| Although it may be impossible to accurately | | | | the Cambridge Rules.Unfortunately, at this |
| state when and where the game of soccer | | | | point, there were still two different sets of |
| originated, history has shown us glimpses of | | | | rules being used. Some colleges favored the |
| a game similar to our present day version | | | | Rugby Rules which allowed carrying the ball |
| being played for over 3000 years.Around the | | | | with your hands, tripping and kicking to the |
| 2nd or 3rd Century BC, it was documented that | | | | shins. which were contrary to the Cambridge |
| the Chinese military during the Han Dynasty | | | | Rules.In 1863, The Football Association was |
| played a game involving kicking a ball into a | | | | created by eleven English soccer clubs and |
| small net.A game similar to soccer was played | | | | schools to establish a single set of rules to |
| by the ancient Greeks and Romans but their | | | | be enforced when they played against each |
| game could include up to 27 players on a side | | | | other.The supporters of the Rugby School |
| compared to the modern day game of 11 players | | | | rules objected to the changes and the two |
| to a side.Soccer became one of the most | | | | groups split apart. The Football Association |
| popular sports of the masses due to its | | | | later changed the rules in 1869 where they |
| popularity as a war game. A game of | | | | forbade the use of hands, except by the |
| "football" which the British called it, was | | | | goalie, which led us to the game of soccer as |
| played in the east of England during the 8th | | | | we know it today.The English still called it |
| Century where the head of a defeated Danish | | | | a game of "football" because the ball was |
| Prince was used as the ball.During medieval | | | | played primarily with the feet but in the |
| times, villages and towns were pitted against | | | | late 18th Century, the word, "soccer", was |
| each other in game battles that could take | | | | first used by a student of Oxford University |
| all day. There were no structured rules to | | | | by the name of Charles Wreford Brown. The |
| abide by and kicking, biting, gouging and | | | | students at Oxford were known for using slang |
| punching turned the game into a virtual | | | | where they added "er" to the end of words |
| battle of survival. These matches became so | | | | that they intentionally shortened. The game |
| violent that the English authorities made | | | | of Rugby was called "rugger". Brown |
| many attempts to have soccer banned.King | | | | shortened the word "association" and added |
| Edward III from England passed laws in 1331 | | | | "er" and the term "soccer" was born.Since the |
| to abolish the game and Queen Elizabeth I had | | | | 19th Century the game has evolved to where it |
| a law passed that provided a one week jail | | | | is today. It is the World's Game that is |
| sentence for anyone caught playing | | | | played by more people than any other sport |
| soccer.Despite these efforts, the game of | | | | and is universally recognized as the most |
| soccer became so popular in England over the | | | | popular game in sports history.The World Cup |
| next few centuries that it evolved as the | | | | which is held every four years to crown a |
| most popular sport of its time.At this point, | | | | World Champion draws millions of spectators |
| the only shortcoming of the sport was its | | | | to the 32 games played and is watched by |
| lack of rules or standards. In 1815, Eton | | | | billions of fans from around the globe thanks |
| College, a famous English school, established | | | | to modern day satellite television |
| a set of rules to be implemented by other | | | | technology.The popularity of soccer continues |
| schools, colleges and universities.A | | | | to grow as organized youth soccer programs |
| standardized version of these rules were | | | | are getting a young fan base involved at an |
| later adopted in 1848 by most of England's | | | | early age which will fuel its growth for |
| colleges and universities that were known as | | | | years to come. |