Association football facts for kids
- For the American sport, see American football. For other sports known as football, see Football
Association football, often just called football, is a super popular team sport. Two teams play against each other, trying to score goals. It's known as "football" in most parts of the world, like the United Kingdom. But in countries like the United States and Canada, people usually call it "soccer."
The rules we use today were first set in England in 1863 by a group called the Football Association. Each team has 11 players on the field. One player is the goalkeeper, who protects the goal. The other ten are "outfield players." The game involves kicking a ball into the opponent's goal. A match lasts 90 minutes, split into two 45-minute halves. There's a 15-minute break in the middle called half-time. Sometimes, extra time is added for delays like injuries.
Contents
The Story of Football: A Brief History
Early Ball Games Around the World
Ball-kicking games have been played in many cultures for a very long time. One of the earliest known games is cuju from China. It was first recorded during the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Players had to kick the ball without it touching the ground. They aimed to kick it through a high goal.
Other old games include kemari in Japan and episkyros in ancient Greece. The Romans also played a game called harpastum. These early games often involved both hands and feet. They were sometimes quite rough.
How Modern Football Began
In the Middle Ages, a game called calcio storico fiorentino was played in Florence, Italy. It was similar to modern football. However, these medieval games often involved more handling of the ball than kicking.
The modern rules of football came from efforts in England in the mid-1800s. Different schools played different versions of football. In 1848, the Cambridge rules were created to standardize the game.
In 1863, the Football Association (FA) was formed in London. They published the first complete set of rules, called the Laws of the Game. These rules banned running with the ball in hand and kicking opponents. Some clubs disagreed with these rules and formed the Rugby Football Union later.
The world's oldest football competition is the FA Cup. It started in England in 1872. The first official international match was also in 1872, between Scotland and England. England also created the world's first football league in 1888.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) was formed in 1886. It includes representatives from the four British football associations. FIFA was created in Paris in 1904. FIFA agreed to follow the Laws of the Game set by the IFAB. FIFA joined the IFAB in 1913.
Football Today: A Global Sport
For most of the 20th century, Europe and South America were the strongest regions in football. The FIFA World Cup, which began in 1930, became the main event. It showed off the best players and national teams.
Today, South America still produces many top players. However, European clubs often sign the best players from around the world. Football has also grown a lot in Africa, Asia, and North America.
Football is played professionally everywhere. Millions of fans go to stadiums to watch games. Billions more watch on TV or online. Many people also play football just for fun. A 2001 FIFA survey found that over 240 million people play football regularly.
Football can create strong feelings and plays a big part in communities. For example, the Ivory Coast national football team helped bring peace during a civil war in 2006. They played a match in a rebel area, bringing both sides together peacefully. Sometimes, rivalries in football can become very intense, as seen in some historical events.
Girls and Women in Football
Early Challenges for Women's Football
Women have played football and similar games for a long time. Ancient Chinese art from the Han dynasty shows women playing cuju. There are also reports of women's football matches in Scotland in the 1790s.
The first recorded women's football game in England was in 1895. An activist named Nettie Honeyball started the British Ladies' Football Club in 1894. She believed women playing football was part of women's rights. However, British football groups did not support women's football. Some thought it was not suitable for women.
Women's football became very popular during the First World War. Many women worked in factories and started playing. The Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. was a very successful team. They played international matches in 1920. Women's matches often raised money for charity.
Despite drawing huge crowds, women's football in England faced a setback in 1921. The Football Association banned women from playing on their fields. They said football was "unsuitable for females." Many believed this ban was due to jealousy over the large crowds and money women's games attracted. Other countries also banned women's football for many years.
The Rise of Women's Football
Even with the bans, women in Britain kept playing football. Restrictions began to ease in the late 1960s and 1970s. The Women's Football Association was formed in England in 1969. In 1971, UEFA officially recognized women's football. The Football Association also lifted its ban in England that same year.
Women's football still faces challenges, but it has grown worldwide. Major competitions now exist at both national and international levels. The FIFA Women's World Cup started in 1991 in China. It featured 12 teams. By the 2019 tournament, it had 24 teams. Over 1.12 billion people watched it. The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup had 32 teams and aimed for 2 billion viewers. Women's football has also been an Olympic sport since 1996.
North America is a strong region in women's football. The United States has won many World Cups and Olympic tournaments. Europe and Asia are also very successful.
How to Play Football: The Basics
Football follows the Laws of the Game. It uses a round ball, about 68 to 70 centimeters (27–28 inches) around. Two teams of eleven players try to score goals. A goal is scored when the ball goes between the posts and under the crossbar. The team with more goals wins. If scores are equal, it's a draw. Each team has a captain. Their main job is to represent the team at coin tosses.
Players, except goalkeepers, cannot touch the ball with their hands or arms during play. However, they use both hands for a throw-in. Players usually kick the ball, but they can use their head (a "header"), chest, or thighs. Players can move anywhere on the field. They cannot pass to a teammate who is in an offside position.
