Soccer is a very old sport that has evolved greatly over the many years. Soccer has always been popular, it was played by the Italians, Chinese, Japanese, Egyptians, Ancient Greeks, Native Americans, Scottish, Vikings and even the Romans. Here is a timeline to show the evolution and development of the game.
2500 B.C. Ancient China, the earliest mentioned history of the game. They used a ball made of animal skin and stuffed with hair.
200 A.D. Italians played their version of soccer which they called "harpastum" they introduced their sport to the British.
217A.D The British said that they already played a similar game, which they started to play more than any other country.
600-1600A.D. Mexico & Central America, created the rubber ball.
Middle Ages Britain, France, and Italy kept the earliest know records of the game, they compared wins, loses and players talents.
1100's By the 12th century the game had become very violent, rules were no longer used.
1369 King Edward the III bans all football games, because they interfere with archery.
1500's Italians played a game with over 25 people on a field. They called the game Calico. They could use their feet, hands and run the ball over the goal line. This was similar to Rugby. later they split into two sports.
1572 Queen Elizabeth I bans all football.
1580 An Italian publishes a book with the first official set of rules
1605 Football in England became legal again, and it quickly became their most popular sport.
1820 Colleges such as Harvard, Princeton and others played in the U.S.A. played soccer tournaments against each other.
1830 England has the most modern form of the sport. It was used to keep potentially troublesome children out of harm.
1848 First Cambridge rules were drawn up.
1862 Oneida Football Club was formed in Boston, it was the first soccer club outside of England.
1863 The Football Association in England was formed.
1872 First international match, it was between England and Scotland.
1883 The International Football Association Board was formed, they agreed on a straight set of rules.
1885 Player slowly became professionals.
1886 The International Football Association Board meets for the first time to start training referees and officials.
1888 The penalty kick is introduced.
1908 Football becomes and olympic event.
1903 First world cup is played in Uruguay, between 13 teams.
1938 The world cup final is was broadcasted on BBC.
1991 First World Championship for Women's Football It was held in China and won by the USA.
1991 Woman's world cup finals were held in Los Angela's. There were over 90, 000 spectators and over 1 billion television viewers. Never had so many viewers watched a woman's sport.
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