| If Pele, Maridona, and Beckham don't sound at | | | | except your hands and arms. If you grew up |
| all familiar to you, or if you think Freddy | | | | playing catch in the back yard, the first |
| Adou is a guy you may have gone to high | | | | couple of times you try to kick the ball |
| school with, keep reading... please. This | | | | you'll probably look even more awkward than |
| article covers all the equipment and skills | | | | you feel, and it's very likely your kids are |
| you'll need to join the rest of the world in | | | | going to laugh at you. Practice makes near |
| playing the wonderful game of | | | | perfect, and you'll get better over time. |
| soccer.Actually, the rest of the world plays | | | | Kicking the ball back and forth between two |
| football - they call the sport that Steve | | | | or more people helps. Once you feel like you |
| Young used to play American football. The | | | | might be able to kick the ball and jog/run at |
| term 'soccer' came into being in the later | | | | the same time, you're ready to graduate to |
| part of the 19th century when people began | | | | playing a game.Goals (pronounced |
| abbreviating the French variation of | | | | 'gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal! |
| 'association football' to soccer. Whatever | | | | !!' in actual soccer matches) in soccer are |
| name you use (I'll call it soccer for the | | | | scored by kicking the ball through a |
| purposes of this article), it refers to the | | | | rectangle shape appropriately called the |
| fast-paced, exciting game that has captured | | | | goal. Though the rectangle is standard, goals |
| the interest of more and more Americans in | | | | can be made by placing any two objects a few |
| recent years. If you've found that you've | | | | steps apart. I have personally played in |
| been left behind when it comes to the sport, | | | | neighborhood games where the goal posts were |
| here's a few equipment tips and skills you'll | | | | chairs, barrels, younger siblings, and shoes |
| need to have to start playing.As the name | | | | (if you're playing barefoot, make sure no one |
| 'football' suggests, you'll need a ball. | | | | is wearing cleats). Kicking the ball below |
| Soccer balls come in many different sizes, | | | | head height and more or less between the |
| materials, and styles; and league | | | | makeshift goal posts constitutes a goal, |
| specifications vary depending on the age and | | | | though you will find each goal will be |
| level of the players. If you just want to buy | | | | heavily debated.Competitive leagues almost |
| a 'normal' ball, double check with the store | | | | always require shin guards, and you can |
| clerks to make sure you've chosen the right | | | | usually pick up a decent pair for pretty |
| one; or if you're buying online, you can | | | | cheap. Even in a friendly park setting, |
| check the ball size against the standards | | | | players can get pretty passionate, and it |
| found at The best material for your ball | | | | wouldn't be a bad idea to wear them during |
| depends on the type of surface you're going | | | | the game.The rules are simple and easy to |
| to play on. If you'll spend any time at all | | | | learn. The basics you need to know are that |
| kicking the ball around on the street or | | | | you should try to avoid kicking people, you |
| playground, I would shy away from buying a | | | | can't tackle people like in American |
| nice leather ball - the asphalt will tear it | | | | football, and you can't use your hands. In |
| up. Synthetic materials will usually hold up | | | | that sense, except for the hands restriction, |
| better on those surfaces, and typically cost | | | | soccer is a lot like life. Other rules apply |
| less.Once you've got your ball, you're going | | | | more in competition, but it wouldn't hurt to |
| to need at least one pair of feet; however, | | | | read up on them at with any sport, the most |
| if you want to do more than just kick the | | | | important thing is to look good, so go out |
| ball against your garage you're going to need | | | | and buy yourself some silky soccer shorts and |
| at least two sets. There are a number of | | | | jerseys. Long hair and an Italian accent |
| different techniques when it comes to kicking | | | | certainly won't hurt your chances of going |
| the soccer ball - I'll just summarize them | | | | pro - but if neither of those is an option |
| all by saying that the goal of kicking the | | | | for you, just remember to have fun and play |
| ball is to hit it with some part of you're | | | | fair.Nick Smith is a soccer fan and client |
| foot and make it go in the direction you want | | | | account specialist with 10x Marketing - More |
| it to. In fact, in soccer matches you may use | | | | Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. |
| any part of you're body to move the ball | | | | |