Soccer History

Soccer History

I’d like to make this blog entry about the history of soccer and how you can learn quite about it. I’d like to inform you with the past and also show you how much it has grown since then.

There is evidence of soccer being played in China during the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries. People were dribbling leather balls and kicking them into a small net.

 The growth of the modern soccer started in England. It is said that the first ball used was the head of a Danish thief. During medieval times, the old form of soccer used to allow kicking, punching, biting and scratching. The main aim was to carry the ball to a target spot. People grew so fond of the game that they would play all day long. Sometimes the competition grew and got so wild that there were frequent incidents of violence during the game. It is also said that soldiers admired the game so much that they missed archery practice to watch it.

In 1815, a major development took place that made soccer popular in Universities, Colleges and Schools. Football was separated into two groups; some colleges and schools preferred Rugby rules that allowed tripping, shin kicking and also carrying the ball. These rules were exclusively prohibited as per the Cambridge rules which don’t allow violence.

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 1800s as British sailors, traders and soldiers introduced the sport to different parts of the globe.

FIFA was established in the early 1930s, different leagues were operating from various countries. FIFA is credited with organizing the first world cup in Uruguay. The history of soccer is rich with events, development and its growing craze all over the world. You will find yourself amazed as you learn about different times of this wonderful sport that has held our admiration for over 3000 years.

What to do to help injuries

What to do to help heal injuries

If pain develops and does not improve after a few days of rest, consult a professional. They decide whether or not to continue to play. Participation should be stopped immediately until any injury is evaluated and treated properly. Most injuries are minor and can be treated by a short period of rest, ice, and elevation. Overuse injuries can be treated with a short period of rest, which means that the athlete can continue to perform or practice some activities. In many cases, pushing through pain can be harmful, especially for stress fractures, knee ligament injuries, and any injury to the head or neck. Contact your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment of any injury that does not improve after a few days of rest. You should return to play only when clearance is granted by a health care professional. Have a pre-season physical examination and follow your doctor's recommendations. Use well-fitting cleats and shin guards. Be aware of poor field conditions that can increase injury rates. Use properly sized balls: heavy ones are more dangerous, especially when heading. Hydrate: waiting until you are thirsty is often too late to hydrate properly. Pay attention to environmental recommendations, especially in relation to excessively hot and humid weather, to help avoid heat illness .Avoid overuse injuries. Listen to your body and decrease training time and intensity if pain or discomfort develops. Speak with a sports medicine professional or athletic trainer if you have any concerns about injuries or soccer injury prevention strategies. 

Soccer injuries

Injuries

The most common injury playing soccer involves usually areas of the leg. 50-80% of soccer player injuries are affected by those areas. Also, 40-45% of leg injuries involve the ankle or foot; most of the injuries are sprains or strains. About 25% of leg injuries are associated with the knee. The most familiar and that is a major problem injury for the knee is the tearing of the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament). There are many injuries that have an impact on athletes, like heel pain, knee pain, leg pain, ankle pain, hip pain, and much more. 2-3% of all soccer injuries are concussions, head injuries are caused by collisions. 

There are many situations where the collisions are made is when in contact with other players, goalposts, the ground, or the ball.

Sprains and strains are the most common lower extremity injuries. The severity of these injuries varies. Cartilage tears and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprains in the knee are some of the more common injuries that may require surgery.

I chose to talk about injuries to show people how extreme this sport can get. Also, what kind of injuries can occur and how you can get those types of injuries. But it’s also to prove a point that soccer players actually get hurt when you think they are faking.

The Fifa World Cup

The Fifa World Cup 

The World Cup is an international football competition that is played by men and women to represent their country. The championship has been awarded every four years since the beginning of the tournament in the 1930’s. In 1942 and 1946 it could not be played because of the Second World War. The current champion is Germany; they have won their fourth title at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Also, the current format of the competition involves a qualification phase, which takes place over the next three years, to determine which teams are qualified for the tournament phase, which is called the World Cup Finals. There are 32 teams, including the automatic qualifying host that participate in the tournament.

Brazil has won five times, and they are the only team to have played in every World Cup.

