Articles Index
Positions on the Soccer Field
A description of the various positions on a soccer field.
Throw Ins, Goal Kicks, and Corner Kicks
The different ways the ball is put back into play after it has left the soccer field.
Soccer Fouls
An explanation of why referees award direct free kicks, indirect free kicks, and penalty kicks and what constitutes a foul in soccer.
The Officials
A description of each of the four officials' functions during the course of a soccer match, from the referee, to the linesman, and the fourth official.
Understanding the Premier League
A quick guide to the Premier League, how it works, and what to watch for in the league table.
Arsenal F.C.
A profile of Arsenal F.C. with history and quick facts.
World Cup Qualifying
The road to the most popular sporting event on the planet is a long one. The World Cup is not just a 32-team soccer extravaganza, which takes place over the course of roughly four weeks every four years. It is the end product of nearly two years’ worth of qualifying tournaments, preliminary matches, and eliminations.
Defensive Gameplan: The Offside Trap
The offside trap consists of defenders stepping higher up the field at the right moment, leaving attackers in an offside position just before their teammates pick out a pass to them. Properly executed, the offside trap allows defenders to win the ball back without having to make so much as a tackle.
Soccer 101: The Field
There are very few fixed dimensions for soccer fields, even at the highest level. The sport’s world governing body, FIFA, only stipulates that for professional 11-versus-11 competition, they must be between 100 yards and 130 yards and the width between 50 and 100 yards. Still, some elements remain constant on full-size fields throughout the world.
The Confederations Cup
[p]The FIFA Confederations Cup is an eight-team international tournament held every four years. Though it lacks the prestige of a World Cup or a confederation championship, like the European Cup or the Copa America, it provides meaningful competition for national teams during an off-summer. The eight teams always include the reigning champions from the six FIFA confederations, the host nation, and the holders of the World Cup.
Chelsea F.C.
A profile of Chelsea F.C. with history and quick facts.
Liverpool F.C.
Club profile of Liverpool F.C.
Manchester United F.C.
Club profiles: Manchester United
In Italy, Three Cities' Fans Divided by Three Bitter Rivalries
The wonderful thing about Serie A is that there is never any shortage of bitter local rivalries. Every week, it seems, two halves of a city are at each other’s throats, ready to duke it out for three points and — more importantly — local bragging rights. The three most important splits are in the cities of Turin, Milan, and the capital, Rome.
The National Collegiate Championship
Every year, the respective national champions of men’s and women’s collegiate soccer are determined by a single-elimination tournament at the end of the season. Held in November, they unfold over the course of four weeks and culminate in the College Cup, which includes the semi-finals and final.
Soccer 101: Basic Equipment
Soccer requires much less equipment than most sports, with correct footwear being the only absolute necessity. The idea is to keep your gear light in order to allow for the widest possible range of movement and comfort over the whole 90 minutes. Here is a quick guide to what you will need to wear from head to toe.
The Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is widely considered to be the world’s premier club competition. It pits 32 of the most successful clubs in Europe, as determined by their standing in their domestic leagues the previous season, to crown the champions of the continent. Played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights scattered throughout the season, the Champions League runs from late September to late May with a hiatus in December and January.
Women's Professional Soccer
Despite the worldwide success of the United States' women's national team, the women's club game has long struggled to gain a foothold in America. After the failed three-year experiment of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), which folded in 2003, a new women's league, Women's Professional Soccer, was launched in 2009.
The 2009 January Sales in England, Spain, and Italy
A comprehensive list of all the dealings during the January 2009 transfer window in the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and Italy's Serie A — the top three leagues in Europe.