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The score is tied 1-1. Its you and the goalie with ten seconds left. You dribble left, then right, you shoot . . . GOOOAAALLL!!! "Association Football", "football" or, in this age, "soccer" is considered an international pastime. It is played in more towns, cities, and countries than any other sport in the world. Millions share the love for this sport. Comparable to baseball in the US, or hockey in Canada, soccer enjoys the same reputation in the countries of Europe and South America. The sports popularity is swiftly growing in America. So what is it about this sport that attracts more and more participants every year? What is it that invites crowds of a hundred thousand fans and sparks these crazed fans into an uncontrollable rage and a sudden state of chaos? Something that has captivated the rest of the world is beginning to gain a foothold in the US. However, soccer did not enjoy a successful beginning.

It wasnt until the late 1800s that a man by the name of William McGregor introduced the FA Cup and international matches, which saved the game from obscurity. The earliest forms of soccer were played three centuries ago and quite rapidly evolved into a game radically different from its origins and thus flowered the irresistible spectacle still recognizable so many years later.

Soccer is the name commonly given in North America to a form of football played with a spherical ball. It is the most widely played team game in the world and the most popular spectator sport, followed avidly by hundreds of millions of fans. Originally called association football (the name soccer is a corruption of the word assoc derived in turn from association), (Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia) soccer is distinguished from American or Canadian football and Rugby in that it is primarily played with the feet. It also differs from these games in that, soccer being speedier, players must improvise their tactics as play proceeds, constantly shifting their positions to receive or intercept passes. Teams of 11 players play on a field no more than 130 yd x 100 yd and not less than 100 yd x 50 yd. The basic objective of the game is for one team to force the ball, by kicking it or using the chest or head, past the goalkeeper and into the goal. The ball is a leather-covered sphere 27 to 28 in. in circumference and weighing 14 to 16 ounces. The game is played in two 45-minute halves. The team scoring the most goals wins the game.

All that is needed to play soccer is a ball, goals, and, for those who want, uniforms consisting of shorts, socks, cleats. It can even be played barefoot. This simplicity and informality is a chief reason for the worldwide popularity of the game. Because tackling is not as violent as in other forms of football and the round ball is more easily controlled than an oval one, soccer is especially suited to younger players.

Soccer has been a part of my life since I was five years old. I have been playing now for twelve years. My experiences in soccer have changed from the first games where 11 players ran in a bunch following the ball, to where now we use a complex system of passing using triangles. Some fans have told me that our system seems difficult to learn and play but when broken down, it is very simple. I have learned a lot about the sport. When I started to play higher levels of soccer I had to make a commitment. As a member of this year's varsity soccer team I spend close to 24 hours a week on the soccer field. My coach played semi-pro soccer in Scotland. Nearly every coach in Utah knows him. He trains us harder than any other coach I have ever had. When I played with him several years ago our team went 16-0-1. We were ranked #1 in the state. With commitment and hard work our team hopes to continue our coach's winning tradition.

In 12th century England the most primitive forms of soccer were played on the battlefield. Stories tell of using the enemy's skull as a ball. Another tells of a brave village defeating a Roman team and running them out of town in 217 AD. They took over their whole town including houses, shops, fields and livestock (gives a new meaning to the old saying, "Winner takes all"). Twelfth century soccer was a violent sport with little or no rules. (Origins of the Game)

Native Americans used to play a game called Pasuchuakohowog meaning, "They gather to play ball with the foot." Beaches, a half-mile wide with goals one-mile apart, served as playing fields for as many as 1000 people at a time. Games were often rough, resulting in broken bones. No one could be identified because players disguised themselves with ornaments and warpaint making retaliating close to impossible. It was common for games to be carried over from one day to the next with a feast for all at the conclusion of the match. (Origins of the Game)

