INTRODUCTION

This monograph is made through several Internet articles and main pages of
football organizations or associations, books that helped me complement this
topic and opinions or ideas of some colleagues.
Soccer is one of the most practiced sports in the world, both popularly and
professionally. But the history and evolution of football, far from always being
linked to the greatness of a popular sport , has been subject to the vicissitudes
of human history and adapting to each culture until it became what we know as
football today.

1. HISTORY
To begin to tell the history of soccer and locate the origin of this sport , it would
be necessary to go back to ancient civilizations and empires, where various
antecedents of ball games with similar characteristics can be found.
Thus, according to some theories , the history of football could begin in ancient
Egypt , since during the 3rd century BC A ball game was held as part of the
fertility rite, in which something similar to handball was practiced. However, the
leather ball had already been invented in China a century earlier, when Fu-Hi,
inventor and one of the five great rulers of ancient China, created a spherical
mass by joining several hard roots in the shape of bristles to the which he
covered with rawhide; With this, the leather ball was born, with which people
played by simply passing it from hand to hand. This ball was later adopted in
the popular games of its neighbors India and Persia. On the other hand, in
ancient pre-Hispanic civilizations, ball games more similar to what is known
today as soccer were also known. For example, the Aztecs practiced tlachtli, a
mix between tennis, football and basketball in which the use of hands and feet
was prohibited and the captain of the defeated team was sacrificed.

2. FOOTBALL FUNDAMENTALS:
Football is regulated by 17 laws or rules, which are used universally, although
within them certain modifications are allowed to facilitate the development of
women's, children's and senior football. Although the rules are clearly defined,
there are certain differences in their applications that are due to several
aspects. An important aspect is the football region where the game takes place.
For example, in Europe, particularly in England, referees stand out for being
more permissive with fouls and infractions, thus reducing cautions and
expulsions, while in other places, for example in South America, fouls are
punished with cards. more often.
The rules of the game are defined by the International Football Association
Board, a body made up of FIFA and the four associations of the United
Kingdom. To approve a modification to them, at least the votes of FIFA and 2 of
the 4 votes of the United Kingdom associations must be obtained.

3. PLAYING FIELD:
3.1 Playing surface: Matches can be played on natural or artificial surfaces, in
accordance with the competition regulations.

Dimensions : The playing field will be rectangular. The length of the touchline
must be greater than the length of the goal line.
Length: minimum 90 m. (100 yds), maximum 120 m. (130 yds)
Width: minimum 45 m. (50 yds), maximum 90 m. (100 yds)

International parties :
Length: minimum 100 m. (110 yds), maximum 110 m. (120 yds)
Width: minimum 64 m. (70 yds), maximum 75 m. (80 yds)
Land marking:
 The playing field will be marked with lines. These lines will belong to the
areas they demarcate.
 The two longest marking lines are called touch lines. The two most shorter
are called goal lines.
 All lines will have a width of 12 cm. at most.
 The playing field will be divided into two halves by a median line.
 The center of the field will be marked with a point in the middle of the halfway
line, around which a circle with a radius of 9.15 m will be drawn.

The goal area:

 The goal area, located at both ends of the playing field, will be demarcated
as follows:
 Two lines will be drawn perpendicular to the finish line, 5.5 m away. of the
inside of each goal post. These lines will extend 5.5 m. on the field of play
and will join with a line parallel to the goal line. The area delimited by said
lines and the finish line will be the finish area.

The penalty area:

 Two lines will be drawn perpendicular to the goal line, 16.5 m from the inside
of each goal post. These lines will extend 16.5 m into the playing field and
will be joined with a line parallel to the goal line. The area delimited by said
lines and the goal line will be the penalty area.
 In each penalty area, a penalty spot will be marked 11 m away from the
midpoint of the line between the posts and equidistant from them.
 Outside each penalty area, a semicircle will also be drawn with a radius of
9.15 m from the penalty spot.
3.2 Pennants:
 A non-pointed pole with a flag will be placed in each corner. The minimum
height of the post will be 1.5 m high.
 Likewise, flags may be placed at each end of the halfway line, at a minimum
distance of 1 m outside the touch line.

