Association football, also known as just football, is an organized sport played by a spherical object, usually between two groups of eleven players. It’s played by about 250 million people in more than 200 different countries and dependencies, which make it the most popular sport in the world. It was first promoted by the World Football Exhibition in 1960 and since then has gained more fans. With all this popularity, there are many misconceptions about the game that need to be cleared up before people can get to know it better.
The sport is played with two legs; the right leg is called the forward leg and the left is known as the defensive leg. The ball is normally played with the goal, which is located a few yards away from the centre of the ground. The object of the game is to score more points than the other team and to carry their opponent’s flag to their base. The game normally starts with a penalty kick after ten minutes of play. This rule was put in place to increase the excitement of the game.
To play football, the team needs to be made up of eleven players. Since the game is very open and free-flowing, it’s played with three lines of defense consisting of seven players each. These players are known as outfield players, wingers and strikers. Each side only has five players in the starting line. The coach can change the formation of the team during the course of the game, depending on the type of game he wants his team to play.
Association football is played with nine players including the goalkeeper who plays the role of the sweeper. There are two halves to a game and during the first half, the two teams take turns to play offense and defense. During the second half, the sides switch positions, with the offense taking the field in the middle and the defense in the opposite end. When playing soccer, it’s better for players to wear helmets to protect their heads from hard collisions or flying objects.
In order to officiate a football match, a referee must be well versed in the sport and the rules that govern it. To officiate a football match, a referee’s apparel is different from the normal attire used by players. The official’s costume is generally white or a dark color with black socks and shoes. Most referees start their game by picking up their football boots which have flat laces and are laced up so that the referee can easily keep them on his feet.
The fourth official is usually the center referee. Unlike the other officials, the center referee does not wear a helmet or mask. He may also not wear any stripes on his sleeves or chest and he cannot use his arm to signal a foul. Instead, he uses his arm to indicate where the ball is or where it is going. To be a fourth official, one must be physically fit and be of good character.