Rules and History of Soccer

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AP Photo/Paul White
USA's Jozy Altidore goes to score a goal as he is challenged by Spain's Carlos Puyol, right, during
their Confederations Cup semifinal soccer match in Bloemfontein, South Africa, June 24, 2009.

Soccer: The World's Sport on the Web

The sport of soccer, known as football in most other countries, has earned its title as "the world's sport" for obvious reasons. Although Major League Soccer (MLS) is still trying to build soccer's popularity in the United States, the enthusiasm and intensity surrounding the sport is the most widespread in the world. Whether you want to see what the fuss is about, are a confused soccer parent, or just can't get enough of the sport, this guide takes you to the Web's best soccer sites. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

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Rules and History of Soccer

It's always helpful to know what you're watching before you watch it. This section sorts out all of the sites on the Web to give you a clear look into what soccer is and where it comes from.

Dulcinea's Insight

Although this guide calls the sport "soccer," the names soccer and football are used interchangeably on Web sites. The other kind of football you might be familiar with is referred to as "American football" on non-U.S. Web sites.

Having a soccer glossary on hand might be helpful when reading through unfamiliar terms. Here is a glossary from the Football Research Organisation UK.

Different organizations sometimes have different rules. Go to the rules or "laws of the game" section on the Web site of the organization that interests you.

Dulcinea's Picks

For rules ...

FIFA , the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, provides the rules most widely used in league play, making the Association an international soccer authority. Click on the blue button labeled "New Laws of the Game," or look below for a link to the rules formatted as a simple PDF file.

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The U.S. Soccer Federation 's "Laws of the Game" page links to the most commonly used rulebooks and detailed accounts of game time procedures. All files are in PDF format except for a few PowerPoint (.ppt) applications.

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AskTheRef.com has a list of archived articles, and questions and answers. If you can't find answers to your specific question, use the "Ask a Ref" link to submit a question of your own.

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For history ...

ExpertFootball.com includes three sections on soccer history. The "Early ball games" link gives insight into the sport's development from the games of ancient civilizations; "History of soccer" explains soccer as we know it today; and "Dream teams" lists and describes the three best soccer teams in history.

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FIFA offers a history page with a short explanation of the origins of soccer, FIFA's own history, history of the FIFA World Cup, and a timeline mapping the changes of the rules.

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The National Soccer Hall of Fame Web site focuses specifically on soccer within the U.S. and has a timeline from 1620-2005 showing the development of American soccer.

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