The corner area:

 A quadrant with a radius of 1 m will be drawn from each corner flag inside
the playing field.

3.3 The goals:

 Goals will be placed in the center of each finish line.
 They will consist of two vertical posts, equidistant from the corner flags and
joined at the top by a horizontal bar (crossbar).
 The distance between the posts will be 7.32 m and the distance from the
lower edge of the crossbar to the ground will be 2.44 m.
 The posts and the crossbar will have the same width and thickness, a
maximum of 12 cm. The goal lines will have the same dimensions as the
posts and the crossbar. Hooked nets may be hung on the goals and the
ground behind the goal , provided that they are conveniently attached and do
not hinder the goalkeeper.
 The posts and crossbars must be white.
Security:
 The posts must be firmly anchored in the ground. Portable goals may
be used only if this condition is met.

3.4 The ball

Properties and measurements:

 It will be spherical
 It will be made of leather or other suitable material
 It will have a circumference of no more than 70 cm and no less than 68 cm.
 Shall weigh no more than 450 g and no less than 410 g at the start of the
match
 It will have a pressure equivalent to 0.6 - 1.1 atmospheres (600 - 1100 g/cm²)
at sea level

Replacing a defective ball

If the ball explodes or is damaged during a match:
 The game will be interrupted
 The game will be resumed by means of a dropped ball, executed with the
new ball and in the place where the first one was damaged.
If the ball explodes or is damaged when it is not in play (kick-off, goal kick,
corner kick, free kick, penalty kick or throw-in):
 The match will be resumed in accordance with the Rules
 The ball cannot be changed during the match without the referee's
authorization.

4. THE EQUIPMENT OF THE PLAYERS:

4.1 Security :
 Players will not use any equipment or carry any object that is dangerous to
themselves or other players (including any type of jewelry).
4.2 Basic equipment:
The mandatory basic equipment of a player includes the following items
separated from each other:
 A sweater or t-shirt.
 Shorts - if thermal pants are worn under the shorts, they must be the main
color of the shorts.
 Socks.
 Shin/shin guards.
 Footwear.

4.3 Goalkeepers:
 Each goalkeeper will wear colors that differentiate them from the other
players, the referee and the assistant referees.

4.4 Optional equipment:

 A player must not use or carry any equipment that is dangerous to himself or
another player.
 Modern protective equipment such as head protectors, face masks, knee
pads and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight material are not
considered dangerous and are therefore permitted.

5. THE REFEREE:
5.1 The authority of the referee:
 Each match will be controlled by a referee, who will have full authority to
enforce the Laws of the Game in the match for which he has been appointed.

5.2 Powers and duties:

The referee:
 He will enforce the Rules of the Game.
 He will control the match in cooperation with the assistant referees and,
whenever the case requires it, with the fourth referee.
 He will ensure that the balls used correspond to the demands of the game.
 You will ensure that the players' equipment meets the demands of the game.
 He will act as timekeeper and take note of incidents in the match.
 He will interrupt, suspend or end the match when he deems it appropriate, in
the event that the Rules of the Game are contravened.
 Will interrupt, suspend or end the match due to any type of external
interference.
 He will stop the game if he judges that a player has suffered a serious injury
and will ensure that they are transported off the field of play. An injured
player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted.
 He will allow play to continue until the ball is out of play if he judges that a
player is slightly injured.
 He will ensure that any player who suffers a bleed leaves the field of play.
The player may only re-enter after the signal from the referee, who will
ensure that the wound has stopped bleeding.
 It will allow the game to continue if the team against which an infraction has
been committed benefits from an advantage, and will sanction the initially
committed infraction if the anticipated advantage does not occur at that time.
 It will punish the most serious infraction when a player commits more than
one infraction at the same time .
 It will take disciplinary measures against players who commit infractions
worthy of a warning or expulsion. You are not required to take action
immediately, but you must do so as soon as play stops.
 It will take action against official team officials who do not behave correctly
and may, if it deems necessary, expel them from the field of play and its
surroundings.
 He will act in accordance with the instructions of his assistant referees in
relation to incidents that he has not been able to observe.
 He will not allow unauthorized persons to enter the field of play.
 Will resume play after an interruption.
 It will send to the competent authorities a report of the match, with data on all
disciplinary measures taken against players or official team officials and on
any other incident that has occurred before, during and after the match.
5.3 Referee decisions:
 The referee's decisions on facts in relation to the game are final.
The referee may modify his decision only if he realizes that it is incorrect or, if
he deems it necessary, in accordance with an indication from an assistant
referee, provided that play has not been resumed or the match has ended.

