Florencio Jacobo

History and Sociology of Sport

Soccer
The very earliest form of soccer can date back to the 2 nd to 3rd century B.C. in
China. They used a physical education exercise from a military manual called
TsuChu or Cuju. This consisted of kicking a leather ball filled with feathers and hair
through an opening, measuring 30-40 centimeters in width, into a small net fixed
with long bamboo canes. A variation exercise also existed, where the player was not
permitted to aim at his target impeded. They had to use their feet, chest, back and
shoulders while trying to withstand the attack of his opponents. Use of the hands
was not permitted. Centuries later, modern football was born. In 1863, the English
Football Association (also known as the FA), was founded. During that time, the first
basic rules were established. Tripping opponents was forbidden and handling the
ball would soon follow suit. Up to then, agreements on these rules were reached by
the parties concerned while arranging matches, as was the case between London
and Sheffield in 1866, one of the first official matches by the FA. This encounter was
also the first where the duration was prearranged to 90 minutes. As time went on,
progress increased lightening quick. Only eight years after its foundation, the FA
already had 50 member clubs. The first football competition in the world, the FA
cup, was established in 1872 and is still being played today. By 1888 the first league
championship was underway. The spread of football outside of Great Britain, mainly
due to British influence abroad, started slowly, but it soon gathered momentum and
rapidly reached all parts of the world, partly in thanks to FIFA.
The Federation Internationale de Futbol Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris,
France in 1904. In 1930, the first world cup was born. It consisted of only thirteen
teams (seven from South America, four from Europe, and two from North America).
Uruguay, the hosts, won the tournament and became the first world champions.
This international has been played every four years since then and the amount of
teams who can participate in this worldwide tournament has increased to 36. 209
countries fight it out in their respective zones to vie for a place in the tournament.
Brazil have won the tournament a record five times, more than any other country.
Soccer has become a global sport thanks to its simplicity. All that is needed is
something round and light, two sticks, a couple of people, and thats all there is to
it. No equipment, no soccer field, no particular skills required to play. In fact, the
best players to have ever graced the game played like I just mentioned, with a ball
made out socks and no shoes in the poor streets from their respective places.
Players such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and many others have begun
playing with nothing and are now considered the best. Today, soccer is the most
popular sport in the world. There are hundreds of leagues, millions of players, and
countless fans who enjoy watching and playing the game.
Sources: www.fifa.com