By: Cynthia Loy

8B-History-5

2007-2008

• Historians have suggested Historians have suggested that fertility rites in ancient that fertility rites in ancient Egypt and religious Egypt and religious ceremonies in the ancient ceremonies in the ancient Near East may have been Near East may have been linked to the development of linked to the development of the game.the game.

• In these “parts” the Eskimos played aqsaqtuk, soccer on ice. In these “parts” the Eskimos played aqsaqtuk, soccer on ice. Instead of using air and rubber, the stuffed their soccer balls Instead of using air and rubber, the stuffed their soccer balls with grass, caribou hair, and moss. One legend told, tells of with grass, caribou hair, and moss. One legend told, tells of two villages playing against each other with goals ten miles two villages playing against each other with goals ten miles apart. There is no known date of origin. apart. There is no known date of origin.

• In the early 1600s, the American In the early 1600s, the American Indians played a game called Indians played a game called pasuckuakohowog, meaning "they pasuckuakohowog, meaning "they gather to play ball with the foot." gather to play ball with the foot." Beaches, a half mile wide with Beaches, a half mile wide with goals 1 mile apart, served as goals 1 mile apart, served as playing fields for as many as 1000 playing fields for as many as 1000 people at a time. Games were people at a time. Games were rough and often resulted in broken rough and often resulted in broken bones, but no one could be bones, but no one could be identified because players identified because players disguised themselves with disguised themselves with ornaments and war paint making ornaments and war paint making retaliation close to impossible. It retaliation close to impossible. It was common for games to be was common for games to be carried over from one day to the carried over from one day to the next, with a celebratory feast next, with a celebratory feast following the conclusion of the following the conclusion of the match.match. Now, over 6,000,000 kids Now, over 6,000,000 kids enjoy this ecentric game!enjoy this ecentric game!

• The creation of the rubber ball The creation of the rubber ball occurred in Mexico and Central occurred in Mexico and Central America. These people played America. These people played games on a recessed court games on a recessed court shaped like a capital "I". The shaped like a capital "I". The court was 40-50 feet long with court was 40-50 feet long with vertical walls several feet high. vertical walls several feet high. In the middle of each wall was a In the middle of each wall was a mounted stone or wooden ring mounted stone or wooden ring and the object was to project and the object was to project the hard rubber ball through the the hard rubber ball through the ring.ring.

The earliest mentioned form The earliest mentioned form of soccer that researchers of soccer that researchers have found is a game that have found is a game that involves balls made of involves balls made of animal skin kicked through animal skin kicked through a gap in a net stretched a gap in a net stretched between poles 30 feet between poles 30 feet high. Records indicate that high. Records indicate that tsu chu was played as a tsu chu was played as a part of the Emperor's part of the Emperor's birthday celebration. The birthday celebration. The Chinese also played some Chinese also played some form of the game to train form of the game to train soldiers during the Ts'in soldiers during the Ts'in Dynasty (255 BC-206 BC). Dynasty (255 BC-206 BC). According to records, tsu According to records, tsu chu was also played chu was also played extensively during the Han extensively during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).

• Pacific Pacific Island Island inhabitants inhabitants were early were early to develop to develop games games using using hands and hands and feet. They feet. They used used coconuts, coconuts, oranges oranges and pig and pig bladders bladders as balls.as balls.

• One story speaks of using One story speaks of using an enemy's skull as a ball; an enemy's skull as a ball; another tells of a village another tells of a village defeating a Roman team defeating a Roman team and running them out of and running them out of town in 217 AD. town in 217 AD. Nonetheless, the history of Nonetheless, the history of the game in England during the game in England during the 5th-11th centuries is the 5th-11th centuries is vague. By the 12th century, vague. By the 12th century, the game had become a the game had become a violent mob sport with no violent mob sport with no rules and any sort of rules and any sort of behavior condoned. Formal behavior condoned. Formal rules of today's game were rules of today's game were adopted in England in 1863.adopted in England in 1863.

Soccer?...Gory?Soccer?...Gory?

• Some say soccer was from the Some say soccer was from the Romans, who used their Romans, who used their enemies head as ball enemies head as ball

• It is also said that it came from It is also said that it came from South America where they used South America where they used anything as a ball, including anything as a ball, including people and the loser would be people and the loser would be sacrificed and sometimes the sacrificed and sometimes the winner. winner.

