SOCCER

         The modern game of soccer has a simple goal: kick or head the ball into the goal of your opponent’s team. Basically, there is also one simple rule: no one except the goalkeeper may use

their hands to play the ball. In a soccer game there are two teams of 11 players, who try to score a point by kicking a ball into the opponents net. Soccer is played on a rectangular field with a het on each short side of the field.

        Еleѵеn members of each team defend their side of the field to prevent the ball from being forced into their goal, which results in a point, scored by the team kicking the ball! There are only three officials involved in the game: the referee and two linesmen.

         The equipment used in soccer is also very simple. In addi­tion to the field itself, all that is needed for a game is a ball. Each player wears padded shin guard made of hard plastic, covered by long socks, for protection during play. A goalkee­per may also wear a special padded shirt and gloves to protect hands. A standard field, as regulated by the Federation In­ternational de Football Association (or FIFA), has a length between 100 and 130 yards, and a width of between 50 and 100 yards.

        A soccer game begins with a kick-off in the centre of the field. A coin is flipped to decide which team will kick-off. The Other team kicks off at the start of the second half when the teams switch sides or nets. After a team scores the other team gets to kick-off in the centre of the field.

       After the beginning of the game the ball remains in play unless it crosses a goal line or a touch line. All players attempt to stop the ball from coming in their zone while at the same time trying to score a goal. A player may kick the ball into the net with any part of the body except the hands and arms. If the ball goes out of bounds, the play is restarted with a corner kick, a goal kick or a throw-in. The referee decides what type to use. If the ball crosses the goal line and the defensive team touched it last then there is a corner kick by the offence. If the offence touches the ball last and crosses the goal line then it is a goal kick. A throw- in happens when the ball crosses the touch line. When it crosses the touch line, the team that did not touch it last, throws the ball in bounds. The ball іs thrown 6ver their head with two hands. Fouls are called when a player does not obey the rules and acts unsportsmanlike. When a foul is called, the opposite team receives either a penalty kick, a direct free kick or an indirect free kick.

       For offences such as shoving and tripping, either a direct free kick (offences not in the goal box) or a penalty kick (in­side the goal box) is awarded. Both allow goals to be made di­rectly from the kicks. If a minor offence is being committed, then an indirect free kick is given, from which a goal cannot be scored.

        Most soccer games have 45-minute halves, and the clock is not stopped except for injuries or deliberate time wasting. In professional soccer, only three to five substitutions are allowed per half. Generally, more are allowed in lower leagues.

         Children often play the sport in school as early as elemen­tary school. Many adults also play the sport. Soccer for many kids can be fun. Most children don’t think of soccer as work and often enjoy playing soccer. Adults also sometimes find soccer fun and even some adults have careers in the area as a professional soccer players.

         As for me I like soccer very much. I like both watching it and playing it. It is my favourite kind of sport.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the main goal in soccer game?

2. What is the basic rule of the game?

3. How many players can participate in a soccer game from each side?

4. How many officials are involved in the game?

5. What equipment is used in soccer?

6. What is a standard field?

7. When and where does the kick-off take place?

8. What happens when a foul is called?

9. How many substitutions are allowed in professional soc­cer per one half?

VOCABULARY:

soccer — футбол

goal — задача, цель; ворота, гол

to kick — бить по мячу, забивать гол

to head — бить по мячу головой, забивать гол головой

goalkeeper — спорт,вратарь

to score a point — забить гол

opponents net — ворота противника

to defend — защищать

to prevent — мешать, не допускать; предотвращать

officials — судейский состав

to involve — вовлекать; зд.участвовать

referee — судья в поле

linesman — судья на линии

padded — обитый, подбитый (войлоком)

shinguard — щиток на голень

long socks — зд. гетры

gloves — перчатки

kick-off — спорт,введение мяча в игру (с центра); рас­пасовка

to flip — подбрасывание в воздухе

to remain — оставаться

touch line — боковая линия футбольного поля

to attempt — пытаться, стараться, стремиться, прила­гать усилия

bounds — пределы поля

corner kick — угловойудар

goal kick — свободный удар, удар от ворот

throw-in — вбрасывание, аут

offence — зд. нападающая сторона

foul — нарушениеправил

to obey the rules — соблюдатьправилаигры

indirect free kick — штрафной удар, свободный штраф­ной удар

a penalty kick— пенальти

to shove — толкать, подталкивать

to trip — спорт. подножка

goal box — вратарская площадка

to award — назначаться

to commit — совершать

injury — повреждение, рана, ушиб

deliberate — намеренный, предумышленный

substitution — замена

half — тайм, первая или вторая половина игры

adult — взрослый