Soccer Facts

In several parts of the world soccer is known as football, or even as American football. It is one of the most popular sports in the world, being played in more than 200 countries. Approximately 250 million people play soccer around the world every year, and it has been also an Olympic sport since 1900. It has also been a Paralympic sport since 1984. While playing soccer, two teams of 11 players score a goal with a spherical ball on a rectangular field with a goal net at both the ends. All the players have to score without the use of their hands or their arms. Only the goalies are allowed to touch the ball in the game with their hands.
Interesting Soccer Facts:
In the early 1800s soccer was invented in London by prisoners who had been punished for stealing. A soccer ball has 32 panels; each one represents one of the 32 countries in Europe. The first soccer nets were made of wicker baskets. Till 1908, they made soccer balls from the stomach tissue from executed prisoners. The USSA was one of the first American professional soccer league, They started playing from 1919 for two years. At those times the World Cup was made of paper mache. The spherical shape of a soccer ball is considered as an optical illusion created by the pattern; they are slightly oval. In the game Players run between six and ten miles over the course of one game, which is the most out of any other sport. Soccer is also a great form of exercise as there is lots of running for good distances. The sport is a good test of dexterity and a great way to learn balancing. Many people consider soccer at its maximum level to be as beautiful as an art form.

By: Saksham Gupta
Content: https://www.ducksters.com/sports/soccer.php