HISTORY OF SOCCER
Football or “soccer” as it is called in the U.S. is the most popular sport across the globe. Its history is quite interesting and fascinating in the world of sports. Early history of soccer being played as a sport goes back to China in the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C., during the Han dynasty when people dribbled leather balls by kicking it into a small net. Recorded facts show the Romans and Greeks used to play for fun and at some point it reached Kyoto in japan where it was popular.
It has been said that the early growth of soccer started in England. It is also said that during the medieval times, the old form of the sport used to allow some very ill practices and behaviors such as punching, biting and eye gouging, but the main point was to carry the ball to a targeted spot. The love for the game grew so largely that they’ll play on the field all day. At times competition grew fierce and folks got so wild, there were regular incidents of violence during the game. Even soldiers admired the game so much that they’ll miss archery practices to watch or participate in it.
King Edward III banned soccer/football in 1365 because of the growing incidents of violence and military indulgence. In 1424 King James I of Scotland also proclaimed in parliament – “Na man play at fute-ball” (no man shall play football). Exactly when and where did soccer start are still unanswered questions but you can with ease say the sport has been played for well over three thousand years. The nature and popularity of soccer has to be credited to Britain or today known as England. It was also known as the “association football” with Scotland and England being the co-founders of the systematic play of the game.
18th CENTURY TO PRESENT DAY
In 1815, a major development took place that made soccer popular in universities, colleges and schools. The popular English Schools and Eton College came forth with a set of rules known as the Cambridge rules. Football/soccer was divided into two groups; rules that allowed tripping, kicking and carrying the ball (Rugby) and rules that only prohibited use of feet and any other part of the body (football). It was finally established in October 1863, where eleven representatives from London clubs and schools met at the freemason’s tavern to set up the rules of the game. In December of the same year, the Rugby football and association football finally parted ways.
Firmly establishing the foundation of soccer in 1869, the football association strictly banned any kind of handling of the ball. Soccer’s popularity spread rapidly during the 1800’s as British sailors, traders and soldiers introduced the sport to different parts of the world. Austria and Germany drew it to Europe while Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay adopted the sport in South America. Fifa was established in 1904 and in 1930,different leagues were operating from various countries. You will find yourself amazed as you can learn different times of the “beautiful game” that has left us in awe and admiration for over 3,000 years.
WHY THE U.S. CALL IT “SOCCER”
The world recognizes it as ‘football’ but the United States refers to it as “soccer”. Now how this word came into existence and usage is something and nothing short of interesting because its origin is actually, believe it or not, British. Yes you read it well, British as in people from England who originally started the sport professionally.
On a Monday evening in the month of October in the year 1863, the leaders of a dozen clubs met at a freemasons’ tavern in London to establish what they called at the time “a definite code of rules for the regulation of the game.” By this they formed the FA (football Association). The most debatable issue was whether to prevent ‘hacking’ or ‘kicking’ an opponent in the leg and of course the ultimate unanimous answer was no.
So based on this answer the controversy continued and eight years later in 1871, another set of clubs met in London to create and codify the version of the game where hands are to be used –this led to the creation of the Rugby Association/Football. From this point on two versions of football were distinguished by referring to their longer titles; Rugby Football and association football. Rugby football was then shortened to ‘Rugger’ and association football to ‘soccer’.
These two sports clashed once again down the pipes as they were becoming well known around the world. The word ‘soccer’ caught on quick in The United States in the first decade of the twentieth century to separate ‘American Football’ which is a hybrid of rugby and soccer/football. Now the question is: If the word ‘soccer’ originated in England, then why did it fall out of use there and became dominantly used in the U.S.? Well this change happened as far back as 1900. The term wasn’t widely used until after World War II and the phrase ‘soccer football’ was used over a couple of decades, probably because of the influence of American troops stationed in England at the time during the war and the aftermath of American culture in the region. The British came to not like this term as ‘soccer’ became more popular in the U.S.
