Football is a rugged outdoor game played on a rectangular field by two teams using an inflated ball. In general, high school football follows the college rules. The differences between high school and college football, and to a lesser extent between college and professional football, stem partly from rule changes designed to protect players from injury.
At each end of the football field is a goal line defended by one of the teams, and a pair of goalposts joined by a raised horizontal bar. The object is to score points by moving the ball across the opponents’ goal or by kicking it between their goalposts (Aiken, 2001). The ball can be moved either by carrying it or passing it (throwing it to a teammate).
The game is usually played for a fixed period of time; if both teams have equal points at the end of that time frame, then the final result can be considered as tie.
Football is played by over 25 major-league professional teams, over 600 college teams, as well as numerous minor-league professional clubs, semiprofessional and amateur teams, and clubs for youngsters below high school age. On the other hand, soccer is the world’s most popular team sport. It is referred to as “soccer” in the United States, “association football” in Great Britain, and simply “football” in most other countries.
Soccer is the national sport in many countries. In the United States, it has a growing following among adults and is popular as an organized sport for youngsters, high schoolers, and college students. The game is typically played on a rectangular grass field with a goal at each end consisting of two vertical posts with a crossbar and a net in the back (Widdows, 2004). The objective of soccer is to score points by kicking an inflated round ball into the opponents’ goal without using hands or arms – unlike football where players can use their hands to pass or throw. The game lasts for a fixed amount of time and may result in a tie except in certain championship games.
There is not much difference between soccer and football except for the ball, number of players, and field measurements. Football is played on a 100-yard (91.4 m) long field (120 yards [109.7 m] including the two end zones) that is 53 1/3 yards (48.8 m) wide. The field has white stripes called yard lines that run across it at 5-yard (4.6m) intervals, giving it a grid-like appearance that has led to its being called a gridiron. Two inbounds lines made up of short stripes called hash marks mark off the main playing area, and the ball must be between these lines each time it is put into play.
Between the goal line and the end line at either end of the field lies an end zone that is 10 yards (9.1 m) deep. The goals, officially known as goalposts, are centered on the end line. In professional football, the goal is a wishbone-shaped structure with two poles called uprights connected by a crossbar that measures 18 ½ feet (5.6 m) in length. The uprights start at the crossbar and extend a minimum of 30 feet (9.1 m) above it, with a single pole centered under the crossbar above the end line.
In traditional college football games, however, each goal consists of two poles set apart by 23 1/3 feet (7.1 m), connected by a crossbar that sits at least ten feet (3m) above ground level. These two poles extend to ten or more feet beyond the crossbar.
Many colleges use a professional type of ball built to college dimensions. The ball is an oval inflated rubber bladder covered with pebble-grained leather or rubber, not pigskin as its nickname implies. It measures 11 to 11 ¼ inches (about 28 cm) in length and weighs 14 to 15 ounces (397 to 425 g). The circumference at its greatest width is about 21 ¼ to 21 ½ inches (about 54 cm). Additionally, players wear numbered jerseys, knee-length pants, plastic helmets with face guards, and protective shoulder, hip, and knee pads similar to those used in soccer (Wilkinson,2002).
The football team typically comprises 20 to 60 players. During the game, each team is allowed to have 11 players on the field at any given time. Liberal substitution rules permit a team to use a two-platoon system – one group of players for offense (when the team is in possession of the ball) and a second group for defense. In soccer, the field measures from 100 to 130 yards (90-120m) in length and from 50 to 100 yards (45-90m) in width (Aiken, 2001). The most common size in the United States is 120 by 75 yards.
Each corner of the field is marked with a flag. The goals are 8 yards (7.32 m) wide, 8 ft. (2.44 m) high, and 8 ft. deep. The ball used in the game is made of leather or rubber and has a circumference of 27 to 28 inches (69-71 cm). It weighs between 14 to16 ounces.
Players wear jerseys, shorts, knee socks, shin pads, and cleated shoes according to Widdows (2004). Additionally, there is an indoor version of the game played mainly by professional teams in the United States.
The playing area is smaller than a regulation outdoor field, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game. Each team has 11 players, including a goalkeeper, four defenders, two or three midfielders, and three or four forwards depending on the team’s tactics. Usually, only a limited number of substitutions are allowed. The game is officiated by three officials: one referee and two linesmen.
Most games consist of 45-minute halves with a short rest period in between. High school games are sometimes divided into quarters. The players attempt to advance the ball towards the opponent’s goal by kicking it, bouncing it off their bodies, or butting it with their heads after a kickoff from the center circle (Lever 2004). They must be adept at dribbling and passing the ball with their feet. Only goalkeepers are allowed to touch the ball with their hands while it is in play.
Unnecessary roughness, handling of the ball by a player other than the goalkeeper, and other fouls result in a penalty. The fouled-upon team receives a free kick at the spot where the foul occurred. Opponents must stand 10 yards (9.14 m) away from the kicker. If a foul occurs within the penalty area (an area around the goal), a free kick is awarded 12 yards (11 m) from the goal at the penalty kick mark. Only the opponent’s goalkeeper is allowed to guard during this time (Lever 2004). The kicker can take a running approach to strike at maximum distance of 10 yards (9.14 m) away from the restraining line.
In conclusion, soccer is a tougher sport compared to football because soccer players cannot use their arms or hands when passing the ball to their teammates. In contrast, football players can use both their feet and hands. Additionally, soccer players do not wear padding or headgear during the game, unlike football. This lack of protective gear makes soccer a more physically demanding sport.
Reference
- Aiken, Miles and Peter Rowe. American Football: The Records (Guinness Superlatives, 2001).
- Lever, Janet. Soccer Madness (University of Chicago, 2004).
- Widdows, Richard. The Arco Book of Soccer Techniques and Tactics (Arco, 2004).
- Wilkinson, Bud. Sports Illustrated Football: Defense, Revised Edition (Harper & Row, 2002).
