Sport (or, primarily in North America, sports) is all forms of competitivephysical activity which,^[1] through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability and provide entertainment to participants.^[2] Hundreds of sports exist, from those requiring only two participants, through to those with hundreds of simultaneous participants, either in teams or competing as individuals.

Sport is generally recognised as activities which are based in physicalathleticism or physical dexterity, with the largest major competitions such as the Olympic Games admitting only sports meeting this definition,^[3] and other organisations such as the Council of Europe using definitions precluding activities without a physical element from classification as sports.^[2] However, a number of competitive, but non-physical, activities claim recognition as mind sports. The International Olympic Committee (through ARISF) recognises bothchess and bridge as bona fide sports, and SportAccord, the international sports federation association, recognises five non-physical sports,^[4][5] although limits the amount of mind games which can be admitted as sports.^[1]

Sports are usually governed by a set of rules or customs, which serve to ensure fair competition, and allow consistent adjudication of the winner. Winning can be determined by physical events such as scoring goals or crossing a line first, or by the determination of judges who are scoring elements of the sporting performance, including objective or subjective measures such as technical performance or artistic impression.

In organised sport, records of performance are often kept, and for popular sports, this information may be widely announced or reported in sport news. In addition, sport is a major source of entertainment for non-participants, with spectator sports drawing large crowds to venues, and reaching wider audiences through sports broadcasting.

Introduction

Soccer is a ball game played by two teams. The ball is advanced with the feet, that’s why the sport is also called football. As not to confuse it with other variants of football, e.g. American football, rugby, or Gaelic football, the official name of this sport is association football (after the London Football Association). But English native speakers usually just call it soccer, football, footie, footy or footer.

Basic rules

Object: The object is to score goals.

Players: Each team has 11 players:

§  a goalkeeper (also called goalie) who tries to block the shots by the opposing team

§  the fullbacks (defense) who try to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals

§  the halfbacks (or midfielders) who play both offense and defense

§  the forwards (or strikers) who try to score goals for their team

Duration: The game is played in two halves of 45 minutes each. At halftime the teams change ends.

Playing: Except for the goalie and at throw ins, players must not touch the ball with their hands or arms. They can, however, use any other part of the body.

Scoring: A goal is scored when the ball has crossed the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.

Field: This is what a soccer field looks like.

Did you read the text about soccer? Well, then try our quiz.

§  What is 'soccer' officially called?
association football
London Football Association
Gaelic football

§  What does the goalie do?
He tries to score goals for his team.
He tries to block shots from the opposing team.
He controls the game.

§  Are players allowed to touch the ball with their hands?
It is allowed in certain situations only.
No. Nobody is allowed to do this.
Yes. The players can use their hands all the time.

§  »They're still tying.« - What does it mean?
One team has scored more goals than the other but the game isn't over yet.
The number of goals scored by each team is equal but the game isn't over yet.
The game is over and the number of goals scored by each team is equal.

§  Who can be awarded a corner kick?
the referee
the defending team
the attacking team