- Cleats- every soccer player needs a good pair
- Ball- whether it is a cheap PVC ball or a synthetic one, a soccer ball is a must
- Uniform- very important if you are playing in a team
- Shin pads- a must to protect ankles and shins
Sunday, March 29, 2009
What you need to become a soccer player
To become a good soccer player, there are some basic pieces of equipment that you need in order to make sure that you can play to your full potential and they are:
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The soccer referee
Being a soccer referee can be hard work- they are not always loved by the team and they are very rarely loved by the audience! But a game of soccer would not work if it wasn’t for the referees.The main role of the referee is to ensure that the rules of the game are followed- they are there to issue penalties, free kicks, send players off and make sure that there is no misconduct on the field of play.
There are also two assistant referees who stand on either side of the pitch and help to make the decisions with the main referee, but they do not get to make the final decision as to what happens.The referee is often shouted at by players and fans alike and more often than not, nobody will agree with his ruling! Yes, life as a referee can be unfair but if you are willing to put up with numerous insults, then it can also be very rewarding.
To be right there on the field of play with the soccer players, to have an influence over the game- it can be the most important role of a soccer game and without the referee, a game could not go ahead.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Women’s soccer
Primarily, soccer is more of a man’s sport- this is evident all over the globe with professional male soccer teams, male fans etc.
But there are women’s soccer teams out there, both professional and non-professional and women’s soccer has become more popular over the years, even though it is still not as popular as the male version.
If you are a woman and you are interested in soccer and there aren’t any female soccer teams in your area, then why don’t you set up your own team? The basics are the same as a male soccer team- you need eleven players for each side, two goals, a soccer ball, a uniform and all of the accessories that go with it for protection.
Why don’t you challenge the men and have a women vs men match? Women can be just as good at soccer as men, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t become more involved if you want to- most men would love to play a game against a team of women!
Women’s soccer teams play all over the world, not only in professional games, but also in the Olympics as well- so get out your soccer ball and start up your own female soccer team today.
But there are women’s soccer teams out there, both professional and non-professional and women’s soccer has become more popular over the years, even though it is still not as popular as the male version.
If you are a woman and you are interested in soccer and there aren’t any female soccer teams in your area, then why don’t you set up your own team? The basics are the same as a male soccer team- you need eleven players for each side, two goals, a soccer ball, a uniform and all of the accessories that go with it for protection.
Why don’t you challenge the men and have a women vs men match? Women can be just as good at soccer as men, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t become more involved if you want to- most men would love to play a game against a team of women!
Women’s soccer teams play all over the world, not only in professional games, but also in the Olympics as well- so get out your soccer ball and start up your own female soccer team today.
Shin Guards - Choosing the right pair
Choosing the right pair of shin guards can depend on many various factors, such as cost and age and material. But one way to determine which pair are the right shin guards for you, is to base your choice on the position that you are playing.
Younger soccer players should always choose a light weight shin guard, fibreglass is the best because it is the lightest and offers very good protection. Defensemen should opt for a heavier, more protective shin guard, midfielders tend to need a combination of protection and lighter weight, and forwards need to choose a light weight shin guard which also offers very good ankle protection.
It is possible to find shin guards that can be moulded and custom designed to fit your leg and this means that you will have a superior fitting shin guard that will offer you maximum protection when playing soccer.
You also need to consider size:
Shin guards should cover the area from ankle to knee, so measure from where the knee bends to 1 inch above your shoe top and this will be the proper length of the shin guard that you require.
Sizes: senior- taller than 5’4”
Junior- shorter than 5’4”
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Creating your own soccer team
If you want to play soccer, and there aren’t any teams or spaces available in your local area, then why don’t you try putting your own soccer team together? This is a good way to exercise, have fun and make new friends!
What you need:
- Eleven players for each team
- Two goals (plastic is cheaper and mobile)
- Soccer ball (or two!)
- Uniforms (optional, or you could make your own)
- Shin pads
- Goal keeper gloves
- Cleats
Once you have all of these things, then what you need is a location in which to play your game, and this could be anywhere where you live- public playing fields, at your local sports centre even your own garden if it is big enough. If you are having problems finding a place, then you could always try renting out an inside pitch at your local gym if possible.
Then you must choose which player will play which position- making sure that you pick the goal keeper carefully and then you should arrange a time and day when your team can meet up at least once a week- remember, practise makes perfect and soon you could be challenging your neighbour hood teams!
How to play soccer
The aim of soccer, is basically to score the most goals. Sounds simple enough, right? Soccer is made up of two teams and each team must be in different uniforms so that they can be determined by the referee who upholds the rules of the game, and also the fans who might be watching in a professional match.
There should be ten outfield players, one goal keeper and up to three substitutions waiting on the bench. The game is then made up of two goals, a full sized grass pitch and obviously the players and the soccer ball.
It is then up to the players on the field to try and score as many goals as possible during the first half, and it is up to the goal keeper to block the opposing team from scoring.
The game is made up of two halves, each lasting for 45 minutes and at the start of the second half, the teams swap goals, so they must then score into the goal that they were previously protecting.
There are 17 rules to learn to play professional soccer, but for a bit of fun then all you need is a goal, a ball and a few players willing to have a good kick about!
There should be ten outfield players, one goal keeper and up to three substitutions waiting on the bench. The game is then made up of two goals, a full sized grass pitch and obviously the players and the soccer ball.
It is then up to the players on the field to try and score as many goals as possible during the first half, and it is up to the goal keeper to block the opposing team from scoring.
The game is made up of two halves, each lasting for 45 minutes and at the start of the second half, the teams swap goals, so they must then score into the goal that they were previously protecting.
