University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-12-11
THE POPULARITY OF SOCCER

The following article on soccer foot !
ball was written by T. +, Jones. in |
structor in athletics at the University |
!of Missouri.
Soccer is the great English game.
1t is as popular with the sport-loving
English people as baseball with the
American people. 1t is gradually
spreading to East and West The
game is now played in Great Britain.
Germany. France, Denmark, West In
dia. Russia and Canada. 1t is also
firmly established in the United States
both in the East and West.
The record attendance at a soccer
game is for the one played in 1898 a:
Crystal Palace for the English cup
At that game there were 11S0OO paid
admissions. This shows the great pop
ularity OF the game in comparison with
4 the Yale-Harvard or Army-Navy
games. two OF the largest collegiate
contests held in the United States.
/ 1t is gradually gaining popularity
( in the United States. 1t was played
/ first by city athletic clubs, then taken
Iup by the colleges and universities.
/ The Eastern schools have had inter-
collegiate soccer games the last six
or seven years. This year it was in
! troduced into the Western Conference
! and was this fall taken up as a col
legiate game The first game was be-
tween the universities of Chicago and
! Illinois. Ii is only question OF time
before it will be taken up by Missouri
Valley schools as one of the minor
sports. There is little possibility that
soccer will ever dispace our real
American football the change is too
great; but it is an excellent game and
should be made one of our collegiate
sports.
Soccer is a good game in which to
condition men fov other sports 1t is
an outdoor winter game and is usually
lpiayed after the close of the rugby
season. 1t can be played on frozen
ground as there is no tackling or
throwing the man. The rules are sim
pie and in some points the game is
similar TO American rugby The team
is composed OF eleven men, five for
wards. left and right inside. left and
-iC.tt
forward; three halfbacks, left, center
and right; two fullbacks, right and
left; and a goal keeper. The field is
l20 yards long and 50 yards wide. but
in America the game is usually played
upon the rugby field, the dimensions
being near enough alike to make but
little difference in the playing. The
game is divided into two halves of ~
minutes each. with an interval OF ten
minutes between the halves. The
teams change goals between halves
The ball is round and about ten inches
in diameter. The game is played with
the feet and head. No handling of the
ball with the hands is permitted eX-
cept by the goal keeper. who is al
lowed to bat. throw or catch the bali
and drop-kick or punt it away from
the goal. Players are not permitted
ito use their hands upon opponents,
and no mass plays are allowed, every
play is open. The ball is continuously
in play. Brute strength does not en-
ter into this game A small wiry man
stands equal show with a burly oppo-
nent. Men are chosen for their run
ming ability, GOODNESS and accuracy in
kicking the ball. To score a goal the
ball must pass between the goal posts
tand under the cross bar.
! To the spectator who is accustomed
to American rugby football soccer does
not have an intense interest This is !
largely due to a lack of knowledge of I!
the game. Soccer football calls for |
| the highest degree of courage. |
strength. swiftness and endurance. and |
! is bound to gain favor among Amer- |
can people who are lovers of strenuous
! sport