LNIPE NERC GUWAHATI

Football Activity file

Submitted to:- Submitted by:-

Asst.professor suhindar Singh Abhijeet kumar singh
roll no: b-1016
Section- A
Bped II semester
 INDEX
History of FOOTBALL
 International
 National
Structure and functioning of controlling body
 International
o FIFA
o AFC
o IFAB
 National
o AIFF
Recent tournament
Copa America
Measurement and layout of football field
All the laws of football by IFAB
Inside and Instep Kicks
Sole receiving
Straight dribble And Zig Zag dribble
Heading
Throw in
Goal keeping ( ball collection )
The history of soccer
According to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA),
football - or soccer as it is known in North America - is played by upwards of 240
million people worldwide.

Records trace the origins of the sport back more than 2,000 years ago to ancient China, Greece and Rome,
where the 'ball' was made of rock or animal hide stuffed with hair. There have even been suggestions it dates
even further back to old Mesoamerican cultures - but 'football' or 'soccer' as we know it today has its roots in
19th century England.

From England, the idea of football spread to Europe and across the Atlantic. Two schoolteachers, August
Hermann and Konrad Koch, introduced the game to Germany circa 1874. Immigrants, meanwhile, are
thought to have brought soccer to the United States.

Through the history of soccer we have seen multitudes of stars be born. Jadon Sancho is one of world footballs most
talented players of now and the future. - DFL

The first football association was formed in England in 1863. Rules were established - but continued to
change - and the size and weight of the match-ball standardised. Crucially, carrying the ball with the hands
was outlawed: association football (soccer) and rugby became two separate entities.

Football continued to undergo rapid development into the 1900s, accelerated by industrialisation. Public
school teams soon became the minority following the emergence of factory and other work-based clubs. The
best players received monetary incentives, and tickets were sold to the public - mainly members of the
working-class - for matches.

Domestic leagues became commonplace around the world - the English Football League being the first
professional division. In Germany, football was played at an amateur level until 1949, when semi-
professional leagues were introduced. The country's first professional division, the Bundesliga, started in
1963/64. Forty-six clubs from the former West Germany applied for admission to the new league. Sixteen
were selected based on their sporting track record, economic criteria and representation of the various sub-
regional leagues. Until 2001, the Bundesliga was directly under the auspices of the Deutscher Fußball-Bund
(DFB or German Football Association). This changed with the formation of the Deutsche Fußball-Liga
(DFL or German Football League).

The very-first season of Bundesliga football took place in from 1963 to 1964. - imago sportfotodienst/imago
sportfotodienst

Early soccer leagues in the US mostly adopted the name 'football' for their activities, but confusion between
American football and association football resulted in the term 'soccer' being used to describe the latter in
the 1910s and early 1920s. Two professional soccer leagues were started in 1967, the United Soccer
Association and the National Professional Soccer League, which merged to form the North American Soccer
League in 1968. Interest in soccer within the United States continued to grow and, as part of the United
States' bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup, US Soccer pledged to create a professional outdoor league.
Major League Soccer duly launched in 1996.

Latter-day continental club tournaments have existed, in various guises, for many years. Europe's UEFA
Champions League and the Americas' CONCACAF Champions League are perhaps the best known.
Interleague club competition can be traced back as far as the late 19th century, but international club
tournaments are a relatively new concept. In 2000, the FIFA Club World Cup was born, a tournament
between the winners of the six continental confederations, as well as the host nation's league champions.
Since 2005, it has become an annual event.

In the late 19th century, only a few national football teams existed, England and Scotland among them.
Germany has been represented in international football competitions since 1908, while the first US national
soccer team was constituted in 1885. Football became an International Olympics Committee-recognised
sport in 1900, but it wasn't until 1930 that FIFA - football's world governing body - decided to stage their
own international tournament, the World Cup. With the exception of cancellations in 1942 and 1946 due to
World War II - the tournament has taken place every four years since.
The UEFA European Football Championship, more commonly known as the Euros, is the primary
association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Union
of European Football Associations (UEFA), determining the continental champion of Europe. It is held
every four years, in the even-numbered year between World Cups. The first edition took place in 1960. The
CONCACAF Gold Cup, the main association football competition of the men's national football teams
governed by The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
(CONCACAF), determining the continental champion of North America, Central America, and the
Caribbean, is staged every two years.

Today 211 national associations are members of FIFA, football's world governing body. The world regions
are divided into six confederations: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), Asian Football
Confederation (AFC), UEFA, CONCACAF, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and Confederación
Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL). While 32 countries took part in World Cup qualifying in 1934, that
number has risen to over 200, reflecting football’s standing as a truly global phenomenon.
History of Football in India

Football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports in India. The game is played extensively in
the country, with the maximum fan following in Goa, Kerala, West Bengal, Mizoram, Manipur
and Sikkim. In the rest of the states, it is next to cricket in terms of popularity. All the
international league matches and the soccer World Cup are keenly watched by the sports
enthusiasts in the sub continent. The game holds a rich tradition in India, its history being
something that deserves special mention. Go through the following lines to get information on
the history of football in India.

Football Game In India

Origin
The history of football in India can be traced back to the pre-independent period, when the
British people brought the game to the sub-continent. The initial football matches were played
between army teams. A number of football clubs in India were soon created, during the British
Empire. In fact, these clubs pre-date the most renowned clubs and organizations of football,
such as FIFA. In India, the first football game was organized between 'Calcutta Club of
Civilians' and the 'Gentlemen of Barrackpore', in 1854. The first football club of India, named
'Calcutta FC', was founded in 1872. Dalhousie Club, Traders Club and Naval Volunteers Club
were also established in the following years.

The First Tournament

Calcutta (the present day Kolkata) is considered the home of football in India. This is probably
the reason why a number of football clubs originated from the state, including Mohun Bagan
Athletic Club (later named as the National Club of India), which came into existence in 1889.
After a few years, the Indian Football Association (IFA) came into existence in 1893. In 1898,
the oldest football tournament in India, (the third oldest in the world) was commenced in
Shimla. Referred to as the Durand Cup, the tournament was named after the then Foreign
Secretary of India - Sir Mortimer Durand, who inaugurated it.

The First Victory

The first victory of Indian footballers was registered in 1911, when Mohun Bagan Club won the
IFA-Shield Trophy. This victory has secured a special place in the history of football in India,
because the trophy was previously won by the British teams based in India. Subsequently, the
number of football clubs in India increases, which led to the formation of the All India Football
Federation (AIFF) in 1937. In 1948, the AIFF was affiliated to FIFA, the international
governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became one of the founder members of the Asian
Football Confederation (AFC).

Golden Period
The period stretching from 1951 to 1962 deserves special mention, because it is the golden era
in the history of Indian football. As the Indian football clubs put up commendable performances
year after year, they qualified for a number of international competitions and competed
overseas. The Indian footballers brought laurels to the homeland, by winning gold medals in the
1951 and 1962 Asian Games held at New Delhi and Jakarta, respectively. India registered
another record in 1956, when she became the first Asian nation to make it to the Olympic
football semi-finals in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Present Day
The Indian football teams have performed reasonably well in the recent years, though the sport
at the domestic level still needs upliftment. Some of the great performances have been witness at
the Nehru Cup, held in August 2007 and the AFC Challenge Cup held in August 2008, both of
being won by the Indian football team. The national football team has qualified for 2011 Asian
Cup, to be held in Qatar. Although the Indian football clubs have delivered consistent
performances in the near past, the Indian football still team needs to mark its presence at the
important international tournaments.

Women's Football In India

Women's football in India was administered by the Women's Football Federation of India
(WFFI) until early 1990s, when the AIFF took over the administration of women's soccer in the
country. Just like the men's game, the women's game had its early pioneers from the state of
West Bengal. The women's clubs were started by East Bengal and Mohun Bagan clubs in 2000-
01 season. National championships for both senior and junior girls are also held. The majority of
players in the Indian women's national football team are from Manipur and West Bengal.
However, women's football in India has not gained as much popularity as the men's teams have.
 Structure and functioning of controlling
body

INTERNATIONAL

FIFA — SOCCER’S WORLD

GOVERNING BODY
Founded in 1904 to provide unity among national soccer associations, the Federation
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) boasts 209 members, rivaling that of the United
Nations, and is arguably the most prestigious sports organization in the world.

