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In soccer (or football, as it is called in the majority of the world), most individuals on the field are only able to touch the ball with their legs, chest and head. Arms and the hands are completely off limit, as it is easier to direct the ball with the assistance of hands. Outside of throw ins after the ball goes out of bounds, the players are not able to touch the ball with the hands, outside of the goal keeper.

The goal keeper is the one acceptation to the rules, as they are allowed to touch the ball, as long as they are in the the goal box. This is a marked out box that extends around the goal. Inside this area, the goal keeper is able to touch the ball with the hands. They are granted this privilege because it is their job to protect the goal at all costs. Because it is their one job to protect individuals from scoring, they are given the advantage of using their hands to protect the goal. The goal is so large that if they were not allowed to use their hands it would be nearly impossible to stop the ball.

Soccer is unique in contrast to other sports. The clock does count down having a set time for how long a period lasts. That means to the extent of maybe 20 minutes for hockey to count down until the next period or 15 minutes for football. With soccer, however, the clock tends to go up instead of down as anything could happen in a soccer game.

The reason for that has to be taken into account is the simple nature that the half way point is not always going to be the same. Normally in a game like football, they can start and stop the clock when the whistles are blown. Same could be said for basketball. In the case of soccer, the referee has the stopwatch and thus has to keep track of time on the field.

There is a chance that there may end up being penalty kicks that would add up the time thus the half does not end. Depending upon how many end up happening can make the difference. The game does not end until the last half has been played. While it may seem different, it is just simply the way the game is played.

Are substitution players sometimes limited? Yes, and there are a multitude of reasons behind this. For starters, substitution players are not the authentic player, so there is going to be obvious set backs to this. Stats are going to be different, even little things that can end up making a big impact, like the way substitution players interact with the team. Each little difference between the original and substitution player all add up to make a total difference that can be spotted from a mile away!

If a team has even one or two substitution players, it can negatively (or positively, but most likely negatively) impact the entire team, the fans, and everyone else involved with the team. Substitution players wouldn’t be subs if they were as good or better than anyone already on the team, after all they are subs.

Limits and set backs can be pretty much endless. If for instance a substitution player is needed as a fill in, they could very well be suffering from a weak join, an injured muscle, or a number of any other ailments that they might not feel obligated to report, because they don’t have a tight relationship with the team.

Soccer is an easy sport to understand once you learn the basic rules. Here are a few of the most important ones to know:

Soccer matches last 45 minutes. The clock doesn’t stop for injuries, substitituions, or if the ball goes out of play. Overtime periods last 15 minutes. If the game is still tied at the end of overtime, players take turns with penalty kicks to determine the winner.

If the ball goes out of play, it is thrown back in by the team that did not touch the ball last. This is why you will sometimes see players trying to kick the ball off of the other team and out of bounds.

No one can touch the ball with their hands except for goalies and players who are throwing the ball into play. Touching the ball forfeits control of it to the other team. This only applies to deliberate touching of the ball; if a hand or arm accidentally touches the ball, there is no penalty.

If players touch the ball deliberately or aggressively foul another player, the opposite team gets to take a penalty kick. The ball is set up in front of the goal and the team can try and score.

If the ball leaves the field on the short end of the court, by the goals, then it is not thrown in. If the defensive team kicked the ball out, the offense will kick the ball back in from the corner of the field. If the offensive team sent the ball out-of-bounds, the defensive team will kick it down the field from within the goalie’s box.

Only eleven players are allowed on the field per team. In official rules, a limited number of substitutions are allowed, but most youth and casual clubs relax this rule for the enjoyment of players.

The US men’s soccer team has had an up and down time over the past few years. There have been highs and lows and the sacking of their coach. Hopefully this time will be a learning curve for the players and staff so that they can go to greater heights in the next four or five years.

The World Cup of 2010 was certainly a positive. Landon Donovan scored a great winner against Algeria and they were an Read the rest of this entry »

In her soccer career, Mia Hamm became the most prolific scorer the sport has ever seen. That is saying a lot for a woman who began life with a club foot and corrective shoes. Hamm began playing soccer at a young age and made the United States National Team at the age of 15. She is the youngest ever to make the squad. After graduating, Hamm attended the University of North Carolina and won four NCAA Championships in five years. During her time at North Carolina she scored 103 goals in 95 starts and 100 games overall.

In international Read the rest of this entry »

Soccer has come a long way in America, but the MLS can still not compete with the excitement and fan devotion that exists in the foreign leagues. Part of soccer-s problem in America is that it is not popular; the majority of the stadiums are empty when MLS games are being played. This does not mean the MLS lacks quality and skilled players; there are many high-quality players, and during the off-season they often find Read the rest of this entry »

The US isn’t exactly known for its soccer fans but with the World Cup last year viewership is on the rise. Even though you may have a www.direct.tv satellite package that gets you all the games at home you might want to venture out to one of the country’s best soccer pubs if any are nearby. Here are three of our favorites
Brewhouse Caf – Atlanta: Who would have thought one of the best soccer watching locations in the US Read the rest of this entry »

Although American soccer is growing in stature and status, many of its top players continue to ply their trade overseas in foreign leagues, most notably in Europe. There are many reasons why this happens, but the two main reasons tend to be money, and quality.

Financially, American professional soccer can not compete with the likes of the English Premiere League, La Liga in Spain, or Italy’s Serie A. Even though foreign stars in the USA like David Beckham get rewarded substantially, this is not the case for the average, or even top flight, home grown players. Even if you are Read the rest of this entry »

In order to watch a soccer game and have any idea of what you are watching, it’s important to have a basic grasp on the rules. Here are a short list to clarify any misconceptions.

Number of players
A team can bring 10 outfield players and one goalkeeper onto the pitch. Substitutions allowed in a match vary with the game played. In official matches only 3 substitutions are allowed.

Match Duration
A standard game consists of two 45 minute halves. However, the clock never stops ticking for things like the ball being out of play, injuries, substitutions, etc. To Read the rest of this entry »