Colleges, recreational facilities and even some professional leagues increasingly choose synthetic turf fields over natural grass pitches for soccer. Synthetic turf consists of artificial grass blades stitched into a backing material and interspersed with black rubber beads and sand.

The lower back is generally not a major trouble spot for soccer players. Extensive reports on injuries by the American Academy of Pediatrics and others note instead a preponderance of leg injuries and concussions among those hurt playing the sport.

Soccer players cover five miles or more during a game, in motions that consist of sprints, jogs, strolls, backpedals, shuffles and walking, as well as forward, backward and laterally, according to video analysis of elite players in the United Kingdom.

Like all sports, soccer has developed its contemporary tactical systems through generations of evolution.

Kicking a soccer ball requires orchestrating your feet, legs, hips, torso, head and even your arms to ensure the proper form and provide balance. The hip joint, which connects the femur or thighbone to the pelvis, serves as the crossroads for a kinetic chain that transmits power to the soccer ball.

Five-year-olds provide plenty of entertainment, some unintentional, for their coach. At times they get mixed up on which goal to run toward and forget that they cannot pick up the ball. Before the drills, have your players warm up so they start thinking about soccer and the practice to come.

Soccer athletes build strong muscles without mass, they develop the agility to step around players; they move laterally, backward and forward with speed and they learn to kick with accuracy and strength. Getting in shape and developing the athletic qualities of a soccer player require daily dedication to training.

When a soccer goalie stays inside the penalty area, he retains the ability to touch the ball with his hands. Once outside the area, rules against handling the ball apply to a goalie just as they do to a field player. Handling the ball outside of the goal box gives your opponents a direct free kick.

Soccer is a fast-paced game requiring speed, good footwork skills and accurate passing. The kind of pass you choose to execute depends on the defense and positioning of your opponents.

Soccer cleats are worn by players to help them gain traction on various playing surfaces, including grass, sand and clay. Like most soccer equipment, the cleats must conform to several regulations. These regulations are instituted to maintain a safe playing environment for all players.

As a parent, you may be struggling to find a sports team for your child to play on. An important concern is whether your kid should play on a single-sex team or a co-ed team. A team mixed with boys and girls has many benefits, including friendship building and stereotype smashing.

Height can be an important aspect in all forms of athletics. A women's soccer forward is at times required to win aerial challenges and head ball toward the goal. Height can also help a soccer forward win battles with defenders for loose balls.