The Washington herald., 1911-12-17

While the soccer code of fottball has
not yet advanced into general popu-
lnr!ty in this country, signs are not
wanting that, not only in California, but
all over the United States, this system
of clean. open football. which charac-
terizes soccer, is rapidly coming into
more general recognition.
1t is a certainty that within the next
five years it will be firmly established
all over the country on permanent
basis. The game well deserves the dis
tinction which it now holds throughout
the world-it is the most skillful, open
and spectacular form Of football ever de-
vised, and to play it properly demands
pretty nearly all the qualifications that
go to make the true sportsman and ath-
lete Skill, speed, judgment, strength,
endurance, agility, &c, are all necessary
o.. II is common knowledge that in the
British isles the game is played on
mammoth scale with its hundreds of thou
sands of players, and supporters by the
million. 1t is not generally known, how
ever. that the majority of the countries
of Europe are now linked together in
one big association instituted in Paris in
1904 and Milan in 1910. The name of the
federation is La Federation Interna-
tionale de Football Association" the OBJ
ject being to control and develop inter-
national association football The follow
ing countries are members and have as
sociations which control the game in their
respective jurisdictions: Austria, Bel
gium, Denmark, England, France, Fin
land, Germany, Hungary, Italy, LuXem-
burg. Netherlands. Norway, Portugal,
South Africa, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Factors in Soccer Advance.
That the above countries are potent
factors in the advancement OF soccer
into worldwide notice and that their
activities are by no means lethargic
can be gathered from statements made
by Arthur Berry, OF Liverpool, a we'll
known amateur. Mr.. Berry has played
football against Russians, Danes, Aus
trians, Firms, Swedes, Belgians. Dutch
men, Frenchmen, Swiss. South Africans,
and other foreign folk. Football through
out Europe" Mr.. Berry says, has
greatly improved during the last four
years. Some Of our neighbors are more
than tacklers or mere hinderers to other
players. They know all about the COM
bination, about pushing and guiding the
ball into position in front of the goal,
and when there they can shoot.
The French people appear to me as
too hot-headed even to play real scien-
tific football, but the other northern
European countries show the best points
Of the sport The Dutch and the Danes
are quite ROOo. Inc Germans are max
ing rapid progress, and in Holland gates
Of over 5000 are not uncommon.
The other countries of the federation
are all full OF enthusiasm, and their
grounds are splendidly appointed and
have every conveiBece of the well-equip-
ped. modern athletic inclosure."
Mr.. Berry thinks that II England is
10 hold her own as the leading nation
playing association football there is much
need 10 Keep the finer points of play
in view and not to sacrifice science for
strength and speed, which are the nat
ural gifts OF many OF the nationalities
that he has played against
Soccer IE Cosmopolitan.
From the foregoing It can easily be
seen that soccer Is the most cosmopoIi-
tan game in existence to-day, as IN ad-
dition to the countries mentioned in the
federation, there are many more conn
tries not yet AFFILIATED with that body
II Is not a big stretch OF the ffnap-
ination TO foresee the time when rreat
contests win be arranged to Determine
The champion country OF the world In
soccer football perhaps on the plan of
the olympic games On fact. this Is Az
ready dene on small scale at the pres