| > | | | | outcome of modern soccer. Recordings of this game |
| While it is undisputed that the origins of modern soccer, | | | | date as far back as 2500 B.C., although not much |
| or football, originated in Britain, there is a great deal of | | | | more is known asides the fact that it was played with |
| evidence that points to this beloved game as having | | | | a ball. The lack of information on the sport and how it |
| an older history. | | | | was played has eliminated it from runnings as the first |
| Where did the game of soccer really begin, and how | | | | evidence of a game similar to soccer. |
| old is it? To understand how many different varieties | | | | Greek/Roman Soccer History |
| of "soccer" there are, you need to understand a bit | | | | Perhaps the closest relative to modern soccer are the |
| about the older versions of the game and how they | | | | games that were formed by the Greeks during the |
| have evolved. | | | | prime of their culture. They had numerous varieties of |
| Below, you will find a list of the predominant cultures | | | | football style games, some of which required hands, |
| that had a variety of soccer, and learn how each one | | | | some of which forbade hands. In the end, after the |
| differs from what we play today. And no, they never | | | | Roman conquering of Greece, the game Harpastum is |
| used anything like Lotto shinguards back then either! | | | | what modern soccer would be based from. This |
| - Chinese Soccer History | | | | game, probably a modified version of the Greek's |
| - Japanese Soccer History | | | | "Harpaston", which translates roughly to handball. While |
| - Egyptian Soccer History | | | | grossly misnamed, this game is what is considered to |
| - Greek/Roman Soccer History | | | | be one of the precursors to modern soccer. |
| - British Soccer History | | | | British Soccer History |
| Chinese Soccer History | | | | In Britain during the 8th century, soccer was created, |
| To many, this is the oldest version of soccer to exist. | | | | not as a recreational sport, but as a war game. One |
| However, there is quite a lot of controversy of | | | | of the stories of the original roots of the sport comes |
| whether or not this is the oldest, or Japan's version is | | | | from when a Danish Prince was beheaded, and his |
| the elder. The Chinese version of the game, originally | | | | head was used as a ball and was kicked around. Ever |
| named "Tsu Chu", involved players on a field that had | | | | since this 'legendary' tale, villages and other |
| to hit a leather ball stuffed with fur into a small hole. | | | | communities would play a game where they would |
| Like Soccer, no hands were permitted during the play | | | | have to kick a ball to a specific goal. It was a violent |
| of the game, and it was considered an honor to be a | | | | game, where injury and death were not uncommon, |
| member of a team. | | | | but it was popular nevertheless. In fact, it was so |
| The Emperor of the Han Dynasty, when the game | | | | violent, that in 1331, King Edward the III passed laws to |
| was developed, was an avid player and fan, and | | | | try to stop the playing of the game. It did not work, |
| spread the popularity of this game all over China during | | | | however, and the sport continued on. |
| his reign. This roughly dates back to 300 B.C., although | | | | There are even stories of soccer games that involved |
| there is controversy on the subject of dating, which | | | | hundreds upon hundreds of players. In these games, |
| could result in the origins of the game being as far | | | | there were many deaths, some resulting in the |
| back as 5000 B.C. Regardless, this version of Soccer | | | | hundreds. It wasn't until 1815 when Eton College set up |
| is extremely old. Despite that, there is still a version of | | | | a series of rules for the game that it became less |
| Tsu Chu played today. While the two games are | | | | violent and more of a true sport. At this time, other |
| similar, Tsu Chu has had no effect on the modern | | | | colleges and universities took up the banner and began |
| version of the game, as it was originally developed and | | | | to play under similar rules. Later, the rules were |
| created for play in Great Britain. | | | | evaluated and judged, and the Cambridge rules were |
| Japanese Soccer History | | | | created as a result in 1848. In the Cambridge rules, |
| Kemari, the Japanese version of "Soccer", is perhaps | | | | shin-kicking, carrying the ball and tripping were all |
| one of the most different forms of the sport, in | | | | forbidden. Rugby rules allowed these aspects, and the |
| comparison to modern soccer. Kemari was a game of | | | | two varieties of soccer, or football, split to form their |
| "Keep it up", much like modern hacky sacks, although | | | | own followings. |
| used with a larger ball that was stuffed with saw dust. | | | | On October 26, 1863, London schools and sports club |
| This version involves a "pitch", or the field, designated | | | | sent representatives to the Freemason's Tavern, |
| by the selection of four trees, the cherry, maple, pine | | | | where the Football Association was formed. Rugby |
| and willow. Many great houses in Japan would grow | | | | supporters left this association to form the Rugby |
| trees to have a permanent pitch, or field, established. | | | | Association. This is where the birth of modern soccer |
| Kemari was normally played with two to twelve | | | | began. In 1969, the Football Association finalized the |
| players. Established in roughly 1004 B.C., it vies for | | | | modern game of soccer by forbidding the use of |
| position of the oldest game with China's Tsu Chu. In | | | | hands in the game. |
| fact, China's Tsu Chu players and Japan's Kemari | | | | The term "Soccer" was coined when someone was |
| players were the first to have an "International" game | | | | asked if he was a Rugger, which is a Rugby player. |
| of their versions of Soccer, which is dated to have | | | | The -er signified that the person participated in a a |
| occurred in roughly 50 B.C., although a definite date of | | | | particular sport. The individual, Charles Wreford Brown, |
| 611 A.D. is known. Regardless, this game stands with | | | | replied with "Soccer!", taking the phrase from |
| China as a sister sport to Soccer, while it never | | | | Association, SOC, and adding the -er. The term stuck. |
| affected the modern version of the game. | | | | While British individuals still call the game Football, |
| Egyptian Soccer History | | | | Americans and other countries call it Soccer, especially |
| While not much is known about Egyptian Soccer, or | | | | if they have heavy support in American Football |
| other ball games, it is thought there was a version of a | | | | present. Ever since the foundation of the Association, |
| type of ball game played by young women during the | | | | "Football" has risen in popularity, becoming one of the |
| age of Baqet III. On his tomb, images of this sport were | | | | best love games in the history of Earth. Now, hundreds |
| depicted, although no one is certain how the game | | | | of thousands play the sport, although it lacks the initial |
| was played or whether or not it truly affected the | | | | violence present at its creation. |