The Beautiful Game Enjoyed Around The World
Some call it the beautiful game, some call it soccer, but most people call it football, and it’s the most popular sport on the planet. Played by over 250 million people in more than 200 countries, football is truly the most global of all sports. Football is also one of the world’s oldest sports, with versions of it appearing in ancient history on several continents. In 206 B.C during China’s Han Dynasty, soldiers played tsu’chu which means “kicking the ball” as part of their training regime, teaching them speed and balance. This was one of the first versions to not allow hands, requiring the ball to be kicked only. This is the style of play that ended up spreading throughout the world and is the basis of today’s beautiful game.
Kids love playing football, and nearly anywhere you go in the world you will see them kicking a ball around. School sports programs are essential for raising the next generations of professional players, and the competition between schools can be nearly as fierce as big league rivalries! Football is a lot of fun, so much so that there are kids birthday party packages offered at a popular gym focusing on the game, the “soccer party” being one of their most popular, in which kids can play on the indoor field, then play again virtually in the facility’s game room!
The game is so popular there is even a term coined in the US, “soccer moms”, for mothers who are highly dedicated to taking their kids to their various after-school activities in a minivan. Soccer moms attend all their kid’s games at home and away, and can be almost as competitive as their young players, the stands are nearly as raucous as a pro game! Kids can start playing as early as kindergarten, enjoying the game all through their youth, and even into adulthood. Of course, only a few super-talented individuals manage to make a professional career out of playing, but that doesn’t mean enthusiasts have to stop once they leave their school programs, there are plenty of amateur football leagues and local groups that anyone can join to kick the ball around just for fun. There are even senior leagues for people aged 55 and up, with some players over 75 still participating!
For those hoping to take their game all the way to the top and become a pro footballer, the first thing they need to do is start playing at a young age, the earlier the better so you have as much time as possible to develop your skills and gain experience. Joining a local youth club or a school team and practicing regularly is key. From there it’s up to your dedication, to become a great soccer player you have to put in long hours on the field practicing. That’s where you refine your dribbling, passing, and shooting skills, as well as increasing your fitness and agility. Work hard and Football Australia might sign you up!