FIFA was established on May 21, 1904, by seven national associations — Belgium, Denmark,
France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland — to “promote the game of Association
Football (as opposed to rugby or American football), to foster friendly relations among National
Associations, Confederations, and their officials and players, by promoting the organization of
football matches at all levels, and to control every type of association football by taking steps
as shall be deemed necessary or advisable.”

FIFA’s birth was a result of the growing number of international games shortly after the dawn
of the 20th century. Soccer leaders in Europe felt that such expanded competition required a
governing body, and under the leadership of Robert Guerin, a French journalist, the seven
founding members gathered in Paris to shape the future of the sport. Guerin, FIFA’s first
president, presided over the organization from 1904 to 1906. Seven other men have also
served as FIFA president, including Jules Rimet for 33 years from 1921 to 1954.

Currently, Italy’s Gianni Infantino serves as FIFA president, having been elected in 2016’s
Extraordinary Congress held in the wake of corruption allegations against numerous FIFA
Officials that resulted in former president Joseph “Sepp” Blatter stepping aside and then being
banned from FIFA by its Ethics Committee. FIFA’s general secretary since 2009, Infantino will
serve a three-year term as FIFA president.

Under FIFA’s governance soccer has become the world’s most popular sport. According to the
Federation’s 2006 “Big Count,” the game is played by more than 150 million registered athletes
— including 10 million women — and viewed by billions of fans in stadiums and on television
worldwide. The 2014 World Cup in Brazil was broadcast in more than 200 countries. Inside the
stadiums, a total of 3,429,873 spectators attended the 64 matches – an average of 53,592 per
match – the second highest aggregate attendance behind USA 1994 (68,991).

As soccer’s ultimate administrative authority, FIFA governs all facets of the game: regulating
the rules of play, overseeing the transfers of players internationally, organizing international
competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, establishing standards for refereeing, coaching and
sports medicine, and encouraging soccer’s development around the world.

Among the official world championships staged by FIFA are the World Cup, the Women’s
World Cup, the Under-20 World Cup, the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, the Under-17 World
Cup, the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and the Futsal
World Cup. Additionally, FIFA oversees the men’s and women’s Olympic Football Tournament
staged under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee every four years. FIFA has
also staged the FIFA Confederations Cup, a competition between each of its confederations'
champions, and the FIFA Club World Cup, which was held at the beginning of 2000 for the first
time in Brazil

President General Secretary

Giani Infantino Markus Kattner
THE ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of Asian football and one of
the six Confederations making up FIFA. Established in 1954 in Manila, the AFC is
headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and comprises 47 Member Associations.

The AFC organises the AFC Asian Cup and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which are the flagship
Continental national team competitions, while the AFC Champions League is the premier
competition for Asian clubs, drawing millions of fans to the beautiful game across the length
and breadth of the Continent and beyond.

Led by the AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, the AFC launched
its Vision and Mission on January 28, 2016, in Doha, Qatar, setting out its ambitions of being
the world’s leading Confederation as well as having more successful Asian teams on the world
stage and confirming football as the number one sport in the Continent.

The Vision and Mission is underpinned by the core values of “unity, professionalism and
leadership.”

In addition to developing and regulating the game, upholding the integrity and laws of the
game, boosting grassroots, coaching, youth and women’s football development and
conducting top-level competitions, the AFC also works closely with its Member Associations
and key stakeholders to bring to life its objectives under its Vision and Mission.
AFC MANAGEMENT & OVERALL STRUCTURE
The AFC Executive Committee at its seventh meeting in Bahrain on April 7, 2021, approved
the restructuring of the AFC Administration to ensure Asian football is in the best possible
position to build on the solid platform of stability and unity created since 2013.

In the last seven years, under the leadership of Shaikh Salman, the AFC has delivered an
incredible amount of development in Asian football in line with its Vision and Mission.

To help prepare for the next phase of growth and services, the AFC Administration has been
restructured as follows:

a) The Competitions Division and Member Associations Division have now been restructured
to ‘Competitions & Football’ and ‘Member Associations’ respectively to reflect and execute
the two core business streams of the AFC.

b) Competitions & Football, which continues to lead the organisation of the AFC’s world-class
national teams, futsal, club and women’s competitions and events, now oversees the Technical
Division and Referees Department, and also has an oversight on the operational and delivery
aspects of commercial contracts as managed by the Commercial Department.

c) Member Associations, through the Member Associations Division, now oversees the
Development Department, Member Associations Governance Department, Regional
Associations Governance Department and Social Responsibility Department.

d) The functions of Finance, HR and ITT Departments now fall under the purview of the
Director of Finance, HR and ITT.

e) The Legal, Commercial, Communications and General Administration and Services

Departments complete the Management Team of the AFC.

The AFC is confident that it now has the most appropriate structure to maximise the
opportunities for Asian football to unlock its undeniable potential in the next decade by
working in close partnership with its Member Associations as well as Football Marketing Asia
– the AFC’s commercial partner for the rights cycles 2021-2024 and 2025-2028.

This will allow the AFC to reinforce its commitment to stage world-class competitions and to
strengthen its Member Associations and Regional Associations, as outlined at previous
Congresses, and so guaranteeing their continued success and technical development.
  Member Association
REGIONAL ASEAN EAST
• ASEAN • Australia • China PR
• Central • Brunei • Chinese
Darussalam Taipei
• East
• Cambodia • DPR Korea
South
Indonesia Guam
•
• •
• West • Laos • Hong Kong
• Malaysia • Japan
• Myanmar • Korea
• Philippines Republic
• Singapore • Macau
• Thailand • Mongolia
• Timor-Leste • Northern
• Vietnam Mariana
Islands

CENTRAL WEST SOUTH

• Afghanistan • Bahrain • Bangladesh
• Islamic • Iraq • Bhutan
Republic of Iran • Jordan • India
• Kyrgyz • Kuwait • Maldives
Republic • Lebanon • Nepal
• Tajikistan • Oman • Pakistan
• Turkmenistan • Palestine • Sri Lanka
• Uzbekistan • Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• UAE
• Yemen
AFC TOURNAMENTS
The IFAB is comprised of the four British football associations (England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) with one vote each, and FIFA, covering the
remaining 207 national associations, with four votes. In this way, all five bodies
ensure that Laws are preserved respecting football’s traditions as well as its
international reality. Passing a motion requires a three-quarters majority.

The Football and Technical Advisory Panels FAP and TAP, include experienced
members from the football world, like former players and referees, that support
The IFAB’s Technical Subcommittee in the decision-making process. Actual
changes to the Laws can only be introduced during the Annual General Meetings
(AGM), where the General Assembly formed by the key representatives of the
IFAB take part and which are normally held every February or March in England,
Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland in rotation, as well as other locations decided
by FIFA in years of the FIFA World Cup™.
  National
AIFF

The All India Football Federation celebrates its 75th anniversary on 23 June 2012, with the

legendary Chuni Goswami (captain of the Indian team which won the gold medal in the 1962 Jakarta

Asian Games) unfurling the AIFF flag at their headquarters in Delhi. In the 21st century, the AIFF

has tried to professionalize both the game in India and their own administration. As the AIFF

celebrates their 75th anniversary, it is appropriate to delve into the past and focus on its origins and

functioning in the last 75 years and highlight the men who have served as Presidents and secretaries

all these years.

How it all Began

After several acrimonious meetings and intensive deliberations, the All India Football Federation

(AIFF) came into existence in the summer of 1937. After Independence, the AIFF sought affiliation

to the world body FIFA. So eleven years after being founded, the AIFF joined FIFA in 1948. The

AIFF has played an active role in promoting football, not only in the country, but also in Asia. India

was one of the founder members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954. The AFC was

formed when several Asian delegates met during the 2nd Asian Games in Manila in 1954.

