An insider's guide to soccer

Whatever you know the sport as soccer, f tbol, football, or association football it is the world s most popular team sport. And the World Cup, played every four years, is the world s most popular sporting event. But that s on the global stage. As everyone who plays or watches soccer knows, sometimes the real action and excitement can be found on the local field or pitch. This concise guide is a useful tool for those interested in playing (or just learning about) the game including its earliest days of play, up-to-date descriptions of the various positions, clear explanations of the sometimes-confusing rules of play, and much more.