Soccer or association football is a particularly suitable game for girls and women, since it furnishes splendid outdoor exercise without unnecessary roughness. It resembles field hockey in that it is mainly a running game, although there are many essential differences. The popularity of the game is rapidly increasing and it is played by many schools and colleges.

The game is primarily a running and kicking game. No player but the goal keeper in her own goal area is permitted to touch the ball with the hands. Two teams of eleven players each line up in their half of the field. The captains toss for the choice of end or for the choice of the kick-off. In making the choice, the wind and the position of the sun should be considered. The ball is put in play by a kick-off. To advance the ball to the opponents’ goal and to kick the ball between the goal posts and under the bar is the object of the game. Each goal counts one. The team having the highest score at the end of the two halves—time of which is determined by the captains—is the winner. Thus the two opposing teams are either attacking or defending. If one side has possession of the ball it should advance toward the opponents’ goal, thus attacking; if the ball is not in their possession they are checking their opponents’ advance, thus defending. The players who do most of the attacking are the five forwards, assisted by the halfbacks. It is their duty to advance the ball by short and long passes, by dribbling, by a volley, i. e., hitting the ball with head or chest, or kicking it before it has touched the ground. The fullbacks and goal keeper, assisted by the halfbacks, do the defensive work.

The positions are: center forward, inside right and inside left, outer right and outer left; left, center, and right halfbacks; right and left fullbacks; goal keeper.

The beginner in soccer should pay particular attention to the following: kicking, tackling, heading, and dribbling. The ball is not kicked with the end of toe, but rather the toe is inserted under the ball, the instep bearing the brunt of the work. The leg should be drawn back to get a good drive. Kicking is not merely sending the ball as far and hard as possible, but kicking as accurately as possible so that each shot tells. Therefore, particular attention and practice should be given to kicking until the proper amount of control can be exercised over the ball. Every kick should be gotten off quickly and cleanly, toe well under the ball so that it is raised.

In shooting for the goal the kick should be hard, with all the force of the toe behind it. In all defensive work the kicks should be carefully sent to the forwards; not too hard, since the ball then may go too far.

The player should learn to kick with either foot so that the ball does not have to be maneuvered into a suitable position for kicking.

Every player—the forwards in particular—should know how to dribble, since it is frequently a handy art. Often, if a player wishes to get in a better position for a kick, a few dribbles will put her there. To dribble successfully, the ball is moved forward, just touching the toe, thus insuring complete control. For the inexperienced player, control in dribbling and speed seem a hard combination to achieve; but by practice, dribbling slowly at first, control is acquired and speed soon follows.

A common fault sometimes due to dribbling is the monopoly of the ball by one player. Any individual should be self-sacrificing for the good of the team.

Stopping the progress of an opponent, or “tackling” as it is termed, should be carefully practised, particularly by the defense. The best policy seems—to run directly toward the player with the ball, thus making her pass hurriedly or fumble. Never give up if your opponent gets away, dodges or slips past you.

Many times it is an advantage to “head” the ball, that is, hit it with the head before it touches the ground. When the players are massed together, a jump in the air and good “heading” may save the day. Remember that the ball ought to be hit with the forehead, not the top of the head. This makes for accuracy.

There should be, as in all other team games, team work. The forwards should bear the responsibility of the attack. They should carry the ball down the field by passing, dribbling and volleying, i. e., hitting the ball in the air before it has touched the ground. Forwards should know how to shoot hard and accurately. It is well for a forward to know how to shoot and pass with the inside of the foot. In dribbling and in passing, the forward must remember to pass quickly to some one of her team who is unguarded. You should always be waiting to receive a pass.

The outsides are generally fast players with great skill in the dribble; the insides, like the center, are fine offensive players, fast and capable of shooting goals.

The halfbacks feed and help the forwards attack, shooting for the goal if the opportunity arises. The attack should be constantly varied by these players. The halfbacks are also the first line of defense, necessarily they have a great deal of running to do. These three positions are generally filled then by players physically fit, with speed and with stamina for endurance. Center half is a particularly strenuous position. The halves should always try to keep the ball in the opponents’ territory; when on the defense, they should be quick to tackle, to intercept passes and to guard their opponents.

The fullbacks are the mainstay of the defense. They are cool-headed players who use great judgment. It is up to them to block any opponent who has gotten by a halfback. Often the fullbacks have so carefully studied their opponents’ play that they know exactly what the forward will do under certain circumstances. Above all, the fullbacks should never give up.

The goal is a very vital point. To be a goal keeper, you must think quickly, keep your nerve, be cool and act instantly according to your judgment. In fact, a goal keeper should be able to cover every inch of the goal in an instant; she must be able to move rapidly, jump, and reach into the air. Two points a goal keeper should remember: Never kick when you can use your hands—you can get rid of the ball quicker and for better distance. Get the ball out of dangerous territory as soon as possible.