Birth of AIFF

On 23rd June 1937, at the Army Headquarters, Simla, the All India Football Federation was formed

at a meeting of the representatives of football associations of six regions where the game was very

popular in those days. The six regions which attended that historic meeting were Indian Football
Association (IFA), the ruling body of the game in Bengal, Army Sports Control Board, United

Provinces, Bihar, North West India Football Association and Delhi.

Before the birth of AIFF, there was no properly constituted national organisation. However, the

Indian Football Association, the oldest association of its kind in the country, was recognised by

football lovers throughout the country, as the ruling body of football in the country. So the AIFF had

in the Indian Football Association (Bengal), a forerunner that dates back to 1893. In its formative

years, Englishmen dominated the executive committee of the IFA. In fact, the only Indian

representative was Kalicharan Mitra from the Sobhabazar Club. Methodical organisation and

sustained efforts to promote the game in Bengal made the IFA the premier football body in the

country in the early decades of the 20th century. For all practical purposes, it was the national

controlling body largely because the IFA was affiliated to the Football Association of England. Hence

all foreign tours were conducted by the IFA. Also all the foreign teams negotiated with the IFA for

visits to India and matches in Calcutta and other cities in India.

There were not very many football associations in the provinces of the country. The IFA, however,

felt they should endeavour to form a national body. Accordingly, they invited representatives of

other provincial football associations then in existence, at a conference in Darbhanga in 1935. The

conference was presided over by the (late) Maharaja of Santosh, then president of the IFA and

representatives of IFA, Assam, Bihar, UP, Delhi, Mysore and Bombay were present. The conference,

however, proved abortive and a sharp difference of opinion cropped up with the result, the IFA

delegates (late) SN Banerjee and (late) Pankaj Gupta left the conference in protest along with the

Maharaja of Santosh.

The remaining delegates, however, formed a body and styled it as ‘All India Football Association’

with the Raja Bahadur of Darnhanga and Rai Bahadur J.P. Sinha honorary secretary. The IFA and

the Army Sports Control Board did not join this body and there had been a deadlock. The IFA,

however, made another effort to dissolve the deadlock and sent Mr Pankaj Gupta to Delhi to confer

with Brigadier VHB Majendine, the then president of the Army Sports Control Board. This meeting

took place early March 1937 and Messrs Majendine and Gupta drew up a formula which ultimately

led to the formation of the All India Football Federation.

It was agreed at the Delhi talks between Messrs Gupta and Majendine that a conference should be

called by the Army Sports Control Board towards the end of March at Delhi in which three

representatives of the IFA and three representatives of the All India Football Association would be

present.

The conference accordingly took place on 27 March 1937 at New Delhi. It was attended on behalf of

the IFA by late Mr SN Banerjee, Bar-at-Law (who subsequently became the president of IFA in

1940), Mr Pankaj Gupta, who at that juncture was the joint honorary secretary of the IFA and Mr

HN Nicholls (vice president, IFA who subsequently became the president of IFA in 1939). Others to

attend the conference were Mr Badrul Islam (Delhi), HE Brandon (Bombay) and Rai Bahadur JP

Sinha (honorary secretary, All India Football Association -AIFF) represented AIFA. Brigadier VHB

Majendine presided at this meeting as chairman. At this conference, it was agreed to liquidate the

All India Football Association and instead to form an All India Football Federation (AIFF) with one

representative from each affiliated association and two each from IFA and ASCB.

Messrs P Gupta and Brandon were entrusted to draft the rules of the new federation to be placed for

consideration at the inaugural meeting to be held at Simla on the 23rd June 1937. At this inaugural

meeting the following office-bearers were elected: President: Brigadier VHB Mejendine, DSO

(ASCB). Hon Secretary: Major A.C. Wilson (ASCB), Hon Treasurer: Pankaj Gupta (IFA).

The lift of AIFF office bearers till date:

Presidents: Brigadier VHB Majendine (ASCB), Brigadier Dorman Smith (ASCB), D Moir

(Bombay), Pankaj Gupta (IFA), Moinul Huq (Bihar), M Dutta Ray (IFA), Nurul Amin (Assam), K

Ziauddin (WIFA), Priyaranjan Dasmunshi (Women’s Football Association and Bihar) and Praful

Patel (WIFA)

Secretaries: Major AC Wilson (ASCB), Major JB Donaldson (ASCB), EJ Turner (Bombay), M

Dutta Ray (IFA), Major Lachman Singh (ASCB), K Ziauddin (WIFA), Vijayrangam (Mysore), Ashok

Ghosh (IFA), PP Lakshmanan (Kerala), KN Mour (Assam), Alberto Colaco (Goa) and Kushal Das.

*ASCB means Army Sports Control Board. The Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) came into

existence only after Independence in 1948.

AIFF through the passing years:

The AIFF was launched in 1937, but the concept of the national team did not gather momentum till

after Independence. Initially, the AIFF tried to popularise the game in different cities of India.

However, Indian football was quite insular and had little contact with the outside world except for

tours to Australia, Malaysia, Burma and South Africa. Matches were often of only fifty or sixty

minutes duration and aspects like stamina, fitness and endurance were not taken seriously.

With seven barefoot players, India entered the 1948 London Olympics under the captaincy of

Talimeran Aao of Mohun Bagan but lost to France 1-2. Winger S. Raman scored the lone goal for

India. Balai Das Chatterjee was the first national coach. He was in charge of the Indian team for the

1948 London Olympics.

The most successful national coach was the late S.A. Rahim

(Hyderabad) with a success rate of 61 per cent. During his tenure, India won gold medals in the

Asian Games in 1951 and 1962 and the Quadrangular tournament from 1952—54. The most

successful foreign coach was Bob Houghton (England) with a success rate of 55 per cent. He was

coach from June 2006 till March 2011 and India won the Nehru Cup in 2007 and 2009 and the AFC

Challenge Cup in 2008. At present Rob Banns (Netherlands) is the Technical Director and Wim

Kovermans (Netherlands) is the national coach since mid-June 2012.

In 1949, India had successful tours of both Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Afghanistan. In 1950, India

automatically qualified for the World Cup to be held in Brazil that year. In the preliminaries, they

were clubbed with Burma and Philippines, both of whom withdrew. However, India could not

compete in the 1950 World Cup final round, as the AIFF lacked sufficient funds to bear the expenses

of the passage. There were also apprehensions that the mainly barefooted Indian team would get

routed in the World Cup.

In the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, India lost 1-10 to Yugoslavia. This was a wake-up call for the AIFF,

which finally made it compulsory to wear boots for all major tournaments. Ninety-minute play and

use of international size grounds were also introduced a decade later.

In 1956, at the Melbourne Olympics, India became the first Asian nation to reach the semi finals of

the Olympic football tournament, when they beat Australia 4-2 in the quarter-finals. Centre forward

Neville D’Souza scored a hat-trick against Australia. He was the first Asian and only Indian to have

scored a hat-trick in the Olympic football tournament. India took part in four successive Olympics,

from 1948–1960 but since then has failed in all their bids to qualify for the Olympics.

India started playing in the World cup qualifiers in 1985, prior to the 1986 Mexico World Cup. Since

then India has played seven pre-World cup campaigns in 1985, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2007 and

2011.

The National Football League started in 1997. The professional I-League was started by the AIFF in

2007. This has now become the premier tournament in the country. The National team development

programmes for U-16, U-19 and U-21 years was introduced in 2007. An AIFF Academy has been set

up in Navi Mumbai in May 2012, with Arthur Papas (Australia) the chief coach.

The AIFF Bhavan in Dwarka, Delhi was inaugurated in 2004 with financial aid from the FIFA Goal

project. It was set up in 2006 and for the first time in its history, FIFA had a permanent office. The

administration since 2006 has been professionalized. The Constitution has also been amended to

bring it in line with FIFA statues.

