Change In Women's Soccer

Changes In Women’s Soccer
The sport of soccer has overcome many changes through the years. In particular, women’s soccer compared to men’s soccer has gained much notoriety. The widespread knowledge of soccer has spread throughout numerous countries. Soccer began as primarily a men’s sport, but today soccer is considered a sport that both genders participate in. Women’s soccer has changed dramatically over the years with the increase in popularity as well as new style and rules of the game.
Back in the history of soccer, women participated in the "mob" games which were often played by a large number of people around neighboring villages. "When I started refereeing, girls teams were only 25% of the sport while now approximately half the players

registered in youth soccer are girls. All while the number of players has increased exponentially" (Vogt 2). In the past, this sport primarily comprised of male and as noted above only 25% were female. "At the high school level, participant growth was no less dramatic. In 1976, barely 10,000 girls played in high school, less than 10% of the total. That had quadrupled to 41,000 in 1980, almost 25%. The number topped 100,000 eight years later and by 1990, had hit 122,000, 35% female. By 2000, nearly 270,000 girls played high school soccer, almost 42% of total high school participants. Such a dramatic change was almost unprecedented and was a dramatic indication of both the growth of soccer and the growth in female participation" (Women's 19). The sport of soccer was limited for women to primarily only gym class, random pickup games, and some intramural college tournaments. The first women’s league was formally established in 1951. “This circuit was established in 1951 by Father Craig of St. Matthew’s Parish of North St. Louis. The Craig Club Girls Soccer League consisted of four teams, and played full schedules for two seasons. Although their history was short, it was a milestone in the history of women’s soccer, although it would be over a decade before the sport began to make a true start in the colleges” (Women's 12). Today, the sport of soccer has gained much popularity with females. There is just as many, if not more, females participating in this sport.
As more women started playing soccer, numerous teams were created which participated in tournaments all over the world.

"In many ways, the creation and growth of women’s soccer in the US was a process of assembling the components. College soccer, the youth programs, amateur clubs, the national team, tournament success, the US Open Cup, farm clubs and finally a professional league. But once it was done (and at an amazingly quick pace at that), the US had gone from a latecomer to the premier women’s soccer program in the world, and is a spearhead that inspires the growth of the women’s game throughout the rest of the world" (Women's 69). The first women's soccer league in the United States wasn't established until 1995. Women's first professional league in the United States was developed in 2001. As women’s soccer became more popular, the style of clothing dramatically changed. Women's soccer used to be played in whatever clothes they wanted. There was a photo that was taken in 1869 of women playing soccer in their dresses. Today, women's soccer has uniforms that they wear for every game. "The four British associations agreed on a uniform code and formed the International Football Association Board" (There

22).
Over the years, women’s soccer has made some drastic changes. The changes involved a new style of the game and even a new field. "Many youth soccer games during the 1970s were played on football fields and those fields were long and narrow -- 120 yards by 55 yards or so. Not the best size for a good game. Then came the rise of soccer field complexes and now artificial turf fields, all with appropriate field sizes" (Vogt 7). Soccer fields today are 110-120 yards long by 70-80 yards wide. "In Italy they played a game called "calcio" with teams of 27+ people. The game involved kicking, carrying or passing a ball across a goal line. In 1580, Giovanni Bardi published a set of rules of the game of calcio" (There 13). The Japanese version of 'soccer' is was called Kemari, a game much like modern hackysacks, played with two to twelve players, and played a larger ball stuffed with sawdust. There was also a field designated by four trees (cherry, maple, pine and willow) (There 3). Since 1580, the way soccer is played has changed. Today, there are only 12 players on the field and you are not allowed to use your hands unless you are the goalie. The goalie is only allowed to use their hands inside their own penalty area. Also, to score, you have to make a goal. A goal is made when a player from the opposing team kicks the ball into their opponent's goal and the soccer ball goes past the goal line. There has already been numerous changes to the game of soccer but there are still changes in the future that are going to be made.
Women’s soccer has developed new rules of many years.

"The 1902 decision to award penalties for fouls committed in an area 18 yards from the goal line and 44 yards wide, created both the penalty box and penalty spot. Another box 'goal area', commonly called the 'six-yard-box', six yards long and 20 wide, replaced a semi circle in the goalmouth. However it was not for another 35 years that the final piece of the jigsaw, the 'D' shape at the edge of the penalty area" (Football 11). "Penalties, of course, had to be awarded by someone and following a proposal from the Irish Association, the referee was allowed on to the field of play. True to its gentlemanly beginnings, disputes were originally settled by the two team captains, but, as the stakes grew, so did the number of complaints" (Football 7). The penalty kick was introduced in 1891 which used to be called the "kick of death." A penalty kick is a person is fouled in their opponent's box. Once the foul is called, the team who received the foul is allowed a free shot at on their opponents goal 12 yards away. In 1872 the corner kick was introduced. A corner kick happens when a team has the ball on their opponents half of the field and then their opponent kicks the ball out anywhere from the two corner kick positions on that side and perimeter beside the goal. In 1869 goal kicks were introduced. A goal kick happens when the opposing team kicks the ball out on their opponent's side where the goal is. If the ball goes out from

their opponents anywhere from the goal to the two corner kick spots on that half of the field then a corner kick will happen after. In 1878 a referee used a whistle for the first time. Now a days, referees use their whistles several times per game. "The offside rule formed part of the original rules in 1863 but it was a far remove from the law as we know it today. Any attacking player ahead of the ball was deemed to be offside - meaning early tactical systems featured as many as eight forwards, as the only means of advancing the ball was by dribbling or scrimmaging as in rugby. In the late 1860s, the FA made the momentous decision to adopt the three-player rule, where an attacker would be called offside if positioned in front of the third-last defender. Now the passing game could develop" (Football 4).