Dress is an important consideration. The essentials are a middy blouse, a short, wide skirt or bloomers, with heavy enough shoes to allow for kicking and yet light enough to permit of speed in covering ground.

Soccer Rules.

[From Spalding’s Athletic Library No. 358—Official College Soccer Guide.]

I. There are eleven players on a team.

II. The field of play is a quadrangle. Its dimensions vary from 130 to 100 yards in length and from 100 to 50 yards in breadth. A smaller field, as near these dimensions as possible, may be used. The lines, areas, etc., do not vary with any change in size of the field, however. Flags on five-foot staffs are placed at each of the four corners. The lines are distinctly marked with whitewash if possible. The quadrangle is bounded by two end or “goal” lines and two side or “touch” lines which are at right angles with the goal lines. The field is exactly halved by a cross line. In the center of the field of play is a circle with a ten-yard radius. The goals are marked by goal posts, eight feet apart, in the middle of the goal line, equidistant from the side lines. The posts are joined by a cross-bar eight feet from the ground, and neither the posts nor cross-bar are more than five inches in width. At each end of the field in front of the goal is a goal area. Lines are marked six yards from each goal post at right angles to the goal line, extending in field for six yards. These two lines are connected by a line parallel to the goal line. The enclosed space is a goal area.

There is also a penalty area in front of each goal. Lines are marked 18 yards from each goal post at right angles to the goal lines, extending in field for a distance of 18 yards. These two lines are joined by a line parallel to the goal lines.

A mark 12 yards distant from and opposite the exact center of each goal designates the penalty kick mark.

The ball should be a regulation association football.

III. The game is divided into two halves, each 45 minutes long, with an interval of five minutes between the halves unless a different length of time is agreed upon by the captains. Ends are changed at half time.

IV. The choice of end or kick-off is decided by the toss of a coin. The game is started by a place-kick, i. e., the ball is placed on the ground and kicked from this position in the center of the field. All opponents are more than ten yards away; no player may cross center of the ground until the ball is kicked. After a goal is scored the ball is kicked off by the team which did not score the goal. At the beginning of the second half the ball is kicked by the opposing side from the side that kicked first.

V. A goal is scored when the ball passes between the goal posts under the bar, provided that it has not been thrown, knocked, or carried.

VI. When the ball goes out of bounds over the touch line, a player of the opposite side from that playing it out, throws it in. She must stand on the touch line facing the field of play; the ball may be thrown in any direction, provided it is thrown over the head with both hands. A goal may not be scored from a throw-in. The thrower-in may not touch the ball until it has been touched by another player.

When the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line, played over by an attacker, it is kicked off by a defender, within the half of the goal area nearest the point where the ball went out. If it was sent out by a defender, it is kicked by an attacker from a point within one yard of nearest corner flag. No player in either case may be within 10 yards of the ball until the kick-off is taken.

VII. If, after the ball has been played or thrown in, it is touched by a player on the same side as the person last touching it, who at the moment of playing is nearer her opponents’ goal than the person last playing the ball, she is off-side and may not interfere with the ball or opponent. She is not offside, however, if at the time of play there are at least three of her opponents between her and the goal, or if she is within her own half of the field, or in a corner kick, or if the ball was last touched by an opponent.

VIII. The goal keeper may use her hands to catch or to throw the ball if she is within her own penalty area.

IX. There should be no tripping, kicking, striking, jumping at, handling (except in Rule VI), holding, pushing, obstructing, or charging from behind. The goal keeper may be charged if she is holding the ball, or obstructing or outside her own goal area. The penalty for a foul is a free kick.

X. A free kick is taken for any infringement of a rule. The ball must roll over—travel the distance of its circumference—to be considered played. No opponent may stand within 10 yards unless standing on own goal line. The kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player. A goal may be scored from a free kick if it is granted for any breaking of Rule VII.

XI. Any intentional infringement by either the attackers or defenders outside the penalty area, a free kick is awarded to opposing side.

If, however, there is an intentional foul by the defenders within the penalty area, a penalty kick is granted to the opposing side. All players except the goal keeper and a player from the opposing side who is to take the kick remain outside the penalty area. The goal keeper must not advance beyond the goal line. The ball is kicked forward and a goal may be scored from a penalty kick. The ball must be kicked and may not be touched again by the kicker until it has been touched by another player.

XII. There is a referee who controls the game and enforces the rules. Her power in the game is supreme. The ball is in play until the decision is given.

There are two linesmen who decide when the ball is out of play, what player has the corner kick, goal kick, or throw-in.

The referee acts as timekeeper.

To restart the game stopped temporarily, the referee drops the ball to the ground on the spot where it was when play was suspended. The ball is in play when it touches the ground.