 COPA AMERICA

CONMEBOL Copa América is the primary international men’s football tournament participated by
national teams of South America. Until 1975, it was known as the South American Football
Championship. The tournament determines the champion of South America.

Copa America is the oldest running international football tournament. It is also the third most-
watched international football tournament in the world. Copa America is a 12-team event and all 10
members of the CONMEBOL participate. The two remaining spots are filled by inviting teams from
other confederations. Since the 1990s, teams from North America and Asia have been invited to
contest in the tournament. The 2016 edition of the tournament, which was the 100th anniversary of
Copa America, saw 16 teams participate in the tournament. The tournament was held in the United
States and 6 teams from CONCACAF participated. It was the only time when a non-CONMEBOL nation
hosted the tournament. CONCACAF has 41 members and is the international governing body of
countries from North America, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Copa America is organised by CONMEBOL which is the governing body of football in South America. It
is one of the FIFA’s six continental confederations. It is also the oldest continental football
confederation in the world. Its headquarter is in Luque, Paraguay.

The tournament has been won at least once by 8 of the 10 CONMEBOL members since it began in
1916. The only teams yet to win the tournament are Venezuela and Ecuador. Uruguay is the most
successful team in the tournament with 15 titles, closely followed by Argentina with 14, while Brazil
has won the tournament 9 times. The 2016 edition of the tournament was won by Chile. CONCACAF
member Mexico has finished runners-up twice, achieving the highest finish for any non-CONMEBOL
members in the tournament.

History of Copa America

To commemorate the centenary of the May Revolution, Argentina organised the first international
tournament for the national teams of the continent in 1910. The sport was already growing in
popularity in the continent. Argentina, in 1916, hosted another tournament to celebrate its centennial
celebration of independence. Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay participated in the event. This
event, which was won by Uruguay, was officially recognised as the first Copa America tournament.
Later, Uruguay Football Association board member suggested setting up a continental body, which led
to the formation of CONMEBOL.

Copa America 2021

The 47th edition of the tournament has been surrounded by scandals, controversies, and coronavirus
pandemic. Originally, it was meant to be held in Colombia and Argentina from June 12 to July 12, 2020.
However, the tournament was postponed to 2021 because of the pandemic. In May 2021, CONMEBOL
removed Colombia as a co-host because of the protests in the country against President Iván Duque
Márquez. Later, Argentina, too, was removed due to Covid-19-related issues. Brazil has been
confirmed as the new host.
 Tournament details

Host country Brazil

Dates 13 June – 10 July

Final positions

Champions Argentina (15th title)

Runners-up Brazil

Third place Colombia

Tournament statistics

Matches played 28

Goals scored 65 (2.32 per match)

Top scorer(s) Lionel Messi

Luis Díaz

(4 goals each)

Best player(s) Lionel Messi

Best goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez

Fair play award Brazil

Dimensions of the Football Ground
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the international governing
body for football and is in charge of maintaining the laws of the game. Whatever
change or new implementation you get to see in International football, FIFA is the
name that works behind the scene for them. The Football Ground dimensions of the
football field are specified in Law 1 of the FIFA Official Laws of the Game. When you
have knowledge about every titbit of a game, in that scenario watching and playing it
becomes much easier and enjoyable. Many of you might not have the exact idea
regarding the field dimensions of this game and so, here I am with my write-up to
provide you brief information regarding that.
Football Field Dimensions & Measurement
The playing area is a rectangular green field with outlines marked on it. These lines
are boundary lines. The longer lines are called touchlines whereas shorter lines of a
rectangular field are called goal lines. The width of all lines is not more than 12
centimeters. The length of touchlines ranges from 100 meters to 110 meters and goal
lines range from 64 meters from 75 meters. The Centre mark is marked at the center
of the halfway line of the pitch. Upon that, a circle of radius of 9.15 meters is marked
around it. The match starts from the center of the pitch itself.

The most official football dimensions and measurement are those that had been
decided by FIFA (The Fédération Internationale de Football Association).

According to the stipulations from FIFA, a football field dimension should have
specific minimum and maximum dimensions:
– The length of touchline has to be minimum of 90 metres (100 yds) and maximum of
120.metres(130yds).
– The width of goal-line has to be minimum of 45 metres (50 yds) and maximum 90
meters (100 yds).

For international matches the rules are somewhat different:

– The length has to be a minimum of 100 meters and a maximum 110 meters.
– The width has to be a minimum of 64 meters and a maximum of 75 meters.
 Football Goal Post Size

In Football Ground dimensions, Goalposts are placed at the center of each goal line.
It consists of two equidistant posts standing upright to a horizontal crossbar with a net
fixed on the backside. The distance between two equidistant posts is 7.32 meters and
the distance from the lower edge of the horizontal crossbar to the ground should be 8
feet (2.44 meters). The goalposts and the crossbars must be white colour made up of
metal or any other approved material. A straight goal line is created between the two
posts and a goal is scored when the ball crosses the goal line.
 Penalty Area Size & Dimension

The Penalty area is the box where a goalkeeper can use his hands to hold the ball
and is recognized as the goalkeeper’s area. The fouls committed inside the penalty
area are punished by rewarding a penalty kick to other teams. The penalty box is the
most critical area in football where players cautiously carry their game. The Penalty
area includes the goal area/box, the Penalty mark from where penalty kick is being
taken, and an arc on the top of the penalty box which is in the shape of ‘D’ commonly
known as Penalty arc.

Coming to the dimension part of the penalty area, it is 44 yards wide and 18 yards
long in which goalpost of 8 yards is placed. A penalty mark is made with a distance of
12 yards from the mid-point of the goal line and an arc of a circle with a radius of 10
yards from the center of each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.
 Goal Box Size & Dimension

The goal box is another box built inside the penalty area. It is a 12 yard long and 20-
yard wide box inside the penalty area.

Each football goal size is specifically designed to suit the needs of specific age groups
and team-sizes.

The Football Association’s (FA) recommendations of which goalpost size is suitable

for each age or team size:

– 11 A-Side: The 11 a side game for players aged 14 and over commend a football
goal size with the dimensions 24ft x 8ft (7.32m x 2.44m). This is the goal post size
used for all leagues and tournaments around the world.

However, for players who come under under-13 and 14 categories, the football goal
dimensions are reduced to 21ft x 7ft (6.4m x 2.13m).

– 9-A Side Games: The 9 a side game for under-11 and 12 commend a football goal
with dimensions of 16ft x 7ft. This was proposed by FA, introduced to the guidelines
in 2013. This was done as an intermediate step between the 7 a side and 11 a side
games. This is done to advancement from one type of football game to another.

– 7-A Side Games: Both the 7 a side and 5 a side games for age ranges under & 10
and under 8 & 7 respectively, recommend the use of a 12ft x 6ft (3.66m x 1.83m)
football goal post. This goal post is commonly expressed to as a ‘Mini Soccer’ football
goal post.
– 5-A Side Games: On regular, the term “5 a side posts” refers to goalposts that
measure to the dimensions 12ft x 4ft (3.66m x 1.22m), or 16ft x 4ft (4.88m x 1.22m).
This football goal post size is designed to be used on smaller artificial turfs and in
indoor 5 a side games.

Corner Flags in Football Ground

In Football Ground dimensions, Corner flags commonly known as flag posts which
should be not less than 1.5 meters are situated at each corner of the rectangular field.
At each of the flag, a radius of the 1-meter arc is made facing towards the field where
a corner kick is taken. A corner kick is taken when the ball crosses the goal line if the
last touch was not from an opponent player.
 Interchange Area in Football Ground

Interchange area is an area where substitutes of players take place. The zone for
interchange starts 1 meter either side of the touchline from the halfway line and
extends 1 meter from the field of play.
 Center Mark in Football Ground

In Football Ground dimensions, “Center mark” as the name denotes, is a spot in the
middle of the center circle at which the ball is placed during kickoff. A play starts in
every half from the center mark itself.
 Technical Area in Football Ground

The technical area includes the dugout of both the teams where a box is created in
front of each team’s dugout outside of the rectangular field. One person or the
manager or the coach is allowed to instruct players within the box.
FIFA's "Laws of the Game" or Game Rules
Explained
FIFA is the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. When it comes to picking up
the game or teaching aspiring soccer players, knowing these established rules is an
essential part of learning the game.