6. START OF THE GAME:

Each of the two teams consists of a maximum of 11 players, and a minimum of
7. During the match these players may be changed for others, the so-called
substitutes or substitutes. One of the titular players must be the goal keeper. It
is permitted for a goalkeeper and another player on the team to exchange
positions during the match, as long as it is during a break and with the consent
of the referee.
Each player must have basic clothing, which consists of a t-shirt or jersey with
sleeves, shorts, socks, shin guards and appropriate footwear. The colors of the
clothing of both teams and that of both goalkeepers must be clearly different to
the eye. The captains (players representing each team) must wear some
identifying mark to be called by the referee when necessary, which is generally
an armband.
Soccer is played with a spherical ball. It must be made of leather or other
suitable material. Its circumference will be between 68 and 70 centimeters, its
mass between 410 and 450 grams, and its pressure between 0.6 and 1.1
atmospheres at sea level. Players can touch and move the ball with any part of
their body except their arms. The goalkeeper has the advantage of being able
to use any part of his body for this, but only within his penalty area.
Each match will be controlled by a main referee designated by the organization
of the competition in question, who will be the maximum authority of the match,
and the person in charge of enforcing the rules of the game. All referee
decisions are final. Only he can modify a decision, as long as he has not
resumed play or the match has ended. In addition, you will have 2 assistant
referees at your disposal to help you make decisions.
To start the match, one or more players from a team will move the ball from the
midpoint of the halfway line, at which point regulation time will begin to run. This
situation occurs with the opposing team at the beginning of the second half. It
also happens after each goal, where the team that received it executes the
throw-in.

7. BENEFITS IN THE PRACTICE OF FOOTBALL:

Sport cannot be conceived without the application of specific regulations for
each discipline , fair competition and the pleasure, solace and enjoyment of
recreational activity.
This is how the sport of soccer today presents countless benefits due to the
practice of this physical activity. Among others, we can have the discharge of
energy typical of the human being caused mainly by stress and academic or
work activities, which at a certain point accumulate over the weeks, we see this
in particular represented by one's Saturday or Sunday practice. or more football
matches.
Another benefit is the pleasant enjoyment of an activity that promotes leisure
among human beings, a liberating and recreational practice, creating positive
feelings and attitudes towards life.
Perhaps one of the benefits of playing football is the learning and
experimentation of moral and volitional attitudes and values , by establishing a
relationship of friendship and group work together with group mates, the
emergence of fighting spirit and discipline. that result in triumph with humility or
self-acceptance of defeat where these attitudes can be reflected in our lives to
be able to better face the social and economic problems that afflict us in our
country.
Finally, and being able to expand each of these and other benefits in the future,
we cannot fail to mention the physical and mental improvement of our body
through the development of our physical qualities. ONE MAN ONLY.

CONCLUSIONS
1. Football is regulated by 17 laws or rules, which are used universally,
although within them certain modifications are allowed to facilitate the
development of women's, children's and senior football.
2. Matches can be played on natural or artificial surfaces, in accordance
with the competition regulations.
3. Soccer nowadays presents countless benefits due to the practice of this
physical activity. Among others, we can have the discharge of energy
typical of the human being caused mainly by stress and academic or
work activities, which at a certain point accumulate over the weeks, we
see this in particular represented by one's Saturday or Sunday practice.
or more football matches.

BIBLIOGR AFIA
1. Football, by Ildefonso García. Madrid, 1998, Acento Editorial. ISBN 84-
483-0337-7.
2. Football told simply, by Alfredo Relaño. Madrid, 2001, Maeva Ediciones.
ISBN 84-95354-40-3.
3. The philosophy of football, by Mark Perryman. Barcelona, 1997, Edhasa.
ISBN 84-350-6501-4.