It is important to understand that "football" began to be used specifically to describe association football in Europe some time after the Football Association was formed in London in 1863. The Football Association was not set up with the intention of creating a "new" game. The wealthy young Britons who formed the Association had all attended exclusive schools, each fanatically proud of their own traditions and each with their own soccer rules. Now, the Football Association, with their universally acceptable rules for one game only, came into being to provide a game overseen by gentlemen for young gentlemen. It was some years before the world game of today became faintly recognizable. (1000 Years of Football Trivia)

The world's first league was formed in April 1888. The driving force was William McGregor, a Scottish shopkeeper, teetotaler, and deeply religious chairman of the Aston Villa club in Birmingham, which later became the world's first "super club." The league came just in time for soccer, which was struggling to find its true role yet again after the legalization of professional teams in 1885. The forces of amateurism, then represented by the public schools and universities and their powerful position in British society, still saw paid play as an evil. However, strictly organized weekly league competition proved to be the foundation stone of the professional game. The so-called "Baines cards," an amazing series of printed paper cards, were the first brilliant commercial project to spring from popular sports with mass appeal. International matches also helped to revitalize the game. The first international match was played between England and Scotland. A new side of the game was added with these international matches. Players were now playing teams they knew nothing about. They knew nothing about their style of play, their abilities, or their strengths and weaknesses. (1000 Years of Football Trivia)

The evolution of soccer has also meant that rules had to change to keep up with the level of competition. Some of the major alterations over the years include:

1580:A certain Giovanni Bardi published a set of rules of the game of "calcio".
1848:The first Cambridge Rules are drawn up.
1877:The associations in Great Britain formed to gain a uniform code.
1886:June 2, first official meeting of the International Football Association Board.
1891:Introduction of the penalty-kick.
1913:FIFA becomes a member of the International F.A. Board.
1925:Amendment of offside rule from three to two players.
1937-38: The present Laws framed in a new system of codification but based on the Laws previously in force.
1997:The Laws revised.

(http://www.fifa.com/fifa/)

On May 21, 1904 seven countries formed an organization called Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The countries of France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland assembled FIFA in order to distinguish it unequivocally from "Union Football", or rugby. The split between the two sports occurred in the central English town of Rugby in 1823, when a player of the home team scored a goal by picking up the ball and running with it. The classic version of the game, association football, adhered to the original round ball, while the derivatives, rugby and American football, chose to introduce an oval ball. (http://www.fifa.com/fifa/)

The World Cup is a tournament involving 36 teams. Each team fights for respect, glory, fame, distinction and bragging rights. The atmosphere surrounding this tournament is tremendous. The tournament is held every four years, with the Olympics in between. The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. Thirteen teams competed for the first World Cup victory. In 1958 the sixth World Cup was held, during which the first television transmission of the game was held. The traditional black and white ball was introduced to show up better on the first black and white televisions. In 1994 the United States welcomed the world by staging the World Cup for the first time. Breaking numerous records, World Cup USA, 1994 is heralded as the best World Cup ever. The most successful World Cup team is Brazil. Brazil has won the tournament more times than any other team. Their success has been accredited to Pel, who led the team to three championships in twelve years.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or better known as Pel, is considered the greatest soccer player of his time. He was born in Trs Coraes, Brazil on October 23, 1940. Pel was famed for his powerful kicking and brilliant field strategy. He was an amazing soccer player to watch. Anyone who has ever played the game can't help but hold a tremendous amount of respect for his abilities. He scored 1200 goals in 1253 games making him the only player to score 1000 goals during a career. He began playing as an inside left forward for the Santos Football Club in 1956 and six years later the team won it's first world club championship. He also led Brazil to three World Cup championships in 1958, 1962, and 1970. In 1975 the New York Cosmos signed Pel for 2.8 million dollars, thus making him the highest paid soccer player ever. He retired after leading the Cosmos to the NASL championship. Pel was inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 1993.