The official FIFA "Laws of the Game" gets translated into English, French, German, and
Spanish and is an excellent resource for coaches, referees, and fans. I've also included
some strategy tips below. Let's discuss these 17 essential points:

1. The Field
2. Designated Ball
3. Player Numbers
4. Jerseys and Gear
5. Role of the Referee
6. Assistant Referees
7. Match Length
8. Starting/Stopping Play
9. Ball In-Play or Out-of-Play
10. Determining a Goal
11. Offsides
12. Fouls
13. Free Kicks
14. Penalty Kicks
15. Throw-Ins
16. Goal Kicks
17. Corner Kicks

Bonus: Penalty Kicks to Determine a Win

Standard Football/Soccer Field
Izuddin Helmi Adnan
Please refer to FIFA's official handbook. A review of these laws is based on research and reading.

1. The Quality and Material of the Field

Natural and artificial surfaces are totally acceptable for a match. That means that you can
play on turf or natural grass, but whatever surface you play on, it has to be green. In other
words, no matter how high quality, blue turf isn't accepted. In addition, the field must meet
the International Artificial Turf Standard regulations.

Note: Keep in mind that turf is extremely difficult to play on in the rain (it gets saturated and
has poor drainage), and that a field must also have the correct field markings (length,
width, goal box, etc.).

What Are the Markings on the Field?

All official soccer field are always rectungular and marked with 5-inch boundaries called
goal lines, touch lines, halfway lines, a center mark (circle), a corner mark.

• Touch lines: the longer boundaries (length-wise) or "sides" of the field

• Goal lines: the shorter boundaries along the goal-line or "end" of the field
• Halfway lines: divides the middle of the field in half
• Center mark: a circle that intersects the halfway line in the middle of the field and has a 30-
foot radius (9.15 meters).
• Corner arc: arcs in the right angle formed from the intersecting touch lines and goal lines.
This arc keeps defenders from interfering with the opposing teams' play during a corner
kick. These areas are marked with flag posts.
• The goal area and penalty area: lines extend from the goal posts to form a rectangular goal
area, and a larger penalty area is created around the goal box. This is where goal kicks are
taken and it is the area in which the goalkeeper can use their hands (outside of this is
considered a "hand-ball," which we will cover later).
• The goal: Goals are made of a crossbar and goal posts and they are 7.32 meters in width by
2.44 meters in height. Goal posts must sit on the 5-inch white lines.

What is the length of a soccer (football) field?

There is actually a range of dimensions. The length of a soccer field can range from 90
meters to 120 meters and have a width of 45 to 90 meters, but for international matches,
this range is much higher. For international matches, a field will have a length of between
100 and 110 meters and a width of 64 to 75 meters.

Note: Official dimensions can be found in the official FIFA pdf.

2. What Is an Official FIFA Ball?
For a football (soccer ball) to be consider official, it must meet the following standards. It
must be:

• leather
• spherical
• 27–28 inches in circumference (68–70 cm)
• 410–450 grams in weight (14–16 oz)
• and be pressurized at 8.5–15.6 lbs/square inch (600–1,100 grams/cm2)

Some balls have official indicators that they have been FIFA-inspected.

Tip for Indoor/Apartment Training

3. How Many Players Are Allowed on the

Field?
An official match consists of 2 teams of 11 players (this includes the goalkeepers). If a team
is short of players, they can technically play with 7, but this may not make for a good
match.

How many substitutions can be made in a football game?

These rules will vary depending on the designations of the game. In official competitions
it's only 3 and these names must be given to the referee before the match starts (according
to FIFA), but proposals of up to 12 can be made.

In beginner-level soccer, more substitutions may be made so long as both teams and the
referee agree. When substituting a player, you have to alert the referee. The player that is
being "subbed" out needs to completely leave the field before the new player comes on.
Not following this order of events may cause the referee to penalize the team making the
substitution.
Gear: Shinguards, Boots/Cleats, Ball
Tom Sodoge

4. Required Gear, Equipment, and

Uniforms
There are many regulations around equipment, and this is primarily to keep the other
players safe. When I was playing youth soccer, earrings were not allowed, and nails were to
be kept short—so essentially any kind of jewelry could not be worn. The referees would
check this during team "check-in" during which our shinguards were inspected, our
jerseys tucked in, and the referees would call us by our name and confirm our jersey
number.

• jerseys and undergarments: slide shorts or sleeves need to be the same color as the jersey;
jerseys need to have sleeves (goalkeepers need to wear colors that help the referee to
distinguish them from all remaining players on both teams).
• shinguards: need to be covered by socks entirely and need to cover a large portion of the
shinbone. Sometimes, if they are too small, they will be rejected, so avoid purchasing youth-
size shinguards if you are an adult (some players like these because they lead to better ball-
handling)
• socks: if you use electrical tape to secure shinguards, it has to be the same color as the
sock.
• cleats/boots: cannot be metal or made for turf/indoor.
5. & 6. Duties of the Referee and Assistant
Referees
The referee is in charge, and they are assisted by two assistant referees who run along the
touch line; the assistant referees help to call fouls and offsides where the main referee
might not have an ideal view. The referee is supposed to check the players in, ensure that
the field is safe, inspect the ball and goals prior to the game's start, keep track of time, keep
track of substitutions, fouls, goals, scorers, etc. Referees also stop the play when there is a
foul and assist in the management of injured players.

Referees are able to give out yellow cards and red cards and all of their decisions are final;
they can change their decision (like calling a goal when indeed they realize it is offside), but
only if they game has not been restarted.

Note: I've seen many parents and coaches get timeouts for talking back to the referee, so
don't do it. It is possible to be vocal and question a call, that's part of the game, but don't
ever let it escalate.

Playtime and Length of a Soccer Game

Sandro Schuh
7. Playtime and the Length of a Game
How long do soccer games last?

Football games or matches run typically run 90 minutes with two 45-minute halfs; this does
not include injury or stoppage time or overtime. Sometimes games will be shorten to 40
minutes (or below for youth games) if there is a natural event like low low, high heat or
humidity (risk of heat stroke), etc. (For league or tournament games that are played in
dangerous heat, a game may be broken up into quarters.)

How long is half-time?

Half time generally runs a maximum of 15 minutes.

What counts as stoppage time?

Substitutions, injuries, penalty kicks, and major interruptions (like a dog running onto the
field) will count towards stoppage time and will be added on in the second half of the game.

Kick-Offs and Dropped Balls

Ben Hershey
8. & 9. Kick-Offs, Dropped Balls, and In-
Play
The kick-off occurs at the start of the match, after half-time, and after a goal has been
scored. The team that leads the kick-off is determined from the coin toss. They get to
choose either which half of the field they want to take or if they want to start with the ball.
The teams change sides in the second half of the game.

A Note About Strategy

Sometimes teams choose to take their preferred field half/side based on wind or sun and
instead give the kick-off to the other team. This is a smart strategy, especially if the sun will
rise higher in the sky and be in the goalkeepers' eyes.

Can you score from a kick-off?

Yes, you can score from a kick-off, but this possibility is rare. Also, when the kick-off
starts, the ball and all players must start off stationary. The team leading the kick-off can
have two players on the line in the center circle of the field. The ball must go forward and
must be touched by someone other than the original person to kick the ball.

Many different plays can be made here. For instance, a player may do a step-on-turn and
kick the ball back to the midfielders for a play. Or, the two starting players my move
forward in the attack. Both strategies are acceptable.

When is a dropped ball used?

A dropped ball is used when the play is interrupted but it is unclear which team had
posession. One member from each team will go head-to-head and wait for the referee to
drop the ball between them.

The ball is still considered in-play if it ricochets off something like the crossbar, goalpost,
or even the referee. For a ball to be out-of-play, it must fully cross over the 5-inch white
lines making the boundary of the field.

