Futbol!

[herron]

Not really old...not even a picture I took...but nostalgic for me. This was taken in 1990, the last year I coached men's (U-19) travel league soccer (I also ended my nine season stint as a FIFA referee the next year). The dark-haired kid (arrow) is my oldest, and the tall blond kid (other arrow) is his younger brother, who was 16 at the time...playing "up" three years. They were both All-League, All-Region...very good soccer players. Two years later my oldest was invited to try-outs for a short-lived Michigan pro team!

The boys were the U-19 champions in Michigan that year, won two out-of-state tournaments, finished second in another, and finished third in the State Cup tournament. Not bad for a group that couldn't practice much that year, since most of them were working, getting ready for college in the fall.

It's another pic I found, rummaging through the albums, that means a lot to me...brings back some good (if not that old) memories.

[John Parry]

Hey Ron,

You almost spelt it right! Over here, football is soccer, soccer is an expression rarely if ever heard.

Good to see you spreading the word.

Regards - John

[Randy]

Maybe we should call you 'COACH' Ron! John, if Soccer is football, what is Rugby?

[PeterW]

Soccer is short for Association Football governed by the Football Association, usually abbreviated to FA, where handling the ball, except for the goalkeeper, is an offence. Rugby is Rugby Football, though players are also allowed to pick the ball up and run with it. Rugby is named after Rugby School where it originated.

Peter

[herron]

Interesting, John, since England is the source of the word "soccer" in the first place...something to do with "Association Football" as defined by the London Football Association in 1863 (I actually know even more about the details, but this is the wrong forum ... and I am passionate enough about the game that you don't want to get me started -- my wife will attest to that...rolling her eyes the whole time! She is certain that I could live my life completely happy with only soccer and my cameras!

I do know it's popularity among London schoolboys can be found in descriptions of the game written as early as 1175 A.D. -- and it was so popular it was once banned in England (by King Edward II, in 1314) as a frivilous distraction from work and study! The ban obviously proved ineffective! ;D

My UK friends might disagree, but England didn't originate the game (the modern version, yes...but the game itself, no). There are records from 1697 B.C. of a game similar to it, known as tsu-chu, in China!

I wrote and produced an "explanation of the game" that was widely distributed here at the local venues for World Cup '94...and was heavily involved in coaching "soccer" here for over 15 years. I played (keeper) on a men's team, and I was a certified FIFA referree for nine seasons (until my knees decided they were too old)!

Futbol is the Spanish spelling (I believe it's spelled that way in Germany, too).

And Rugby, as Peter just mentioned, is a soccer (football) derivative, based on localized changes to the original game that were instituted by Rugby (not sure if it was considered a college or a university back then). Such local rule changes were what led to the formation of the London Football Association in the first place!

I love that game!

[herron]

OK. This got me started! ;D ;D

-- A game similar to soccer is known to have existed in China in 1697 B.C.
-- Descriptions of the games popularity written in London in 1175 A.D.
-- Soccer banned in England by King Edward II in 1314 A.D. (ban didn't last)
-- In the 15th century, football was the most popular game in English universities.
-- Differences in localized rules often led to game-time controversies.
-- Rugby is a prime example of rule deviations to the game at the time.
-- October 26, 1863, eleven English football clubs met in Freemason's Tavern in London.
-- Formed the London Football Association and defined the sport of Association Football.
-- Quickly became known simply as "association" and then "assoc."
-- Slang of the day in England led to "soccer."
-- As soccer spread, differences still existed in neighboring countries.
-- A need to standardize the game worldwide was recognized.
-- FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association formed in 1904.
-- Founding FIFA members were Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland.
-- UK countries did not participate in FIFA founding.
-- England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales joined FIFA in 1906, with conditions.
-- Major condition was British International Board be allowed to set rules of the game.
-- Because FIFA desperately wanted UK participation, that condition was approved.
-- That rules maintenance understanding remains in effect today.
-- USA granted full FIFA membership on June 24, 1913.
-- First World Cup held in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930.
-- The United States was a competitor country in the first-ever World Cup.
-- USA finished third in the 1930 World Cup, beating both Belgium and Paraguay.
-- First goal ever scored in World Cup competition was by an American (Bart McGhee).
-- First player ever to tally three goals in one World Cup was an American.
-- Bert Patenaude, from Fall River, Massachusetts (1930 games in Uruguay).
-- USA qualified again in 1934, but did not make it out of the first round.
-- USA qualified, but withdrew, from the 1938 World Cup games.
-- World Cup competition suspended in 1942 and 1946.
-- USA qualified again in 1950, but did not make it out of the first round.
-- Biggest upset in 1950 games -- USA defeated highly-favored England (1-0).
-- USA did not qualify again for the World Cup for 40 years (1990)!
-- The next World Cup host country is Germany (2006).
-- FIFA has more member countries than the United Nations.
-- The World Cup is the single most watched sporting event in the world.
-- Soccer is the fastest-growing participant sport in the USA (18 million+ active players).