• The only documented reference The only documented reference to the origin of soccer is from to the origin of soccer is from the observations of Herodotus the observations of Herodotus who describes a game played who describes a game played by soldiers where the defeated by soldiers where the defeated team captain's head would be team captain's head would be severed, dipped in melted severed, dipped in melted rubber, and used for the play of rubber, and used for the play of the rematch.the rematch.

• Its not just England that calls Its not just England that calls soccer football. The game is soccer football. The game is called "football" everywhere in called "football" everywhere in the world except the US. It's the world except the US. It's probably to do with the fact probably to do with the fact that the USA has its own game that the USA has its own game It decided to call football It decided to call football (although the ball rarely (although the ball rarely touches the players feet), so touches the players feet), so as not to get confused as not to get confused Americans may have made up Americans may have made up their own word. If you look at their own word. If you look at the names of the official ruling the names of the official ruling bodies for the sport around the bodies for the sport around the world they all refer to it as world they all refer to it as football (FIFA,UEFA,FA,etc) football (FIFA,UEFA,FA,etc)

•

• Actually in Italy, which had tons Actually in Italy, which had tons of success internationally & of success internationally & more locally on the European more locally on the European landscape, the word they use is landscape, the word they use is not football but in English not football but in English translation it literally means translation it literally means "kicks" or "kickball". So the USA "kicks" or "kickball". So the USA is not entirely alone on that is not entirely alone on that matter. Regarding the acronyms matter. Regarding the acronyms such as (FIFA) that include such as (FIFA) that include football, it is only partially true. football, it is only partially true. Because so many countries call Because so many countries call it football or for the it football or for the latinos/portugese/hispanics latinos/portugese/hispanics "futbol"! just because a word is "futbol"! just because a word is used frequently doesn’t always used frequently doesn’t always mean its accurate. In all fairness mean its accurate. In all fairness perhaps the best word to perhaps the best word to describe the sport would be describe the sport would be KICKBALL, because after all in KICKBALL, because after all in soccer there’s always kicking, soccer there’s always kicking, and one can use more than just and one can use more than just his foot, knees, head, chest etc: his foot, knees, head, chest etc: even the goalkeeper caneven the goalkeeper can use use his hands to block or throw.his hands to block or throw.

Soccer was once illegal!Soccer was once illegal!

• During, the 12During, the 12thth century. English soccer wasn’t the “game of century. English soccer wasn’t the “game of fun” we know now. Soccer was a mob sport that had no rules fun” we know now. Soccer was a mob sport that had no rules or regulations; injuries were prevalent. The number of injuries or regulations; injuries were prevalent. The number of injuries from this sport led to several monarchs banning it. Even from this sport led to several monarchs banning it. Even today fan violence (hooliganism) is so rampant that larger today fan violence (hooliganism) is so rampant that larger stadiums (England) have jails and courts built into them for stadiums (England) have jails and courts built into them for processing rioting fans.processing rioting fans.

In America

• 1620American folklore asserts that Pilgrim Fathers, upon settling at Plymouth Rock found American Indians along the Massachusetts coast playing a form of soccer. The Indians called it "Pasuckquakkohwog," which means "they gather to play football."

• 1820Many American colleges played soccer, but there was no intercollegiate competition. Rules were casual and changed often.

• 1862The Oneidas of Boston, the first organized soccer club in America, were formed by Gerritt Miller Smith. The Oneidas were undefeated from 1862-65. A monument now stands in Boston Common, where the Oneidas played their home matches.

• 1865-1876Soccer was initiated as an organized college sport in the USA in the years following the Civil War. Princeton and Rutgers Universities engaged in the first intercollegiate soccer match November 6, 1876, in New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers won the match 6-4. The game was more similar to both rugby and soccer than gridiron football.

• 1876-1880Thousands of British immigrants arrived in the metropolitan areas of the East, Midwest and Pacific Coast. Communities with textile mills, shipyards, quarries or mines also had soccer teams among its immigrant population, a pattern occurring all over the world during the time of the Industrial Revolution

• 1884The American Football Association was organized in Newark, NJ, uniting the numerous metropolitan area enclaves of the East to maintain uniformity in the interpretation of rules and provide an orderly and stable growth of soccer in America.

• 1885-1886The U.S. and Canada played a game a year against each other, representing the first "international" soccer games to take place outside of the British Isles.

• 1904The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was formed in Paris on May 21. Charter members included: France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The International Board, the authority over the rules and their interpretation continued under the jurisdiction of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, even though they were not affiliated with FIFA. The Olympic Games of 1904 in St. Louis included soccer as an official Olympic sport where club teams competed under the national team banner. FIFA did not become active in Olympic soccer until 1908.