Goal Directly Scored From a Kick-Off

10. What Is Considered a Goal?

The ball must fully cross over the goal line between the goal posts/under the crossbar. It is
possible for a team to score on themselves—this will count as the other team's goal and
this is typically done from a ricochet or some kind of accidental deflection.
Oftentimes, games go into overtime or penalty kicks (PKs) if there is a tie.

11. What Is Offsides in Soccer?

Offsides is a rule that starts applying in serious soccer (e.g.outside of AYSO) and is
learned early on. Anytime the ball reaches an offensive player and both the ball and
offensive player are behind (closest to the goal) the last defensive player of the opposing
team, they are considered offsides.

This is different from a break-away when an offensive player may fairly beat the defender
while dribbling the ball. Rather, if an offensive player kicks a ball to another offensive
player, and the receiving player is behind the last defensive player at the time of receiving
the ball, this is offsides.

If a defender and offender are running side-by-side towards a kicked ball, this is not
considered offsides. That is, if the offensive player beats the defender, the offensive player
is in the right.

What is an "offsides trap"?

An offsides trap is a great strategy for a defensive team. Basically, the defenders will sit
way back into their half of the field and draw offensive players towards them. As soon as a
play is anticipated (like a long ball kicked from the offensive team), the defenders "step up"
and charge to the center of the field, thus pulling all offensive players "offsides." When
offsides is called, the other team gets an indirect free kick, essentially stopping play.

An offsides trap must be executed properly or the defending team will simply allow the
offensive team to have a clean breakaway if the timing is not right.
Fouls
Jeffrey F Lin

12.,13., & 14. Fouls, Free Kicks, and

Penalty Kicks
What is a foul in soccer?

Direct kicks, which are referred to further down, are generally awarded for more serious
fouls or offenses. Serious offenses may result in a red card and includes:

• kicking
• tripping
• charging
• punching
• pushing
• holding
• spitting

Indirect kicks often result from less serious offenses and may result in a yellow card:

• hand-balls
• risky play
• body-blocking
 • blocking the goalie's play
• talk back

When is a red card given? When is a yellow card given?

A yellow card is a cautionary punishment and lets a player know that they are verging on
misconduct. The red card results in a player being subbed out/leaving the game and is
usually given for dangerous and unsportsmanlike conduct. Players can get sent out of the
game for harassing or threatening or intentionally hurting anyone—be it the other team, a
coach, etc.

According to FIFA, yellow cards are given for the following and may result in a
substitution:

• unsportsmanlike conduct
• verbal negativity
• interrupting play
• delaying
• disregarding the established game rules
• disobeying the referee's permission

According to FIFA, red cards are given for the following and may result in a substitution:

• violence
• mean play
• intentional injury
• intentionally using the hands for sabotage
• interrupting a scoring opportunity intentionally
• verbal assault
• two yellow cards

What's the Difference Between a Direct

and Indirect Free Kick?
There are both direct and indirect free kicks in soccer. During an indirect free kick, the
defending team must stay 10 yards away from the ball before it is kicked.

• An indirect free kick must be passed to another team member and can't be scored off of. The
referee will raise their hand over their head to indicate an indirect free kick. You can score off
an indirect kick if the initial player who introduce the ball back into play is not the scorer (or
it has been touched by another player before they score).
• A direct kick can be scored off of and is usually awarded for a more serious offense. A direct
free kick is established in the penalty box.
• A penalty kick occurs when a major offense is committed. For a PK to be setup, all players
must be outside of the goal box. The player who endured the foul must take the PK. The ball
will be counted/walked from the goal-line and placed in the goal box. Just the goalie and the
player engage in the PK, but once the ball is kicked (if it richochetes), all players can
charge/rush from the goal box line.
What is a wall in soccer?

With a free kick, the defenders can either form a wall or charge once the ball is touched. A
wall is formed to defend the goal or block a potential setup off of an indirect free-kick.
Players in a wall use their body to block any shots on goal.

Throw-Ins
Alec Moore

15. & 16. Throw-Ins and Goal Kicks for

Starting Play
Throw-ins and goal kicks are used to restart play. For throw-ins, the team that was in
possession of the ball last when it crossed the 5-inch white line does not get the throw-in—
it goes to the opposing team. When doing a throw-in, the player must:

• stand behind the line or on the line

• throw the ball over the head with two hands
• have both feet on the ground
• all opponents have to stand 2 yards away
• a player cannot throw the ball to themselves
Goal Kicks

Goal kicks take place when a ball crosses the goal line but did not result in a goal, that is,
the ball simply went out of bounds. The ball is placed in the goal area and kicked—all other
players must be outside of the penalty area.

Corner Kicks
Robert Katzki

17. Corner Kicks

A corner kick takes place if the ball went out of bounds but it was the fault of the defending
team. The opposing team will set up in the corner of the field and play the ball in the small
arc that sits in the right angle of the field—this is generally marked by a flag.

The ball has to make contact with another player—this means an offensive player can
stand near to the individual taking the corner kick and the two can run a play.

How Do Penalty Kicks Work?

When a game is tied and the game has gone into overtime—and still the game is tied—the
teams will resort to PKs.
For PKs to take place, there will be a coin toss (called by the captains of each team) to
determine which team kicks first. The individual teams will select their first set of kickers (5
players per\ team). Each team will alternate, so there will be one team member against the
opposing goalkeeper at a time; this will repeat with the alternate team.

Based on the scorings, if the teams are tied at 5 kicks, the kicking order will repeat. Eligible
kickers are only those that remain on the field when the game is called.

Penalty Kicks
 Inside and Instep Kicks

 Instep Kick

The single most important kicking skill in soccer is the instep drive, also
known as the instep kick or the “laces” kick. The instep drive uses the
quadriceps muscles of the thigh to provide the most powerful kick
available in the game, forcing the top of the foot (instep) to propel (drive)
the soccer ball forward. Further, mastery of the instep drive forms the
basis for any number of other kicks, including shooting, goal kicks, corner
kicks, chips, long passes, clearances, volleys, half-volleys and
more. Accordingly, the basic concepts of the instep drive must be well
understood by coaches and taught properly to beginning players.

Soccer players do not “toe” the ball for this main kick of soccer, but use
the top part of the foot covered by the shoelaces. This part of the foot is
called the “instep.” As the soccer ball is struck at the instep, the foot
becomes an extension of the leg, pulled down by the calf muscle, causing
the ankle to be “locked.” (This is similar to tennis, where the racket
becomes an extension of the arm, with the wrist locked at the moment the
ball is contacted.) At the same time, the toes are curled under. Power is
derived for the kick from the flexion and then the rapid extension of the
upper leg at the hip and the lower leg at the knee. Proper balance, a solid
base to the non-kicking foot, and follow-through are essential. (This is
the same kick used by “place kickers” in American football.)

The following learning progression is recommended for coaches teaching

the instep drive:

1. Demonstration of the ultimate result

2. Identify the instep
3. Foot down and ankle locked, toes curled, position
4. Balance on one foot
5. Leg swing
6. Instep contacting the ball
7. Placement of the non-kicking foot
8. Kicking the ball
  Inside / Push Kick

push kick, or inside-of-the-foot kick, allows you to send a highly accurate, short pass to a
teammate. Players use this pass an estimated 70 percent of the game, writes Jin Wang,
coordinator of coaching information at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, in his book
“Soccer Made Easy.” Contact the centerline of the ball with the inside of your kicking foot held
perpendicular to your plant foot, using your foot almost like a golf putter to accurately push
the ball.

The instep kick relies on the upper surface of your foot, also called “the laces.” Mainly used
for shooting, the instep kick entails running straight to the ball, placing your support foot
beside the ball and swinging your kicking leg swiftly forward. Contact the ball with your laces,
keeping your ankles locked.

When used by beginners, the instep kick can be inaccurate, so the push pass is often a better
choice, according to coach Alan Hargreaves in “Skills and Strategies for Coaching Soccer.”
Long passing drills involving a static partner and later a moving one can help you work on the
instep kick.

