Kicking into History: The Origins and Invention of Soccer

Soccer – or football, as it's known outside of North America – is undeniably one of the world's most popular sports today. But where did this beautiful game originate? The history of soccer is long and complex, reaching back over 2,000 years to ancient civilizations. Let's kick off this fascinating exploration into the roots of the game we love so much.

Trawling through numerous historical records, we find the game's earliest versions bear little resemblance to the soccer we know today. In ancient cultures from China to Central America, people used their feet, heads, and bodies to move a ball towards a goal – a premise that remains the same to this day.

In ancient China, during the Han Dynasty (~206 B.C. - 220 A.D), a game known as "cuju" was popular. Cuju literally translates to "kick ball with foot". Players used a leather ball filled with feathers and fur, which they attempted to kick through an opening into a net, while trying not to use their hands. The game was typically played in a rectangular field divided by a midline. Reminding you of something? This is arguably the earliest version of soccer.

In Ancient Greece, a game known as "Episkyros" was popular, which later was adapted by the Romans and renamed "Harpastum". These games were more physical, resembling rugby more than soccer. However, they still lay claim to being soccer's ancestors because they introduced the concept of controlling a ball with feet.

Meanwhile, in Mesoamerican cultures, a sport known as "pok-ta-pok" or "pitz" was invented almost 3,500 years ago. The Mayans and Aztecs played this extreme athletic contest where players had to propel a rubber ball through a vertical ring using only their hips, feet, and heads. While the equipment and manner of scoring were different, the essence of ball control and team competition can still be seen in modern soccer.

Moving forward through the timeline, in medieval Europe, a version called "mob football" was widely prevalent. This was a chaotic and often violent game in which entire villages would attempt to move an inflated pig’s bladder from one landmark to another - providing an early version of a goalpost.

While these games may seem starkly different from the soccer we know today, they were essential steps in the evolution of the sport.

The inception of soccer dates back over 2,000 years. Its roots are seen in games played by early civilizations, where the objective was to strike a ball through a sort of target or into a designated area. However, what we know as soccer today has taken shape over several centuries, with each era contributing its own rules and innovations to the sport.

The Middle Ages saw the first iterations of a game that more closely resembled soccer, particularly in Britain. Known as “mob football,” these games were a far cry from the organized matches we see today. The number of players was unlimited, and the rules were not clearly defined. The primary goal was to move a ball from a start point to a target area, using any means necessary. Each town had its own version of the game, and it was not uncommon for entire villages to participate.

In the 19th century, the game began to take on a more streamlined, standardized structure. The establishment of formal rules was initiated by schools and universities across Britain. In 1863, the Football Association was formed in England, which established a universal set of rules for the game. This in turn led to the inception of ‘Football’ as a professional sport. The FA’s rules included provisions that prohibited using hands to touch the ball, among others, integrated the elements of what we now recognize as modern soccer.

Towards the end of the 20th century, the sport underwent another major evolution with the advent of new technology. One significant invention was the introduction of goal-line technology. This technology uses electronic devices to accurately determine when the entire ball has crossed the goal line. This advancement has decreased the occurrence of contentious decisions in matches, leading to fairer outcomes.

In recent years, the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has been another significant development in soccer. VAR assists referees in making decisions during a game by using video replay, and it can be used to review goals, penalty decisions, red card incidents, and mistaken identity decisions.

The tactical aspect of the game has also evolved over the years. In the early years of soccer, teams primarily employed the use of physical strength and basic strategies. However, as the sport evolved, more complex tactical devices were employed. Teams began to develop specific roles for players and adopt tactics such as the offside trap, pressing, and counter-attacking.