This ends my Soccer 101 outline! Thanks for your indulgence! I'll go back to cameras now.

[PeterW]

"Oh, he's footba' crazy, he's footba' mad,
And the footba' it has ta'en awa the wee bit sense he had" !!! ;D ;D ;D.
Peter

[kamera]

Gosh Ron,

Thou art a man of all trades!!

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[herron]

peterw said:

"Oh, he's footba' crazy, he's footba' mad,
And the footba' it has ta'en awa the wee bit sense he had" !!! ;D ;D ;D.

Amen! LOL

[John Parry]

Good solid info there Ron

When we talk about football, it goes without saying that we're talking about soccer. To refer to any of the variations you would have to add a qualifier - 'American Football', 'Rugby Football' (or just Rugby - split into League and Union), in the same way that an American would assume you were talking about gridiron.

BTW - your Captain (Claudio Reyna) is doing a great job for us over here!

Regards - John

[Randy]

My favorite cartoon strip in the Sunday Comics is Andy Capp and his wife Flo. Andy Capp is a ruby player.

[kamera]

Ron,

I was just looking over the pic and thread again.

This time I see 3 arrows...only noticed the 2 you mentioned before. Who is the chubby kid inbetween your youngest boy and the coach?? ;D

Just joking!!!

On the subject of "futbol". There is a 23 year old Nigerian playing on the Greenbay Packer's football(American) team. Rather a good athlete already who should mature tremendously in the NFL and who a couple of weeks ago got 3 touchdowns on his birthday.

Anyway he relates how when he came to this country and first saw what we call football he was confused. The ball did not look right and the game either. Of course, he was used to football meaning soccer in his country.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[kiev4a]

I have to admit I have never been able to understand what gets some people excited about soccer (or football or whatever). But I don't have anything against the sport, either -- it's just not my cup of tea (English -- soccer -- cup of tea--get it-- oh never mind). I think it' s a generation thing (I'm 60). American college football is my only real sports love. Can't stand baseball -- too slow, too much time spent on statistics.

[lulalake]

kiev4a said:

I have to admit I have never been able to understand what gets some people excited about soccer (or football or whatever). But I don't have anything against the sport, either -- it's just not my cup of tea (English -- soccer -- cup of tea--get it-- oh never mind). I think it' s a generation thing (I'm 60). American college football is my only real sports love. Can't stand baseball -- too slow, too much time spent on statistics.

LOL. I love Baseball. I think of it as partial contact American Zen.

Cheers

Jules

[PeterW]

With all the chat about football and other sports has anyone got any sports action pictures to show us? Let's see them if you have - anything from school races for toddlers to professional ice hockey. Tried that a couple of times, but with lousy results, when my son used to play for the Medway Bears. You need a large aperture and have to be so darn quick with follow-focus. Auto focus is much too slow.

Peter