Football

INTRODUCTION
ootball as well
as rugby and soccer are believed to have
descended from the ancient
Greek game of harpaston.
Harpaston is mentioned frequently in classical literature,
where it is often referred to as a "very rough and brutal The
game."
rules of this ancient sport
when a player would cross a
were quite simple: Points were awarded 6 0
goal line by either kicking the ball,
running with it across the goal line, or throwing it across the line to
another player. The other team's objective was simply to stop them bby
any means possible. There was no specific field length, no side line
boundaries,
no specified number of
players per team, only a glaring
lack of rules.
Most modern versions of football are believed to have
originated from England in the twelfth century. The
game became so popular in England that the kings of that time (Henry II and Henry IV) actually banned
football. They believed that football was taking away interest from the traditional of such as
sports England,
fencing and archery. Despite royal edicts banning the game from time to time, football remained popular until
the early 19th century. Different forms of the game soon developed at the various English public schools,
including Rugby, Eton, and Harrow. Eventually, two main games emerged. One was primarily a kicking game,
which later became association football, or soccer; the other (dating from 1823) was football as
in which carrying the ball and tackling were permitted.
played at Rugby,
The first description of a football match in England was written by William
records that while visiting London he noticed that "after dinner all the youths
FitzStephen in about 1170. He
of the city goes out into the fields
for the very popular game of ball." He pointed out
that every trade had their own football team. "The elders, the
fathers, and the men of wealth come on horseback to view the contests of their juniors, and in their fashion sport
with the young men; and there seems to be aroused in these elders a
stirring of natural heat by viewing so much
activity and by participation in the joys of unrestrained youth."
An International football match for the first time was played between England and Scotland. Considering the
growing popularity of the game, delegates from 7 nations met on May 21, 1904 to form the Federation
International de Football Association (FIFA). FIFA organised the world Football
in 1930 at MONTE VIDEO and the Olympic champion
championship for the first time
Uruguay lifted the JULESRIMET TROPHY named after
the President of the FIFA.
 GENERAL RULES
a ball in
the goal post. The
each try to s c o r e by kicking
Two teams of eleven plavers and recttangular
in
shape,
1 5 team sport.
a

on either natural or artificial surfaces,

the surface must be green touch lines and the iwo
s played are called
a goalpost at each end. The two long
sides of the rectangle some rules in
nere is Following a r e
field is divided in half by the halfway line.
Sides are called goal lines. The
orter
football. The half time
of 45 minutes each.
of the Game: The game is played in 2 halves consisting time is allowed to
Duration discretion of the referee
more
interval must not exceed m o r e than 15 minutes. At the attention of injured
substitutions or care and
for
COmpensate any during play, e.g., due to
stoppage
players. A kick-off
of the match or after a goal.
2. Start or Play: A kick-o1f starts play at the start
Restart of must be in
from the centre spot. All players
involves one player kicking the ball, from stationary, forward
the team which loses the toss a r e awarded the
their own half prior to kick-off. A coin is tossed pre-game, allowed to choose which direction they
kick-off to start the game whilst the team that win the toss are
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.
3. Method of Scoring: The ball crosses the goal line inside the goal mouth. The team scoring highest
If no goal or an
number of goals by kicking
or the ball into the opponent's goal wins the game.
heading
equal number of goals are scored, the game shall be termed as draw
4. 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. Teams must have one goal-keeper, defenders, mid-
fielders and forwards.
5. 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.
6. 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.. If a player is declared offside, the referee shall award an
indirect free kick, which shall be taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the
offside occurred, unless the offence is committed by a player in his opponent's goal area. In this case,
the free kick shall be taken from a point anywhere within the half of the goal area in which offence took
place.
7. Free Kicks: Are given by the referee for fouls and misconduct. A free kick can either be direet or indirect.
A goal can be seored 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.
8. 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
 33
keeper). Thereferee may show
TOr the vellow card to caution
more serious offences players for less serious
card. A foul is enforced resulting in the plaver being sent off. Two yellow cards offences
are
a
Kicks or attempts to
when a player in a team
commits any of the following equivalen
kick
opponent
an o
Jumps at an opponent
Charges an opponent from behind
an
s opponent, i.e.,
Holds an opponent with attempting to throw the opponent by the use of legs or by stopping him
or
any part of the body
Pushes an
opponent with hand or any part of arm
Charges an
opponent in a violent or
Strike dangerous manner
an
opponent before the ball.
9. Ball: Ball must be
spherical, made of leather (or similar) 68-70 cm in circumference and of a certain
pressure.
10. Equipment: Players must wear a
jersey, shorts, stockings, shin
11. Players not
allowed to handle the ball with hands.
are guards and footwear.
Hands are used to throw the ball They are allowed only to kick or head the ball.
into ground when it is out of
12. Only goal-keepers could handle the ground during the match.
ball with hand inside penalty box (save a
goal or set ball for a
13. Substitution: To replace a player with a substitute, the following conditions must be observed: kick)
The referee must be informed
before any proposed substitution
The substitute only enters the is made
field of play after the player being replaced has left and after
a signal from the
referee. receiving
The substitute only enters the
field of play at the halfway line and during a
The substituted player takes no further stoppage in the match.
part in the match.
All substitutes are
subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referee, whether called upon to play
or not.

