5 Must-Know Football Facts for Kids
Sports are one of the main sources of entertainment globally. The history of sports goes as far back as the origin of man, and several sports have come and gone over the years. Here are some great football facts for kids (and we are talking about soccer here not American football).
Various sports are practiced in official and unofficial capacities. The Olympics is an event that exposes us to several variations of sports. Among these sports is football, also called soccer.
Football is one of the most popular sports worldwide, and the current world cup tournament is an indication. There are also other variations of football, like American football. Keep reading to learn interesting football facts for kids.
About Football
We’ve all heard about football – it is also called soccer in some parts of the world. The history of football goes a long way back to when it was not yet correctly defined and had a lot of variations. The term football was previously used to refer to any sport that involved kicking a ball or ball-like tools.
The origin of football goes as far as the second and third centuries, and there are most likely older records of the sport. Football, as we know it now, wasn’t always in this form, and it took several years of revision and standardization to arrive where we are today.
Chinese history shows a form of football called cuju, and this game was played during the Han dynasty during the second and third centuries. Several other origin stories surround the sport, some of which can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome.
Football that we’re familiar with today was developed in the 19th century by the British. The nature of the game caused a lot of disturbance, sometimes leading to death. Due to these disruptions, there was a movement to ban the sport. However, it was already being played in public schools, and it was impossible to ban it altogether.
In 1843, the University of Cambridge tried to amend rules and create regulations for a safer game. These rules were adopted later in 1848 by Cambridge students and the public schools they played.
In 1863, different clubs met to discuss the game’s rules, and an official regulation was printed. This new amendment did not allow carrying the ball, and rugby, or American football, became a different sport. By 1870, the Football Association (FA) allowed only the keeper to touch the ball with their hands during the game.
Over the years, the rules of football have become more concrete, and it is now followed worldwide. Different leagues are played across the continent, but they all follow the same fundamental rules. ‘
General Facts About Football
We’ve looked at a brief history of football that we know today. Let’s look at some facts:
Players
Football today is played by 22 players, 11 on each team. The 11 players comprise 10 players and a goalkeeper. The goalkeeper is unique from other players because he or she is the only one allowed to hold the ball during the game.
If the ball touches any player that is not the goalkeeper on their hand, it will attract a foul. A foul will be punished based on the situation and the referee’s discretion.
Football Field
Football is played on a rectangular field that is covered with grass. The pitch is usually 112 to 115 yards long and 70 to 75 yards wide for standard pitches. The field is divided into different sections by lines. At the extreme ends of the field are two goalposts covered with nets.
There is the centerline which divides the pitch into two equal halves. Also, the center line is where kickoff takes place. The field is divided into the goal area, plenty area, or 18-yard box.
The Ball
The ball is a unique aspect of the sport and varies from those used in basketball, rugby, and other ball-related sports. Old footballs were made from animal skin, bladder, and other unorthodox materials.
However, the advent of more stringent rules brought about specifications for the materials used in making the balls and the dimension of the ball. The size five ball is the standard size for official competitions.
Time
A football game is played for ninety minutes and divided into two halves. Each half is played for forty-five minutes, but the time can extend due to interruptions or delays.
5 Amazing Football Facts for Kids
Let’s look at some fun facts about football:
1. Winners
The FIFA World Cup is one of the sports with the highest international participation, second to the Olympics. The first event was held in Uruguay, and 21 World Cups have been held since then.
Of the 21 times that the World Cup has occurred, only eight countries have won. Some countries have won it multiple times, like France and Brazil. The Brazilian national team has the highest winning record – they’ve won it five times.
2. Participation
Football is among the most played sports in the world. There is hardly any country or continent where you won’t find a football league or organization. Records show that football is the sport with the largest fan base.
3. Largest Stadium
The largest football stadium is in Pyongyang, North Korea. The stadium is said to have a capacity of 150,000, and some argue it’s 114,000.
4. Asteroid Named Players
Some asteroids have been named to honor players like Johan Cruyff, Ferenc Puskas, and Josef Pepi Bican.
5. Most Red Cards
A red card is rare in a football match, and seeing two in one game is even rarer. However, the game’s highest number of red cards is 36. This event occurred in 2011 when Claypole played against Victoriano Arenas.
2 Red cards were issued in the first half, which was already a surprise. By the second half, the Referee gave every player a Red card, including the coaches, and he also gave 14 substitutes a Red card.
Conclusion on Football Facts for Kids
Football is a universal sport that has evolved over the years. Also, there are other variations of the sport, like American and Canadian football. There are several things to learn about football, and we’ve shown you a few football facts for kids in this post.
Check out these fun facts for kids here and browse all the other topics at the bottom of the post.
