Your Handbook to Everything Soccer How to, Tips, Tricks, and More! Author: Zoe Tunnicliff

Table of Contents Intro: What is Soccer? Chapter 1: Rules Chapter 2: Positions Chapter 3: Soccer Gear Chapter4 : Kicking Chapter 5: Throwing Chapter 6:Dribbling Chapter 7: Goalie Chapter 8:Defense Chapter 9: Offence Chapter 10: Tricks Conclusion Glossary Resources

What is Soccer? Soccer is a game of speed and strategy along with skill. There are two team trying to score on the opposing team’s goal. Here’s the catch, you can’t use your hands unless you’re the goalie and even then there are restrictions. Do you think you have what it takes to be the next soccer hero? Well even if you have never played soccer before, you still will be on the field soon enough! Get ready to learn all the rules and tricks of soccer!

Chapter 1: Rules and the Field Now that you know what soccer is, you need to learn the rules. Depending on your age you have 5-11 people on the field at a time. 5 players for the younger kids and 11 players for the older players and the international competitions. The field also varies in size depending on your age. In the international competition it measures from meters wide. The goal is 8 yards wide. The penalty area is in front of the goal and is 40.2 meters wide and extends 16.5 meters from the goal. If you dribble or kick the balls past the side lines then the other team gets the ball and has to throw the ball in. When you throw the ball in you have to keep both feet on the ground on throw it over your head. If you kick the ball on the other side of the field pass the goal line then the other team gets a goal kick. This is when the ball is kicked from the goal box on the line. If you kick the ball pasts the goal line on your side of the field then the other team gets a corner kick which is when they have to kick the ball back into play by kicking the ball from the corner. Other rules include offside's which is when you can’t be past the other teams line of defense. This rule only applies to older kids. You also can’t push, shove, or trip another player. You can’t wear any type of jewelry.

Cards Diagrams of the Field: Cards are given out if you do something against the rules. Different cards are: 1 Yellow Card is a warning 1 Red Card is ejection 2 Yellow Card is also ejection One day I was in a soccer game and our team’s goalie had just got the ball in her hands. But the girl on the other team still tried to get the ball. She injured our goalie and got a yellow card.

Chapter 2: Positions Now that you know the rules lets play! Offence: Offence consists of the players who are trying to score on the other teams goal. Players include Midfield and Forwards. Defense: Defense includes the player trying to help the goalie protect the goal. Players include Midfields and Defenseman. Goalie: The goalie is the only player on the team allowed to use their hands. They protect the goal from the other team scoring on it.

Chapter 3: Gear Depending on what position you play from the last chapter, your going to need some gear. All soccer players wear special types of gear to keep them safe in the game: Shirt/Jersey: Players wear this to show what team they are on so they don’t pass to the wrong teammates. Shorts: Your probably going to be running, so if you wear shorts you won’t get as hot fast. Long, Calf Length Socks: These will hold your shin guards in place. Cleats: These special shoes have spikes on the bottom to help you get a grip on the ground. (go to glossary for picture) Shin Guards: This is a small shield you place under your socks on your shins to protect your shins from getting kicked. (go to glossary for picture) Goalie Gloves: These are only worn by the goalie and are used to get a good grip on the ball so you don’t drop it. This also protects the goalies hands from stinging after block a hard shot.

Chapter 4: Kicks Time to get going! Lets learn how to kick the ball! In soccer, there are three main ways to kick the ball. These kicks include the shoelace kick, the passing kick, and the punt. The shoelace kick is used to do a goalie kick, corner kick, cross-field, or to shoot on goal. To do this kick right, you want the ball to make hard contact with the laces of your cleats. This makes the ball go very far and hard. The passing kick is used to pass to a teammate or if done hard enough, clear the field. To do this kick, you want the ball to make contact with the inside of your foot. This will make a hard clean pass that is usually pretty accurate. The punt is used only by goalies to kick the ball very far from the goal. To do this kick, you want the ball to make contact with the top of your foot. You pick up the ball and run it out until the tip of the goalie box. You then drop the ball above your foot then while the ball is in the air kick it very hard. This will make the ball go very far.

