

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Private Soccer Training

Soccer typically offer options of team training with a team of 12 to 18 players; semi-private training, where two to five players contract with a pro for lessons; and private training, where you get one-on-one attention from a top teacher.

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Indoor soccer stadium

The Advantage of Indoor Soccer Shoes

Players who try to play indoor soccer in tennis shoes or cross-trainers often find that they don't have sufficient control over the ball. That is because those shoes are not designed for indoor soccer.

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Two soccer players competing for ball

How to Prepare for a Soccer Game

Soccer players typically take getting ready for the game fairly seriously. At the adult level, the game lasts 90 minutes, and that’s a long, long time to try to compete athletically if you misplaced a critical element of gear or have neglected your warmup.

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Portrait Of Boy Holding Ball On School Football Pitch

What Is a Good Age to Start Your Child Playing Football?

Playing youth sports can be one of the greatest experience of any young person's life. Many parents are more than happy to see their child play sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis or golf, but some might have trepidation about football participation.

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Techniques to Kick a Soccer Ball Far

You do not need the expertise of David Beckham to kick a soccer ball far. However, you do need to train intensively, focusing on the techniques that maximize your kicking power. Executing powerful kicks demands the participation of your full body, not just your legs and feet, and also requires mental commitment.

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