Soccer is a sport played by both men and women of all ages. From lower leagues, all the way up to the pros. It’s a sport played between two teams, maneuvering the ball trying to score on the other teams’ goal. The catch is that you can’t use your arms or hands. In a standard game each team has eleven players including a goalie, and the game is played for 90 minutes with a 10–15-minute halftime in between. Soccer is a team sport and each player on the field has a different position in either of the categories: defense, midfield, or forward. Together the players will work together to defend their goal and score on the other team’s goal.  

Records trace the history of soccer back more than 2,000 years ago to ancient China (www.athleticscholarships.net). It’s said that England was the one who transitioned soccer credited with recording the first rules for the sport including forbidding tripping other opponents and touching the ball with your hands. As the sport developed, more rules were created. Soccer became big around the 1800’s and was so big by 1930 that there was the first world cup held with thirteen nations.  As of today, Soccer is still the most popular sport in the world. To every country besides the United States, it is known as “football”.  

In 2022, there are all different ages, races, and genders playing soccer. It’s a sport for everyone, not limited to a certain group. Although it is a physical game, soccer is also about your mind set. You need to think quickly and be ready for anything during the game. “You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it” (Lionel Messi).