• 19131913FIFA became a member of the International Board, increasing their influence on the interpretation of rules. The FIFA became a member of the International Board, increasing their influence on the interpretation of rules. The United States Football Association (USFA) was granted provisional membership by FIFA on August 15.United States Football Association (USFA) was granted provisional membership by FIFA on August 15.

• 19141914The United States Football Association (USFA) was incorporated under the laws of the state of New York, May The United States Football Association (USFA) was incorporated under the laws of the state of New York, May 30, and was granted full membership in FIFA at the annual congress at Oslo, Norway, June 24.30, and was granted full membership in FIFA at the annual congress at Oslo, Norway, June 24.

• 19161916The first United States Football Association (USFA) Men's National Team traveled to Norway and Sweden. The The first United States Football Association (USFA) Men's National Team traveled to Norway and Sweden. The Americans played six matches on this tour, finishing 3-1-2.Americans played six matches on this tour, finishing 3-1-2.

• 19191919Bethlehem Steel (PA) became the first American professional team to play in Europe when they toured Sweden. Bethlehem Steel (PA) became the first American professional team to play in Europe when they toured Sweden.

• 19211921The original American Soccer League (ASL) began. Franchises were granted to Fall River (MA), Philadelphia, The original American Soccer League (ASL) began. Franchises were granted to Fall River (MA), Philadelphia, Jersey City Celtics, Todd Shipyard of Brooklyn, New York FC, Falco FC of Holyoke (MA), and JP Coats of Jersey City Celtics, Todd Shipyard of Brooklyn, New York FC, Falco FC of Holyoke (MA), and JP Coats of Pawtucket (RI).Pawtucket (RI).

• 19231923The world's first indoor soccer league with 11-a-side teams on a full-sized field opened the winter season at the The world's first indoor soccer league with 11-a-side teams on a full-sized field opened the winter season at the Commonwealth Calvary Armory in Boston.Commonwealth Calvary Armory in Boston.

• 19301930The USA was one of 13 nations to compete in the first FIFA World Cup competition in Montevideo, Uruguay. The USA was one of 13 nations to compete in the first FIFA World Cup competition in Montevideo, Uruguay. Bert Patenaude (Fall River, MA) was the third leading scorer of the U.S. team was the third-leading scorer in the (Fall River, MA) was the third leading scorer of the U.S. team was the third-leading scorer in the tournament. He also was the first player to tally three goals in a World Cup match. At the first World Cup, tournament. He also was the first player to tally three goals in a World Cup match. At the first World Cup, 90,000 electrified fans watched as Argentina beat the US in the semi-final.  The United States team, who was 90,000 electrified fans watched as Argentina beat the US in the semi-final.  The United States team, who was favored to win, finished third overall.favored to win, finished third overall.

• 19321932At the 10th Olympiad in Los Angeles, soccer was eliminated due to a controversy between FIFA and the IOC At the 10th Olympiad in Los Angeles, soccer was eliminated due to a controversy between FIFA and the IOC over the definition of amateur and the reluctance of most of the strong soccer countries to travel to California over the definition of amateur and the reluctance of most of the strong soccer countries to travel to California because of the expense involved.because of the expense involved.

• 19331933The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), governing body of college athletics in the United States, The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), governing body of college athletics in the United States, released their official rulebook covering all intercollegiate soccer in the United States.released their official rulebook covering all intercollegiate soccer in the United States.

• 19411941The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) was organized  by 10 coaches attending the The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) was organized  by 10 coaches attending the annual meeting of the intercollegiate Soccer Football Association of America in New York.annual meeting of the intercollegiate Soccer Football Association of America in New York.

• 19451945The USFA changed its name to United States Soccer Football Association (USSFA).The USFA changed its name to United States Soccer Football Association (USSFA).

To play this game well requires a mastery of foot skills. Imagine trying to write, drive, or cook with your feet and you can see the challenge. Because there are no

timeouts and few set plays, the game requires a constant creativity that has earned it the moniker: "the beautiful game". It can be played in bare feet or on any surface, though level grass is best; all that is needed is a ball and desire. Soccer is played in

the street, on the beach, on basketball courts, In 100,000 seat stadiums, by millionaires… It’s simplicity and ease of enjoyment have made it the second most

popular sport in America!

Soccer….Hard?!