| Soccer began in England in the early 1830's as a | | | | upperclass; it was played by schoolboys and college |
| popularsport for working-class communities. It was | | | | men, butthere was not a formal soccer club until 1862 |
| seen as a wayof keeping the children out of trouble | | | | when the |
| around the house andwhile they were in school. They | | | | Boston Oneida soccer club was formed. |
| could relieve frustrationand learn to work as a team, | | | | Generally, this is considered the first club to carry |
| important concepts to helpthem grow and adjust to life | | | | aregular roster, because until this time pick-up games |
| as adults. | | | | werethe norm. The club was an elite subsection of the |
| In 1857, the first clubs were formed in Sheffield. Within | | | | populationthat would play against pick-up teams. |
| 10 years, the clubs had enough of a following to form | | | | Throughout thefour-year history of the Oneida Soccer |
| theirown association, the Football Association, around | | | | Club, they neverlost a game. |
| 1867. | | | | Beginning in the 1920's, soccer really began to gain |
| After the first matches between associations such as | | | | aplace in America. The American Soccer League was |
| the | | | | founded in |
| Sheffield Football Association and the London Football | | | | 1921, guaranteeing that the game was here to stay; it |
| Association, the clubs decided that official rules | | | | wasalmost as popular as the National Football League |
| wereneeded that could be followed between clubs. | | | | for atime. |
| The groups got together and began trying to establish | | | | Eventually, the game and the clubs began to be |
| rulesthat everyone would approve, but there were | | | | availableto children and adults from the lower |
| many issues thatcould not be resolved. Although they | | | | socio-economicclasses with the formation of a new |
| eventually came up withrules, part of the group | | | | league, termed the ASL. |
| branched off and created the Rugby | | | | Since this formation, soccer has become an |
| Football Union. | | | | increasinglypopular sport throughout the United States. |
| Although in America, the sport is called soccer, | | | | Today many people around the world stop everything |
| throughoutmuch of the rest of the world it is known as | | | | duringthe World Cup Finals to watch the game and |
| football, andwhat Americans know as football is called | | | | cheer for theirteam. If you want to know more about |
| Americanfootball. | | | | soccer, search the |
| Soccer first entered the United States through the | | | | Internet or visit with someone from your local league. |