For long-distance passes or shots, this kick works well, offering slightly more foot contact area
and control than the regular laces kick. Run up to the ball at a 45-degree angle, place your
support foot beside and behind the ball, contact the ball with the inner side of your instep,
and kick the ball with an appropriate force for the ball to reach your target. Lock your ankle
as firmly as possible.
The following learning progression is recommended for coaches teaching
the inside/push kick:
1. “Square up” so player, ball and target are in a straight line.

2. Place “plant foot” about 4 inches from the side of the ball, pointing toward the
target. The direction the plant foot points is important, because that is the direction the
hips will face. Try it. Or, have the player face the target and back of the ball, whichever
the player prefers. Plant foot can be toward the middle.

3. Head is over the ball, eyes looking down, both knees slightly bent.

4. Teach proper motion by first having the player place their striking foot flat against
the back of the ball, about 5 inches above the ground, and pushing the ball toward the
target, following through toward the target. This is a push and follow through, not a
jab. Think of a tennis serve. However, jabbing a one-touch pass is okay.

5. Be sure ball contact is with toes pulled up (i.e.,foot parallel to the ground) and the
ankle locked.

6. Make contact with the arch, below the ankle bone, and follow through toward the
target so the ball has top spin.

7. Have player do the same, except start one step back from the ball—player, ball and
target are in astraight line. This step provides power to the pass. If the pass goes into
the air, it means it was struck too low.
 Trapping : Sole receiving
 Sole of the Foot
Although rarely used in match play, the sole of the foot receive is an excellent introduction for
youth to control slowly-arriving ground balls. The player faces into the path of the ball (the hips at
a 90-degree angle to the direction of the ball) and balance is established on the non-receiving
foot. The receiving leg is then lifted with the toes pointed at the ball. The heel of the foot is not
raised above the height of the ball, and the front of the foot is drawn up toward the shin. The ball
then arrives under the foot and is captured. (The foot is not to be raised such that the ball is
stepped down on when it arrives.) The sole of the foot receive is a very effective way to introduce
trapping to young beginners. For a slowly moving ground ball coming directly at him, all the
player has to do is lift his foot and step on the ball to stop it. For youth, balls which are delivered
too fast will generally result in the player lifting up their foot and the ball going right under it, so
slow serves are important. After receiving the ball, beginners should be shown how to promptly
push it out in front of them to continue playing the ball, instead of having the tendency to back up
and then take a running start.
 Dribbling

Dribbling is the skill of running with the ball at your feet. The player is speeding forward
through open space,
maneuvering out of tight situations and feinting to beat opponents. It is perhaps the most
expressive and exciting part of
the game.

Zig-Zag Dribbling
FORTH & BACK CONE DRIBBLE DRILL

Objective
The objective of the drill is to help a player’s tenacity when dribbling. The drill also
helps improve players physical fitness and turns during the game.
Set-up
At least 5 cones on a straight line at an equidistance apart. Distance may be
between 4-5M.
Execution
➢ This drill comes in two folds, one with the ball moving on a straight line and
the second one with the ball dribbling through the cones.
➢ For the first one, starting at Cone 1, sprint with the ball to Cone 2. Turn and
sprint back to Cone 1. Turn and sprint to Cone 3, back to Cone 1, and so on.
➢ For the second one, starting at Cone 1, sprint with the ball and dribble through
to Cone 2. Turn and sprint back to Cone 1. Turn and sprint with the ball and
dribble through to Cone 3, back to Cone 1, and so on
➢ Once you have reached all four cones and are back at Cone 1, take a 30-
second rest before starting the next set.
 STRAIGHT DRIBBLE DRILL
• Objective
• The objective of the drill is to help the players keep the ball at a short pace, an attribute that
is expected of a good dribbler. This will help their touch and control of the ball.
• Set-up
• 10 cones on a straight line at an equidistance apart. Distance may be between 0.8m to
1.5m.
• Execution
• ➢ The trainer stands at the sideline when he blows the whistle, and he kicks the ball at a
very high velocity to the player standing by the first cone.
• ➢ The player must control the ball well and start dribbling through the cone.
• ➢ Players practice dribbling through the cones with the inside of both feet, outside of both
feet; inside and outside of the right foot; inside and outside of the left foot.
• ➢ On getting to the last cone, the player must make quick touches with the ball and get
back to the first cone at the fastest of their pace.
 HEADing

• In the game of soccer, aside from using your legs, the only other body part
you can use to generate power, accuracy and distance would be your
head. The head is also the highest body part, making it possible to reach
the ball quicker than a player just adept at using his feet. As such,
mastering heading is very important in becoming a good footballer.

• Many teams make long overhead passes, especially during goal kicks as it
gets the ball up-field and eliminates the risk of interception. In situations
where the ball is still in the air, which team gains possession often boils
down to who wins the aerial duel between your receiving player and the
opposition. There are football teams that fashion their tactics around this
advantage and they play what is termed “direct” football, which you can
read up more about under football formations.
•
• In this article, we will discuss the methodologies of heading in different
scenarios as well as the actual technique used for heading a football.
• Defensive headers

• For defensive headers, you want to be heading the ball at an angle away
from your post and upwards into the air. You should never head downwards
unless you are extremely certain that your teammate would receive the ball.
To get the ball upwards, use your forehead to make contact with the
underside of the football.
• The reason why you head upwards is so you buy time and allow your
defence to get ready and perhaps even engage in another aerial duel. If
you head it downwards, it may go to the feet of your opposition and you will
have committed a great injustice to your team. So remember, for defensive
headers, head the ball upwards and away from goal.

Offensive headers
•
• If you are in a goal-scoring position such as being within the 6 yard box or
penalty box, you will want to direct the ball with your head with power and
downwards at goal. To do so, you first need to leap higher than the football
and make contact with the top half of the football. The important thing to
remember during an offensive header is to keep the ball low and to use
power!
•
• 3 Tips for Headers

• 1. Where is the ball going to land?

Study the trajectory of the ball and position yourself where the ball will be
for you to head.

2. Always make contact with your forehead

• Your forehead is the area that will generate the most power and cause the
least pain to yourself. Avoid using your scalp as the accuracy will be poor
and it has a higher risk of head injury from high impact balls. Engage your
neck muscles just before your forehead makes contact with the ball.
• 3. Open your eyes, close your mouth and clench your teeth

Opening your eyes would ensure you don't crash into opposing or friendly
players. It may be hard to get used to at first as its a reflex action to close
your eyes upon impact. Closing your mouth and clenching your teeth is
extremely important as it prevents you from accidentally biting your tongue
or breaking a tooth during a forceful header.
 THE THROW IN

A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the
whole of the ball passes over the touchline, on the ground or in the air.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in:

• if the ball enters the opponents’ goal – a goal kick is awarded

• if the ball enters the thrower’s goal – a corner kick is awarded

Procedure
At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower must:

• stand facing the field of play

• have part of each foot on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline
• throw the ball with both hands from behind and over the head from the point where it
left the field of play

All opponents must stand at least 2 m (2 yds) from the point on the touchline where the
throw-in is to be taken.
The ball is in play when it enters the field of play. If the ball touches the ground before
entering, the throw-in is retaken by the same team from the same position. If the throw-in is
not taken correctly it is retaken by the opposing team.

If a player, while correctly taking a throw-in, deliberately throws the ball at an opponent in
order to play the ball again but not in a careless or a reckless manner or using excessive
force, the referee allows play to continue.

The thrower must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
Offences and sanctions
If, after the ball is in play, the thrower touches the ball again before it has touched another
player an indirect free kick is awarded; if the thrower commits a handball offence:

• a direct free kick is awarded

• a penalty kick is awarded if the offence occurred inside the
thrower’s penalty area unless the ball was handled by the
defending team’s goalkeeper in which case an indirect free
kick is awarded

An opponent who unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower (including moving closer than 2
m (2 yds) to the place where the throw-in is to be taken) is cautioned for unsporting
behaviour and if the throw-in has been taken an indirect free kick is awarded.