There are 17 rules to learn to play professional soccer, but for a bit of fun then all you need is a goal, a ball and a few players willing to have a good kick about!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Soccer ball testing
When a soccer ball is made, it needs to go through various quality control checks to make sure that it is in perfect shape and that there are no holes due to the stitching process- if it doesn’t meet the specs then it doesn’t get shipped out.
The soccer ball is inspected quite a few times during its assembly. First of all, the bladders are checked when they are removed from the moulds to make sure that they do not have any holes or are not damaged in any way.Then the covering material is checked after it has been lined with the backing material. One of the most important quality checks, is the silkscreen printing where the printed panels are visually inspected and any faulty ones are discarded and then replaced.
Once the soccer ball has been stitched together, an inspector will look over the ball carefully to make sure that no stitches have been missed, and that there are no flaws. The final checks are made by inflating the bladder and then weighing the ball and measuring it to make sure that it meets standards before it is ready to be passed on to the shipping area!
The soccer ball is inspected quite a few times during its assembly. First of all, the bladders are checked when they are removed from the moulds to make sure that they do not have any holes or are not damaged in any way.Then the covering material is checked after it has been lined with the backing material. One of the most important quality checks, is the silkscreen printing where the printed panels are visually inspected and any faulty ones are discarded and then replaced.
Once the soccer ball has been stitched together, an inspector will look over the ball carefully to make sure that no stitches have been missed, and that there are no flaws. The final checks are made by inflating the bladder and then weighing the ball and measuring it to make sure that it meets standards before it is ready to be passed on to the shipping area!
The making of a soccer ball
Over 80% of soccer balls are made in Pakistan, and the 32 hexagonal panels are all hand stitched. There are two main elements to the soccer ball, the inner bladder and the covering and most are made in the same factory, but some are made in separate parts.
There are 5 parts to the process of making a soccer ball and they are:
There are 5 parts to the process of making a soccer ball and they are:
- Lining the cover material- sheets of synthetic leather are fed through a press that applies adhesive and attaches the cloth. Cheap balls have two layers of backing and expensive balls have four.
- Cutting the panels- when dry, the sheets of synthetic leather are passed through a die-cutting machine. This cuts the panels and punches the stitch holes.
- Imprinting the panels- the panels are imprinted with the manufacturers’ logo.
- Making the bladder- the material is heated and forced into a mould where it forms a balloon; they are then removed and partially inflated.
- Stitching and final assembly- the 32 panels are sewn by hand in proper order and when the cover is sewed, the worker then inserts the bladder and sews together. The ball is then pumped up to check for quality and then deflated for shipping.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Soccer goals
There are different sizes of goals and to play a regulation game of soccer, you must have a soccer goal. The type depends on age, space available and intended use, and you should always anchor a goal to prevent it falling over.
Types available are plastic and metal. Plastic goals are lightweight and are often used for practise, they can be easily moved but always anchor when in play.
Hard plastic goals come in all different sizes and many have a tight netting which serves as a bounce back practise tool.
Metal goals are used in games and are made from aluminium. They are heavy and can weigh up to 175 pounds and are not designed to be moved around. They are weather resistant and durable, but just like plastic goals they need to be anchored to prevent tipping during game play.
Regulation goals come in three sizes, standard, medium and small. Standard goals are 8 feet by 24 feet and should be used for players 12 years and over, for 8 to 11 years olds, the gaol should be 7 feet by 12 feet and for the youngest players, the goal should be 4 feet by 6 feet.
Types available are plastic and metal. Plastic goals are lightweight and are often used for practise, they can be easily moved but always anchor when in play.
Hard plastic goals come in all different sizes and many have a tight netting which serves as a bounce back practise tool.
Metal goals are used in games and are made from aluminium. They are heavy and can weigh up to 175 pounds and are not designed to be moved around. They are weather resistant and durable, but just like plastic goals they need to be anchored to prevent tipping during game play.
Regulation goals come in three sizes, standard, medium and small. Standard goals are 8 feet by 24 feet and should be used for players 12 years and over, for 8 to 11 years olds, the gaol should be 7 feet by 12 feet and for the youngest players, the goal should be 4 feet by 6 feet.
Goal Keeper Gloves
All soccer goal keepers need to wear gloves in order to get a good grip on the ball, and they also protect and cushion the palms and fingers to avoid hand injuries.Gloves are made of two parts, palms and closures. The palm is the most important part of the glove as it is where most of the protection is needed.
The grip depends on the material of the goal keeper glove, most are made from smooth latex which has the best grip, but some are made from textured latex which offers more durability but less grip.
The better the glove, the quicker it will wear out but most are still usable until all the material has worn away.
Closures of gloves include:
It doesn’t matter too much about the style of closure you choose, it is mostly about personal taste. When picking the right size, most goal keepers wear gloves that are a little larger to give them a bigger surface area. Glove size corresponds with shoe size, and come in whole sizes only, so if you are between sizes then always pick the bigger glove.Make sure that you measure your hands before purchasing new gloves!
The grip depends on the material of the goal keeper glove, most are made from smooth latex which has the best grip, but some are made from textured latex which offers more durability but less grip.
The better the glove, the quicker it will wear out but most are still usable until all the material has worn away.
Closures of gloves include:
- Hook and loop
- V-notch
- Bandage
It doesn’t matter too much about the style of closure you choose, it is mostly about personal taste. When picking the right size, most goal keepers wear gloves that are a little larger to give them a bigger surface area. Glove size corresponds with shoe size, and come in whole sizes only, so if you are between sizes then always pick the bigger glove.Make sure that you measure your hands before purchasing new gloves!
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