Players try to create chances to score. They do this by dribbling the ball, passing to teammates, and shooting at the goal. Opponents try to get the ball back by intercepting passes or tackling. Physical contact between players is limited by the rules. Football is a continuous game. Play stops only when the ball leaves the field or the referee blows the whistle for a rule break.
In professional games, not many goals are usually scored. For example, in the 2022–23 Premier League, there were about 2.85 goals per match. The rules don't set specific player positions, but roles have developed. These include strikers (who score goals), defenders (who stop opponents from scoring), and midfielders (who control the ball and pass it). These are called outfield players.
Players are also placed in specific areas of the field. For example, there are central defenders or left midfielders. The way a team arranges its players is called a formation. The team's manager usually decides the formation and tactics.
How to Play Football
Football is played using a special set of rules called the Laws of the Game. The game uses a round ball, about 68 to 70 centimeters (27-28 inches) around. Two teams, each with eleven players, try to get the ball into the other team's goal. Scoring a goal means getting the ball between the posts and under the top bar. The team that scores more goals wins the game. If both teams score the same number of goals, it's a draw. Each team has a captain. Their main job is to represent their team at the coin toss before the game starts.
Moving the Ball
The main rule is that players, except the goalkeeper, cannot touch the ball with their hands or arms during play. The only time they can use their hands is for a throw-in to restart the game. Players usually use their feet to move the ball. But they can use any other part of their body, like their head for a "header".
Players can move the ball in any direction and go anywhere on the field. However, players cannot pass the ball to a teammate who is in an offside position. This rule is a bit tricky, but it basically stops players from just waiting near the opponent's goal.
Scoring and Defending
Players try to create chances to score goals. They do this by dribbling (running with the ball), passing it to teammates, and taking shots at the goal. The opposing goalkeeper tries to stop these shots. Players on the other team try to get the ball back. They might intercept a pass or tackle the player who has the ball. Physical contact between players is limited by the rules.
Football is a game that usually flows without many stops. Play only pauses when the ball goes out of bounds or if the referee stops the game for a rule break. After a stop, the game restarts in a specific way, depending on why it stopped.
Player Positions
While the rules don't say players must play in certain spots, different roles have developed over time. These roles help teams play better together. The main types of players are:
- Strikers (or forwards): Their main job is to score goals.
- Defenders: They focus on stopping the other team from scoring.
- Midfielders: They help both in defense and attack. They try to win the ball back and pass it to the forwards.
These players are called "outfield players" to tell them apart from the goalkeeper. Positions are often divided further, like central defenders or left midfielders. The ten outfield players can be arranged in many ways. This arrangement is called a formation. A team's formation and how they play are usually decided by the team's manager.
Football Rules
Basic Rules
- The team that scores the most goals wins. If the scores are the same, it's a draw.
- A referee and two linesmen are the officials who make sure the rules are followed.
- A goal is scored when the ball crosses the goal line completely, between the posts and under the crossbar.
- The offside rule is a bit complicated. It means an attacker can't be too far ahead of the second-to-last defender (usually the goalkeeper) when a teammate passes the ball to them.
- Players, except the goalkeeper, cannot use their hands or arms (this is called "handball"). The goalkeeper can use their hands only inside their own penalty area.
- The ball is "out of play" if it goes outside the field lines.
- If the ball goes out on the side lines, the other team gets to throw it back in (a throw-in).
- If the defending team kicks the ball out over their own goal line, the attacking team gets a corner kick. This is taken from the corner of the field.
- If the attacking team kicks the ball out over the defending team's goal line, the defending team gets a goal kick. This is taken from in front of their goal.
- A football game has two halves, each 45 minutes long. The referee can add extra time for delays. There's a 10-minute break between halves.
- Teams can use up to five substitute players from the bench during a game. Once a player is substituted, they cannot come back into the game.
Fair Play Rules
- Players cannot trip or push each other. This is called a foul.
- Players cannot hold others or stop them from getting to the ball (obstruction).
- Players are not allowed to jump into the crowd or lift their shirt when celebrating a goal. If they do, they might get a yellow card.
- Players must always respect the referees.
- If a player commits a bad foul, they get a yellow card. If they commit a very bad foul, or get two yellow cards in one game, they get a red card. A red card means the player must leave the field and cannot finish the game. In some leagues, a red card means missing the next game too.
The Football Field
The football field is also called a pitch. For international adult games, the field is usually between 100 and 110 meters (109-120 yards) long. It is between 64 and 75 meters (70-82 yards) wide.
The longer lines on the field are called touchlines. The shorter lines, where the goals are, are called goal lines. A rectangular goal is placed in the middle of each goal line. The goal posts are 7.32 meters (24 feet) apart. The crossbar, which connects the top of the posts, is 2.44 meters (8 feet) above the ground. Nets are usually put behind the goals, but they are not required by the rules.
