Reasons Why There Is No Single Person Who Invented Soccer
Also known as football in some parts of the world, Soccer has been played by millions of players in more than 200 countries. As one of the most popular sports in the world, there is still no consensus on as to who invented soccer. This is because various kinds of sports that are strikingly similar to soccer have been played in different parts of the world for the past two millennia:
- Tsu Chu (China)
- Kemari (Japan)
- Episkiros (Greece)
- Harpastum (The Roman Empire)
- Shalygah (Russia)
- Calcio (Italy)
- La Soule (France)
- English Mob Football (England)
Soccer, also commonly known as football, is one of the most popular and also one of the oldest sports in the world. However, there is no answer as to who invented soccer because this game evolved from similar games that have been played in various parts of the world since ancient times.
Soccer is a game played by two teams composed of eleven players each. A team scores by driving the soccer ball into the goal of the opposing team. Generally, only the goalkeepers are permitted to use their arms or hands to touch the ball. The field players, on the other hand, can only use their feet, head, and torso during the game.
Early Soccer
Some people said that soccer originated in England but they could not pinpoint the Englishman who invented soccer. Moreover, there were games similar to soccer that were played in various countries even before it was played in England.
Tsu Chu (China)
Two thousand years ago, Chinese records state that a certain ball game called Tsu Chu, which literally means “football”, was played by emperors for entertainment. During the Ts’in Dynasty, a version of Tsu Chu was used as physical exercises when training soldiers, in which all body parts except the hands can be used to drive the ball into the goal.
Kemari (Japan)
Historians believe that the Kemari was developed from a similar Chinese ball game way back in the 7th century. There were also similar records that in 50 CE, a game between Japanese Kemari players and Chinese Tsu Chu players was held. In Kemari, the players need to juggle the ball with their feet and pass it around while keeping the ball from touching the ground.
Episkiros (Greece)
Around 2000 BC, the ancient Greeks played Episkiros, a game characterized by throwing and kicking the ball within an area that has been marked off by a boundary line. In a game of Episkiros, 12 players, women or men, form a team. Whatever the gender of the player, the Greeks are usually nude when they play.
Harpastum (Roman Empire)
In Harpastum, a team needs to keep the ball in their part of the playing field while the opposing team tries to steal it. In this game, the only player that could be tackled is the one who has the ball. The Roman legionnaires brought this game when they occupied England.
Shalygah (Russia)
In Shalygah, the players need to kick and force the kilu into the “city” or territory of the opposing team. The kilu is a ball made of leather and stuffed with feathers.
Calcio (Italy)
Calcio, a game that is very similar to Harpastum, was played in Italy during the 16th and 17th century. This game was originally played by aristocrats during festivals. The players, using both hands and feet, need to keep the ball moving and to force it into openings at either ends of the playing area.
La Soule (France)
La Soule is a game developed by French from the Harpastum game introduced by Romans into France in 50 BCE. Since there were no regulations for La Soule, hundreds of people could participate and violence usually ensues. Also known as Mob Football, this was brought to England by Norman invaders from France.
English Mob Football (England)
From 7th to 9th century, mob football became popular in England. During festivities and celebrations, this game was played between villages, in which teams attempted to force the ball to the center square of the opposing village. Since there were no restrictions and hundreds to thousands of players can play, the game was very violent that property damages, injuries, and even death results.
It was banned in 1314 by the Mayor of London Nicholas de Farndone. From the reign of King Edward to that of Queen Elizabeth I, several laws were passed to prohibit people from playing soccer. The term football was first used in England in the 15th century.
Despite the bans, soccer became very popular in England. It was also introduced in public schools to keep young boys fit. The game also became more organized, with well defined positions, teams, coaches and referees. The earliest known soccer rule in England was that of the Eton College.
Modern Soccer
The soccer that we know now can be traced back to England. Soccer has been played in and among English public schools but it was only in the 19th century when there arose the idea to hold an organized tournament.
Cambridge Rules
Since the schools have different games rules, it was quite hard to find a common ground in order to launch larger tournaments. In 1848, the Cambridge Rules allowed elite English schools to compete under common rules.
Football Association
In 1863, under the leadership of Cobb Morley, some of Cambridge Rules were used when the Football Association promulgated its rules. This time around, soccer was already played in Australia, Europe, and the Americas. In 1871, the Football Association organized the FA Cup.
FIFA
It was in 1904 when several countries formed the international organization FIFA or Federation of International Football Associations. By the 1930s, many American and European countries were already members of FIFA.
FIFA World Cup
The number of soccer enthusiasts has grown steadily in the recent years. The most famous international Soccer competition is the FIFA World Cup, which is held once every four years. Even if it still not resolved whether who invented soccer, the World Cup is one of the most watched international games in the whole world.