History of Soccer

Soccer has definitely gone a long way. It’s somehow hard to believe that early soccer balls were made of animal heads or pig bladders covered with animal skins. The history of soccer in fact can bring us back to as old as 255 BC-220 AD during the Han Dynasty in China, were it was originally regarded for physical or educational execises (”Tsu’Chu”). Then variations of this game emerged from different parts of the world, including Japan which they call “Kemari”, “Episkyros” in Greece, “Harpastum” in Rome. Although Cornwall and Ireland may have their own version called “Hurling”, it is still uncertain whether this can be regarded as a forerunner of contemporary football. Nevertheless, what we are certain of is that the game we are currently familiar with came from England and Scotland.

Around the 8th to the 19th centuries associations and competitions among local and regional areas in the UK emerged. In 1863, football rules have been established along with the standardization of football size and weight, and The Football Association was born. And that’s the history of soccer.

Ancient Soccer

Ancient Soccer has been based on substantial evidence that was documented way back during China’s early years. It has been documented that there is a manual from the Chinese military written in the Warring States Period. This period was concluded to be during 476 B.C. Up to 221 B.C.

Cuju was the name which best describes the practice which literally means kick ball. This activity originally included a leather ball that was needed to be kicked into a hole from a piece of cloth made up of silk. This cloth was put between two poles that range 30 feet or 9.1 M. The Cuju games became standardized during the Han Dynasty, a dynasty that existed from 206 B.C. Up to 220 A.D.

Rules were implemented during this period and its popularity reached Korea and Japan. The names of this activity in their respective countries were chuk-guk and kemari. During the period of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, the ball was enhanced and was air-filled. The Cuju games using air-filled ball started and became professionalized. Cuju was embraced by some people and many players made a living out of it.

If the Chinese has the eastern version of soccer in the ancient times, the ancient Greeks and Romans on the other hand are their counterparts in the west. Many games and activities in ancient Greece and ancient Rome required a ball that utilized the feet thus soccer also has a possible formulation from these activities and games by the Greeks and Romans. Such is the history of soccer that it reaches out far way back until the ancient times. Ancient soccer is widely known as one of the oldest form of game that required the feet to play it.

Who Invented Soccer? The Far-Reaching Roots of Soccer

“Who invented soccer?” this is the famous question most people asked about the famous sport. As we all know, Soccer is widely believed to be one of the most popular game in the world. Many people wonder who invented soccer and how the game came into being.

Many cultures and nationalities claim the game as their own invention, but there are few definite claim that decides who is right.

People in ancient China was so unsure of recognizing the game soccer or football as their own invention even though early history traced back that soccer game is familiar to a game called cuju in China. The ancient Romans and Greeks also had a game similar to soccer or football as well as people in Medieval Europe. In ancient soccer like game, pig bladders were engaged as the ball and puffed up and leather from animal skins was fed with old rags and straw to look like a spherical shape that could be manipulated around with the feet.

The modern roots of soccer as we know today can be traced back to mid 1860’s in England. It became popular because schools started competing with each other. However, during those times, there are slight problems due to lack of universal rules to follow.

It was then in 1963 that Football Association (FA) formed to establish one set of rules so each teams could have a fair game.

Today, there are many soccer teams around the world having a lot of famous soccer players which form a long legacy in the history of soccer.

The Unimaginable of History of Soccer

The early history of soccer, through scientific evidences, is traced back during the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C. Although it is believed that even before that time, people during the early years have been playing a ball with their feet. A military manual during the Han Dynasty include the “Tsu’Chu” among the physical educational exercise. The “Tsu’Chu” is an exercise of kicking a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through an opening, which measures about 30-40 cm in width, into a small net attached into long bamboo canes.

Another variety of this game was found out from the Far East, called Japanese Kemari, about 500 to 600 years before and is still being played nowadays. This form of game is of a circular football game which is more dignified and ceremonious experience. It is less spectacular, not too competitive but requires certain skills in playing the game.

The history of soccer is believed to be originated from different variety of ball games. The “Episkyros” Greek game shows a relative significance to a Roman game “Harpastum” but the first was much livelier. The “Harpastum” remained popular for 700 to 800 years but the Romans took the game in England with them. It was possible that early influences of this game made the development of football and soccer familiar to England and Scotland.

Since then, the game was known in the whole British Isles but the rules of the game were disorganized and more violent. It was until after football rules had been established in 1863 and the creation of Football Association, standardized the size of the ball, arrangement of every game and others. The first match took duration of one and a half hours.