For any other offence the throw-in is taken by a player of the opposing team.
 Goal keeping
 Ball collection
The only advantage a goalkeeper has over any other player on the soccer field is that they can
use their hands. In this way, a goalkeeper can control the ball in a way no other player can, but
to gain this control, they must catch the ball.

Catching technique is second only to footwork in making a safe, solid keeper. "Soft" goals that
just slip into the net and rebound goals are tough for the keeper and the entire team to deal with.
Proper training and practice can prevent these.

The Two Principles of Catching

The first thing to remember about catching a soccer ball is always get the hands to the
ball first!. The occasional kick save may be necessary, but a goalkeeper's hands are their
advantage and they should always try to exercise that advantage whenever possible. The "hands
to the ball first" axiom applies to every single technique in goalkeeping.

The second thing is a keeper must have "soft hands". This means they must use their arms, back
and legs to cushion the ball, absorbing its energy and allowing them to hang on to it. When
reaching for a ball, the arms should be extended (but don't lock the elbows!), then the elbows
bend as the catch is made, allowing the arms to absorb the speed of the ball. The keeper can also
bend back a bit at the waist to help cushion the ball. A quiet catch is a good, soft catch. If
the ball loudly slaps the hands, the keeper is not giving enough with the ball. Don't allow the
keeper to take steps backwards to cushion the catch - remember, the keeper should always move
forwards towards the ball.

There are several basic types of catches used by soccer goalkeepers.

• The "W" or Contour Catch

•
The "W" or contour catch is
used for any ball from
about waist height up. The
hands cradle the contour
of the ball, with the thumbs
and index fingers forming a
"W" behind the ball (Fig.
1a). It's critical that the
hands, especially the Fig. 1a (L), 1b (R): The "W" or contour catch
thumbs, be behind the ball
- if a keeper tends to catch the sides of the ball, without the strong
thumbs behind, they will let balls get through their grip and let in easy
goals.
• The hand position can be varied somewhat. For younger keepers or those with small
hands, bring the wrists closer together, thumbs almost parallel, to get the most stopping
power behind the ball (Fig. 1b). More experienced keeper with more hand strength should
rotate the wrists outward, getting more of the contour of the ball and thus better control.
• For balls high in the air, the hand position is the same. However, the goalkeeper must also
take additional steps to ensure they can catch the ball cleanly:
o Jump to catch the ball at the highest point possible. Keepers
must not wait on a high ball in the air and make a basket catch at
the waist! They must get to the ball above their heads. If the ball is
not caught high, attackers can rush in and head the ball away
before it gets to the keeper's hands. Watch carefully for this and insist
they use proper technique.
o Raise one knee, the one nearest any opposing pressure, as they
jump. This provides extra boost for the jump, and also can provide
some protection against onrushing forwards. However, a
goalkeeper should never raise their knee with intent to injure or "send
a message" to another player. The knee is primarily used to generate
additional height on the jump, secondarily as a fender against
collisions. It should be kept close in to the keeper's body.

If the keeper gets their hands to a high overhead ball, but the ball rolls off their hands
and down, they may need to cock their wrist back more to get the hands in better
catching position.

• The Inverted Contour

For balls below the waist, the inverted contour
or basket catch is used. The hands are again
behind the ball, this time downwards with the
pinkies together (Fig. 2). Here again it is
critical for the hands to be behind the ball.
• For very hard, low shots, the goalkeeper needs to ensure
their momentum is forward and their weight is over the
ball. Older, more advanced goalkeepers should use
the front smother technique for these shots (see Fig. 2: Inverted contour catch
the Advanced Diving page).
• Ground or Rolling Ball Pickup
There are several techniques for picking up a rolling ball. For all of them,
the keeper must get their hands all the way down, fingertips brushing
the ground to ensure a clean catch.

The straight-leg pickup seems to be falling out of favor lately, and most goalkeepers use
the knee-bent pickup and its moving variation. in fact, since basic footwork principles tell
us we should move forwards to the ball, the moving pickup is probably used the most of
any of these techniques.

o Straight-leg pickup (Fig. 3) - the keeper bends from the waist, slightly
bent at the knees, with feet behind the ball. Catch with the hands,
then bring up to the chest. Use this save when there is no pressure.
 Watch out for young or not very flexible keepers who bend from the
waist but cannot get their hands all the way to the ground. This is a
recipe for missed balls. These keepers should probably use the
following bent-knee pickup instead.

Also, a keeper should not use this type of save when under pressure from
opposing forwards. It does not allow enough ability to move out of the way if
necessary, and puts the head low and in a vulnerable position as well. Use a
moving-ball pickup, below, to run through the ball or out of harm's way, or make a
sliding save as for a breakaway.

o Knee-bent pickup (Fig. 4) - keeper staggers their feet slightly, one just
behind the other. Keeper bends at knees and waist, one foot beside
the ball and the other behind the ball, catch with the hands and
then bring up to the chest. Although the feet are staggered, they
should be behind the ball and close enough together that a ball
cannot slip between them.
o Moving pickup - similar to a knee-bent pickup, but used when the
keeper is on the move towards the rolling ball. The foot on the goal
side of the ball is placed beside the ball, the other foot behind the
ball. Keeper is low as they approach the ball, scoop with hands
behind the ball and not on the sides of the ball, and continue to
move through the ball in one continuous motion.
o Knee-down pickup (Fig. 5) - contrary to what many young
goalkeepers seem to be taught, this save is actually one of the least
used because it restricts mobility. This technique is only used in
special situations, on long, low, hard shots on uneven fields or wet
grass. It gives the keeper the largest "backstop" for low balls that may
be difficult to corral. Keeper bends one knee; the other goes down
almost to the ground and very close to the other heel. The down
knee should not touch the ground and should not bear any weight,
so that the keeper can easily get up and move if need be. Also, the
gap between heel and knee should be less than a ball width, for
obvious reasons.

Fig. 3: Straight-Leg Pickup Fig. 4: Bent-Knee Pickup Fig. 5: Knee down pickup
 For any low balls, the legs must be kept more or less together and behind the ball.
Opening the legs invites the "ole" goal right through the wickets - quite embarrassing for
the keeper!

Protecting the ball after a catch

The proper position for protecting a ball after a catch is made is shown in Fig. 6. Both forearms
vertical, with hands curled over the top of the soccer ball. In this position it is almost impossible
to dislodge the ball. The forearms should never be held horizontally like a running back
receiving a handoff.

Your keeper should not attempt to protect the ball too soon after a
catch. Too often, keepers attempt to bring the ball to the
protected position before they have made a clean catch, and end
up bobbling the ball, or attempt to make a "catch" in the protected
position and end up having the ball ricochet away from their chest
or forearms. I cannot stress enough that catch must always be
made with the hands first. In fact, if there is no pressure on the
goalkeeper, it may not be necessary to protect the ball at all. If the
catch is secure, the keeper should be able to simply hold the ball
in the catching position. Catch/protect should be two distinct
actions - in fact, they should be two distinct sounds as the Fig. 6: Protecting the ball
goalkeeper makes the save - the first the sound of the ball hitting
the hands, then the sound of the ball being protected against the chest.

Also, do not allow the goalkeeper to bat the ball in front of them and then catch it. They
should be able to "stick" the catch in good catching position right away, using arms, back and
legs to cushion the ball as mentioned above.

Quick Summary - Catching: Mistakes to Watch For:

Hands to the ball first Trapping ball with body part other
than hands (chest, forearms, etc.)
Soft, quiet, cushioning hands and arms
Hands on the sides of the ball
Good catching position - "W" with thumbs behind the
ball or inverted contour with pinkies touching Waiting on high balls

High balls need to be caught at the highest point Legs apart and not behind the ball
possible
Attempting to protect the ball before
On ground pickups, get fingertips all the way to the the catch is secure
ground by bending at the waist and knees
Knees on the ground at any time
Protect the ball properly, but only after the catch has
been made securely