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