The other winners are Italy and Germany with four titles each

Argentina and Uruguay with two titles each

England, France and Spain with one title each   

The World Cup is the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world. The audience of all matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup was estimated that billions and an estimated 715.1 million people watching the final match, a ninth of the entire population of the planet.

Last year, the World Cup took place in Brazil. In 2018, it will be hosted by Russia and in 2022 by Qatar.

Professional Soccer Players

Soccer players

There are many professional soccer players that are from different parts of the world. Some have retired or been retired for a while, some that are newer and some that has been around for a while. A lot of professionals have done unforgettable things (legends) that even if it happened years ago; people still talk about it to this day. For example how they score a goal, their performance during a game, breaking records, and more. I chose to talk about soccer players because they inspire me and their performance fascinates me so much. Ever since I was little I always wanted to be in their position. Become a professional, play in the big leagues and maybe inspire people to live their dreams of becoming a great soccer player.  I chose three players that are very skillful and talented but of course there are way more to choose from.

Lionel Messi

He is well known all around the world. He’s an outstanding player that is one of the greatest of all time and I think everyone can agree. I don’t think he’ll ever be forgotten.  

A fact about him is that when he was younger, he was diagnosed from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth. His life completely changed when Barcelona offered to pay for the growth-hormone injections when his family couldn't pay for it. Since then he has grown so much as a player.

Neymar Jr.

He has shown breath taking skills and abilities. Also his performance in the Fifa World Cup, for Barcelona FC and other teams he has been on proves that he’s an incredible player. He will be talked about for years. 

David Beckham

"Bend it like Beckham"

He’s a legend that everyone knows. Even if he retired in 2013, people still admire him and look up to him. He's truly an inspiration to everyone. I hope to one day "bend it" like he does.

The advantages to playing soccer

Health Benefits

Soccer can be a great workout that can improve your health and helps you stay healthy. It lowers body fat and also improves muscle tone. It helps to increase muscle and bone strength, enhances your flexibility, your cardiovascular health and your endurance so you’ll be able to run longer. Soccer consists of a lot of running, a bit of walking, sprinting and jogging which helps you stay in shape. All these health benefits can make you a better player. It could help your performance during games and practices, you wouldn’t get tired so easily and you’d feel way better.

Other Benefits

There are many other benefits from playing a team sport like soccer. It is generally a contact sport when you play it competitively, like travel soccer or if you’re playing it professionally. If you don’t like as much contact, I suggest doing it for fun, like playing with your friends, if you’re just starting to play it (house league). It can teach you lots of things like coordination, to think on-the-go. It helps to improve skills, concentration, persistence, and self-discipline. It teaches you and promotes you about teamwork and sharing. It is also a great way to meet new people, to be able to play with them and to exercise with friends. It provides an opportunity to boost up your confidence, your self-esteem and can help to reduce anxiety. The sport requires very little equipment, it can be played in the backyard or at the park. Soccer is actually very easy to learn, but when you play it for years and years you can develop more complicated skills. Plus, it’s an international sport that everyone knows and plays.   

               

My involvement in the sport

My involvement in the sport

I've been playing soccer since 2005 and I hope to continue to play for years and years in the future. Throughout the years, I've gained skills and developed them each year. Also, my interest and my passion have become stronger. For five years, I've been playing for different teams in house league (Windsor Soccer Club) and this is my 6th year playing travel. I have travelled in the U.S and some parts of Ontario. I had and recently have the opportunity to play against competitive teams who give you a real challenge during a game. Also, you can have a great bond with the people you play with. I’ve been playing with girls that I could get along with, but others weren’t very fun to play with. If you play for teams, there’s going to be someone who’s going to think they’re better than everyone. The games aren’t just about winning but about team work and the passion you show, but it’s also just to have fun. My first years playing travel, I wasn’t a big fan of him because of how strict he was. But, that’s how coaches are when you play travel soccer. I liked my assistant coaches better than him, but my head coach had very advanced knowledge on soccer which I’ve learned so much from him. I’ve been told some great things about how I play but and it motivates me to do even better, and that’s what can make me a better player.