Chapter 5: Throwing Even though in soccer you can’t use your hands unless your goalie, there are some important time you have to throw the ball. The two main throws are the throw in and the hook arm. The throw in is used to put the ball back into play after it has gone out-of-bounds. You have to do this right or it’s the other team’s ball. You throw the ball over your head while keeping your feet planted on the ground. If you can throw down the line to a teammate. The hook arm is a throw only used by goalies to give the ball to a near player. To do this throw, put the ball in the crease of your elbow while keeping a hand on it. You then sling your arms so that you throw the ball to your teammate.

Chapter 6: Dribbling Why do you need to learn dribbling? Well dribbling is a very effective way to move the ball across the field without getting it stolen. There are a couple of ways to dribble. You can combine trick into your dribbling to make it even harder to be stolen. To dribble pass the ball gently between your feet while running. You also use the outsides of your feet to turn or start a trick. This will make it easier to stay in control of the ball.

Chapter 7: Goalie Okay, throughout this whole book I’ve been mentioning a word again and again. Goalie, goalkeeper, they mean the same thing. What is a goalie? The goalie protects their goal from the opposing team scoring on them. Goalies need to have fast reflexes and not be afraid of the ball. They are also the only player on the field allowed to use their hands. Goalie need to learn to use this to their advantage. Here are a few tricks to help you save the goal. A ground ball is fairly easy to save. You scoop it up like ice cream into your arms. But be careful and don’t let it go through your legs. How about a mid-section ball? Those are a little trickier but not too bad. You have to chose whether to scoop the ball or “catch it in a diamond” which is where you make your hands into a diamond shape. A high ball is a little tougher to catch. You want to catch the ball in a diamond when it is above your head. While you are doing this you want to put your knee up so you don’t get hurt. If it is really high punch the ball over the goal. Be careful not to score on yourself.

Goalies This goalie is very important to her team by protecting her goal.

Chapter 8: Defense The defense are the players that help the goalie guard the goal. This might seem like the easiest position but it takes a lot of skill. Not only does the defense need to steal the ball, but they need to know what to do with the ball after they have it. Stealing the ball is pretty simple, just take the ball from the other team. So now you have the ball, what do you do with it? You need to clear the field. This means kick the ball as far as you can away from you goal, hopefully to another player. Don’t kick the ball to this middle but to the sides because that makes it harder for the other team to get a easy shot. If you can’t kick it to the sides, kick the ball out-of- bounds. There is no shame in kicking the ball out-of-bounds but only use it as a last resort.

Chapter 9: Offense How about the people that score the goals? Those are the offense. They need to know how to pass, shoot, and work as a team. Here are a few teamwork tricks to get you goals. “Crosses” is where one player is on one side of the goalie box and the other player is in front of the goal. The player on the outside passes to the player on the inside, giving them an easy shot. When you shoot on goal try to kick the ball to the high corners of the goal. This makes it harder for the goalie to save the shot. Another trick is faking a shot. This is when a player pretends to pass the ball, but actually shoots into the goal. When you pass be careful and precise, you don’t want the other team taking your chance at scoring a goal. If you personally score three goals, you have what's called a hat trick! An assist is when you help one of your teammates score a goal.

Chapter 10: Tricks There are many tricks in soccer… if you know how to do them. Here are a few: Head Butt: This trick is done by hitting the ball with the front or top of your head when the ball is above you. Pull Back: This trick is when you use your foot to pull the ball back so that someone won’t steal it. Bicycle Kick: This is really hard and challenging and if you do it wrong you can hurt yourself. This is when you fall onto your back while kicking the ball into the goal. This can catch a goalie by surprise.