SPECIFICATIONS
1. Shape of the playfield =
Rectangular and marked with lines and must be green
2. The length of the playfield = Minimum 100 m, maximum 120 m
3. The breadth of the playfield = Minimum 45 m, Maximum 90 m

4. The dimensions of the

playfield in international
matches = Max. 110 m x 75 m (120 yards x 80 yards)
5. Circumference of football = 27" to 28"
6. Weight of football = 14 to 16 ounces
7. Number of players in a team = 11 + 7 (extra) = 18 players
8. Number of players to be
substituted in one match
9. Duration of match = 45-45 min (2 halves)
10. Interval of match = 5 or 10 minutes

11. Officials for match = 4 (1 referee, 2 linesmen, 1 table official)

12. = 2.44 mn
Height of goalpost
13. Height of corner flag = 5 feet
 FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
T e are many different skills involved in the game off football, The skills can be broadly broken down into
a t involve Gaining Possession, Maintaining Possession, Releasing Possession and Contesting Fossession.
The following are
important skills that help maintain the possession.
assing: Passing involves giving the ball to a teammate. There are different kinds of passes. The key
elements of any pass include
Seethe target.
Approach the ball.
Plant and position of support, or non-kicking foot (the toe of the non-kicking foot should be pointed in
the direction the player wants the ball to
go).
Look at the ball, holding the head steady.
Contact the correct area of the ball with locked ankle.
For instep and outside of foot pass, the toes are pointed down and contact is on the top of the foot.
For inside of the foot pass, toes are pointed up.
Follow-through: kick "through the ball," following through toward the target.
Transfer the weight forward.
2. Receiving: Receiving a ball on the ground is different than receiving a ball in the air. Receiving the ball
in the air is a skill that involves six major phases:
(a) Keeping your eye on the ball.
(6) Reading the flight, speed and direction of the ball.
(c) Deciding which body part will control the ball (foot, thigh, chest or head).
d) Getting the body in line with the direction of the ball.
(e) Preparing to receive the ball by presenting the body part to the ball.
(n Cushioning the ball with the body part to slow it down and preparing for the next touch
3. Shooting: Shooting uses the same technical elements as passing, with the important difference being
that the goal is to pass the ball beyond the goalkeeper. Shooting a football for a goal takes concentration
and much practice to be effective and accurate. To shoot the bal, players should plant their weak foot
it
next to the ball. The foot should be pointingin the general direction that the ball will be kicked, but
does not have to be perfectly aligned, as the kicking foot will do the aiming.
FOOTBALL
37
4. Dribbling: Of all basic football
skills, dribbling is probably the most fundamental. Dribbling involves
keeping the ball moving between the player's feet by kicking it from one foot to the other. Football players
can dribble
completely in place or can move slightly with the ball, focusing on keeping it under their feet
entirely. By keeping the ball under the feet, athletes protect it from defenders and prevent the ball from
being stolen easily. Dribbling keeps the ball in motion and allows athletes to pass it if necessary in order
to stay on offense. To be successful at
dribbling, athletes should work on dribbling with different parts of
the feet in order to beat defenders. Instead of always dribbling with the
instep. players should practice
dribbling with the outside of the foot and the inside heel area. This, along with increasing speed, will help
players beat defenders.
6.
Trapping:
is
Trapping means controlling a ball that is received by
follows in order to 'settle' the ball to the
a player where a body trap is used, a foot
trap usually ground.
AWARDDS
Arjuna Awardees

Tulsidas Balaram
1961 P. K. Banerjee 1962
Jarnail Singh
1963 Chuni Goswami 1964
Yusuf Khan
1965 Arun Lal Ghosh 1966
1967 1969 Inder Singh
Peter Thangaraj
1970 Syed Naeemuddin 1971 C.P. Singh
1973 1978-79 Gurdev Singh Gill
Magan Singh
1979-80 Prasun Banerjee 1980-81 Mohammed Habib
1981 Sudhir Karmakar 1983 Shanti Mullick
1989 S. Bhattacharjee 1997 Brahmanand Sankhwalkar
1998 Baichung Bhutia 2002 Bruno Coutinho
2003 I.M. Vijayan 2010 Deepak Kumar Mondal
2011 Sunil Chettri

Dronacharya Awardees
1990 Syed Naeemuddin