If you are just starting out [tag-tec]coaching youth soccer[/tag-tec] or if you are a [tag-tec]soccer parent[/tag-tec] that is new to the game, it is a good idea to be aware of the origins of [tag-tec]soccer[/tag-tec].  Having knowledge of [tag-tec]soccer history[/tag-tec] enables you to understand the truly international status and popularity of this great game and discover why it is truly called the ‘World Game’.

[tag-tec]Soccer[/tag-tec] is one of the oldest known sports in mankind.  England is recognized as the birthplace of soccer.  [tag-tec]Soccer[/tag-tec] or [tag-tec]Football[/tag-tec] as it is called in the United Kingdom has its origins linked to games played at public boys schools in England.  These schoolboys would get together with their mates and neighbors and kick the ball around.  By the 19th century a number of soccer clubs were formed all over England. Of course, as a result of this, there was much dispute about different aspects of the game as each of these clubs were applying there own rules which they had drafted when playing public school soccer. You can only imagine what a mess this was and the number of disputes that must have taken place as a result.  This led to a guy by the name of Ebenezer Cobb Morley develop and unify all the rules.  It just so happens, when he was drafting up the unified rules, the clubs in England had got together and formed the Football Association (FA) in 1863.   The rules that Morley had drafted up, were then adopted by the FA in December 1863.
Although the game of soccer had become quite popular in England, the FA was not really recognized at first. The game of soccer and the clubs which were formed were still considered to be very much amateur. However, as the working class of England started to take interest in the sport and contemplated on making money out of it, the first professional [tag-tec]soccer clubs[/tag-tec] were then organized. The FA then started to gain national recognition and people began to enthusiastically support the game of soccer.
As the FA slowly started to become recognized in England, the game started to move from an amateur status to a professional one and the first professional [tag-tec]soccer clubs[/tag-tec] were formed.  As people in England started to show more of an interest in the game and also recognized the opportunity to make money from it, the FA started to increase in popularity.  As a result, the first FA CUP was played in 1872 and the first teams to meet during the finals were the Wanderers and the Royal Engineers. Around 2,000 spectators gathered to witness the finals. The Engineers were the crowd favorites.  They lost the game when a player sustained a broken collarbone and was forced to leave the playing field. Interestingly, during that time, substitution of players was not allowed, so the Engineers played with one man down during the rest of the game. This incident led to the modification of the rules to allow for substitution of players during the game.
As more clubs entered into the FA tournament the rules and laws approved by the FA soon became the universal rules of the game and it is these rules and regulations that form the basis of our present laws for [tag-tec]soccer[/tag-tec] around the world today. Soon, people all over Europe become so engrossed with the game of soccer that Charles Alcock, the secretary of the FA, decided to introduce the idea of an international soccer competition.  This culminated in an inaugural international soccer tournament between England and Scotland and this then led to other international tournaments taking place.
With the increasing popularity of [tag-tec]soccer[/tag-tec] across the world, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded on May 21, 1904. FIFA is the international governing body for the game of soccer or football. This organization is one of the largest and the oldest Non-Government organizations all over the world. Currently, it has over 200 member associates throughout the world.  To find out more about FIFA and the latest ‘Laws of the Game’, you can visit the FIFA website at www.fifa.com.
I have only touched briefly on [tag-tec]soccer history[/tag-tec] in this article, feel free to research more information on the [tag-tec]history of soccer[/tag-tec] in your particular country to gain an even greater understanding and background to this great game. Additionally, you can log on to the FIFA site to find out what is happening in your country in regards to events, fixtures and results.