In front of each goal is the penalty area. This area is marked by lines that extend 16.5 meters (18 yards) from the goalposts and into the field. This area is important because it's where the goalkeeper can use their hands. Also, if a defending player commits a foul here, the other team gets a penalty kick. Other lines on the field show where the ball or players should be for things like kick-offs, goal kicks, penalty kicks, and corner kicks.
Game Length and Tie-Breaking
90 Minutes of Play
A normal adult football match has two halves, each 45 minutes long. The clock runs continuously, even when the ball is out of play. There's usually a 15-minute break at half-time. The end of the match is called "full-time." The referee is in charge of keeping time. They can add extra time, called "stoppage time" or "injury time," for delays like injuries or substitutions. The referee decides how much extra time to add. This rule was added after an incident in 1891 where a team couldn't take a penalty kick because the game ended too soon.
Breaking a Tie
In league competitions, games can end in a draw. But in knockout competitions, where a winner is needed, ties must be broken.
- Extra Time: If a game is tied after 90 minutes, it might go into extra time. This means two more 15-minute periods are played. Goals scored in extra time count towards the final score.
- Penalty Shoot-outs: If the score is still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out might be used. This is where players take turns kicking the ball from the penalty spot towards the goal, with only the goalkeeper defending. The team that scores more penalties wins. These goals don't count towards the game's final score; they just decide who moves on.
In some competitions, teams play two games against each other, one at each team's home field. This is called a two-legged match. The total score from both games decides the winner. If the scores are equal, the "away goals rule" might be used. This means the team that scored more goals in the game they played away from home wins. If it's still tied, then extra time and penalties might be used.
Ball In and Out of Play
During a game, the ball is either in play or out of play. The ball is in play from the start of each half until the end, unless it leaves the field or the referee stops the game. When the ball goes out of play, the game restarts in one of eight ways:
- Kick-off: Used to start each half or after a goal is scored.
- Throw-in: When the ball crosses the side line. The team that didn't touch it last throws it in.
- Goal kick: When the attacking team kicks the ball over the defending team's goal line. The defending team kicks it from their goal area.
- Corner kick: When the defending team kicks the ball over their own goal line. The attacking team kicks it from the corner of the field.
- Indirect free kick: Given for less serious fouls. A goal cannot be scored directly from this kick; another player must touch the ball first.
- Direct free kick: Given for more serious fouls. A goal can be scored directly from this kick.
- Penalty kick: Given when a serious foul (usually punishable by a direct free kick) happens inside the opponent's penalty area.
- Dropped-ball: Used when the referee stops play for other reasons, like a player getting seriously hurt or the ball becoming damaged.
Football Competitions
There are many football competitions for both clubs and countries. Football clubs usually play against other teams in their own country. However, there are exceptions, like Cardiff City F.C. and Swansea City F.C from Wales, who play in the English leagues.
Big organizations like UEFA and FIFA arrange international competitions. Clubs compete in tournaments like the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League. Countries play for the FIFA World Cup or continental trophies like the UEFA European Football Championship.
The FIFA World Cup happens every four years. It's a huge tournament where national teams from all over the world compete. It's the most popular sporting event globally, even bigger than the Olympic Games.
There are two main types of football competitions:
- Leagues: All teams play the same number of games against each other. The team with the most points at the end wins.
- Cups: Teams are knocked out of the competition when they lose a game. This continues until only two teams are left to play in the final.
Who Plays Football
Football is the most popular sport in the world! It's played in more countries than any other game. In fact, FIFA (the global football organization) has more member countries than the United Nations. Both males and females play football.
In Europe, the top club competition is the Champions League. It features the best teams from the top leagues in each European country. The UEFA Europa League is for the next best teams.
Rangers F.C. from Scotland is one of the most successful clubs in the world. They have won their country's league 51 times, which is a world record! Other very successful clubs include FC Barcelona and Real Madrid from Spain, and Manchester United from England.
Images for kids
-
The "Laws of the University Foot Ball Club" (Cambridge Rules) of 1856
-
The Aston Villa team in 1897, after winning both the FA Cup and the Football League
-
"North" team of the British Ladies', the first women's football team ever, here pictured in March 1895
-
An international match between the United States and Germany in 1997
-
The referee officiates in a football match
-
Headquarters of FIFA, the world governing body of football
-
The FIFA World Cup is the largest international competition in football and the world's most viewed sporting event
-
A 2009 Spanish La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The fixture, known as El Clásico, is one of the most renowned in sport.
See Also
In Spanish: Fútbol para niños
- List of national football teams
- List of Argentine football teams
- List of Austrian football teams
- List of Brazilian football teams
- List of Dutch football teams
- List of English football teams
- List of French football teams
- List of German football teams
- List of Indian football teams
- List of Italian football teams
- List of Japanese football teams
- List of Portuguese football teams
- List of Russian football teams
- List of Scottish football teams
- List of Spanish football teams
- List of association football clubs in Sweden
- List of United States soccer teams
- List of Welsh football teams
