2. The contemporary history of the world's favourite game spans more
than 100 years. It all began in 1863 in England, when rugby football
and association football branched off on their different courses and
the Football Association in England was formed - becoming the
sport's first governing body.
Both codes stemmed from a common root and both have a long and
intricately branched ancestral tree. A search down the centuries
reveals at least half a dozen different games, varying to different
degrees, and to which the historical development of football has
been traced back. Whether this can be justified in some instances is
disputable. Nevertheless, the fact remains that people have enjoyed
kicking a ball about for thousands of years and there is absolutely
no reason to consider it an aberration of the more 'natural' form of
playing a ball with the hands.
On the contrary, apart from the need to employ the legs and feet in
tough tussles for the ball, often without any laws for protection, it
was recognised right at the outset that the art of controlling the ball
with the feet was not easy and, as such, required no small measure
of skill. The very earliest form of the game for which there is
scientific evidence was an exercise from a military manual dating

3. This Han Dynasty forebear of football was called Tsu' Chu and it
consisted of kicking a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through
an opening, measuring only 30-40cm in width, into a small net fixed
onto long bamboo canes. According to one variation of this exercise,
the player was not permitted to aim at his target unimpeded, but had
to use his feet, chest, back and shoulders while trying to withstand
the attacks of his opponents. Use of the hands was not permitted.
Another form of the game, also originating from the Far East, was the
Japanese Kemari, which began some 500-600 years later and is still
played today. This is a sport lacking the competitive element of Tsu'
Chu with no struggle for possession involved. Standing in a circle,
the players had to pass the ball to each other, in a relatively small
space, trying not to let it touch the ground.
The Greek 'Episkyros' - of which few concrete details survive - was
much livelier, as was the Roman 'Harpastum'. The latter was played
out with a smaller ball by two teams on a rectangular field marked by
boundary lines and a centre line. The objective was to get the ball
over the opposition's boundary lines and as players passed it
between themselves, trickery was the order of the day. The game
remained popular for 700-800 years, but, although the Romans took
it to Britain with them, the use of feet was so small as to scarcely be
of consequence.

4. Field of Play. The game can be played on either natural or artificial
surfaces, the surface must be green and rectangular in shape. The two
long sides of the rectangle are called touch lines and the two shorter
sides are called goal lines. The field is divided in half by the halfway
line.
Ball. Must be spherical, made of leather (or similar) 68-70 cm in
circumference and of a certain pressure.
Number of Players. Two teams of no more than 11 players (one of
which is the goalkeeper). A game cannot start if either team has less
than 7 players.
Equipment. Players must wear a jersey, shorts, stockings, shinguards
and footwear.
Referee. The referee ensures the Laws of the Game are respected
and upheld.

5. Duration of the Match. The game is played in 2 halves consisting of 45 minutes
each. The half time interval must not exceed more than 15 minutes. At the discretion of
the referee more time is allowed to compensate for any stoppage during play e.g. Due
to substitutions or care and attention of injured players.
Start and Restart of Play. A kick-off starts play at the start of the match or after a
goal. A kick-off involves one player kicking the ball, from stationary, forward from the
centre spot. All players must be in their own half prior to kick-off. A coin is tossed pregame, the team which loses the toss are awarded the kick-off to start the game whilst
the team that win the toss are allowed to choose which direction they want to play. After
half time the teams switch direction and the other team will kick-off. After a goal is
scored, the team which conceded the goal will kick-off to restart play.
Ball in and Out of Play. The ball is out of play once a goal has been scored or when
the referee has stopped the game. The ball is in play at all other times.
Method of Scoring. The ball crosses the goal line inside the goal mouth.
Offside. It is an offence for a player to be in contact with the ball when they are closer
to the opponents' goal than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The offside rule
exists to ensure there are always opponents (generally the goal keeper and a
defender) between a player receiving the ball and the goal. Without the offside rule,
play can become boring with repeated long balls being kicked to a player stood next to
the goalkeeper for an easy goal.

6. Fouls/Misconduct. These are many and varied, broadly speaking it is an offence to
use excessive force whilst playing the game either deliberately or undeliberately or to
handle the ball (unless you are a goal keeper). The referee may show the yellow card to
caution players for less serious offences and the red card for more serious offences
resulting in the player being sent off. Two yellow cards are equivalent to one red card.
Free Kicks. Are given by the referee for fouls and misconduct. A free kick can either be
direct or indirect. A goal can be scored directly from a direct free kick. A goal can only
be scored from an indirect free kick if it touches at least one other player first. The free
kick must be taken from a stationary position with that position varying depending on
whether the free kick was given inside or outside the goal area and whether it's direct or
indirect. The opposing team must be a minimum of 9.15 m from the ball when the free
kick is taken
Penalty Kicks. Are given against a team when they commit an offence which would
normally be awarded a direct free kick inside their goal area. The ball is kicked from
stationary from the penalty spot. The opposing team must be outside of the penalty area
and at least 9.15 m from the ball.
Throw-in. Used to restart play after the whole of the ball has crossed the touch line.
Goal kick. Used to restart play after a goal has been scored.

7. Corner Kick. Is given when the whole of the ball crosses the goal line and was
last touched by a member of the defending team (and no goal was scored). A
corner kick is taken from inside the corner arc closest to the point where the ball
crosses the goal line. The defending team must be at least 9.15 m from the ball
when the corner kick is taken.

8. T-shirt
Shorts
Shins
Boots
Tights

9. Football
Field
Band
Large
Corner
area
kick
Penalty
Goal shoot Midfield
Small
area
Band
Goal

11. Team – equipo
Half time – primera parte
Manager - entrenador
Full time – fin del partido
Player – jugador
Extra time – prórroga
Goalkeeper – portero
Injury time – tiempo de
Defender – defensa
Midfielder – centrocampista descuento
The Score – el marcador
Striker – delantero
Goal – gol
Referee – árbitro
To win – ganar
To referee – arbitrar
To draw – empatar
Lineman – linier
To defeat – derrotar
To book – amolestar
Yellow card – tarjeta amarillaTo shoot – disparar a puerta
A foul – una falta
Red card – tarjeta roja
Give the foul – pitar la falta A free-kick – tiro de falta
A
Give the penalty – pitar penalti corner – un corner
Offside – en fuera de juego A pass – un pase

12. Daniel Vicario