America's role in the development of soccer was minute until the middle part of the 20th century. Our nation was one that long resisted soccer's spread. By 1820, many American colleges played soccer, but there was no intercollegiate competition. The rules were casual and often changed. On November 6, 1869 Princeton University and Rutgers University engaged in the first intercollegiate soccer match in New Brunswick, NJ. The Rutgers team won the match 6-4. Soon immigrants from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales arrived in the US in the metropolitan areas of the East, Midwest and Pacific Coast. Before long, communities with textile mills, shipyards, quarries or mines had a soccer team among its immigrant population. The US Football Association (USFA), now US Soccer Federation, was granted full membership in FIFA in 1914, and in the USA's first international match on August 20 they defeated Sweden 3-0. Despite this first victory the US usually lost to foreign teams. However, on June 29 during the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, a star player named Gaetjen scored the winning goal and the US defeated England 1-0. It was perhaps, the biggest upset ever in international soccer. In 1989 Paul Caligiuri scored the biggest goal in US soccer history since Gaetjens goal against England. On November 19 Caligiuri's 35-yard dipping shot found the net in a 1-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago, in front of 35,000 red-clad Trinidadians, clinching the USA's first appearance in the World Cup in almost 40 years. The US team qualified for the World Cup for the fourth time this year. Their road to the World Cup was not an easy one. They tied a very good Mexico team 1-1. They also had to beat Canada, and El Salvador. The team has very high hopes and a good chance to do well.

Soccer has entrenched itself well in America, not only among men but among women also. The first women's teams were formed in England in the 1880's and participation has expanded dramatically. (1000 Years of Football Trivia) More and more women are playing every year. In America, the women's national team is enjoying much more success than the men. In 1991 the US Womens National Team captured the first ever FIFA Women's World championship in China with a 2-1 win over Norway on November 30. This was the only time an American team had ever won a world title. In the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta the women's team won the gold medal. Now more programs are being started for young girls to have their own soccer team to play on. These "feeder" programs help increase the level of play in high school and college. This in turn helps the sports popularity.

We have all seen it, heard it, and read it. Soccer isn't a "real" sport. Soccer is boring. Soccer is only for geeky, gym-class kids with pocket-protectors and thick glasses. Soccer is a foreign game for hooligan, drunken psycho-fans. Soccer is just plain un-American. Just before the 1994 World Cup, mike Barnacle of the Boston Globe described soccer as "a mindless sport where hordes of incomprehensible athletes run aimlessly in a circle until everyone is dehydrated and, finally, some guy uses his skull to score a touchdown." (American Attitudes Toward Soccer) No other sport is treated to such consistent degradation in the press. Tom Weir wrote in USA Today in December 1993, that "hating soccer is more American than apple pie, driving a pickup, or spending Saturday afternoons channel surfing with the remote control." (American Attitudes Toward Soccer) What is it about soccer that generates this degradation? What is often called "soccer bashing" is really based on century-old notions that branded football as the manly, American games, while soccer was either a sport for immigrants or a sport for fitness.

Soccer has survived rule changes and alterations. This sport must have something that no other sport has. What is it? Is it the constant action and fast paced play? Is it the simplicity in getting a game started? Is it the fact that the sport is relatively safe? I think it is a combination of all of these. Soccer is played in every country in the world. In the street alleys of Mexico kids gather barefoot and play with a ball that is thirty years old. Playing soccer to these kids is like bike riding or rollerblading to American kids. These kids don't need expensive equipment, team managers, or any organized play. Yet these players develop into some of the greatest players to ever lay foot on a soccer ball. In order for soccer to finally take its place as a mainstream American spectator sport, we must change the way the game is perceived. first, we must continue to create American soccer heroes like Michelle Akers or Cobi Jones. Second, we must change soccers foreign stereotype. Soccer in the U.S. is as old as baseball and is no more foreign than golf. Moreover, many of America's greatest players during those early years were not born in this country. But to change the "ethnic" tag, we must recognize that all of those so-called "immigrants" are also our fathers and our grandfathers. As Sam Foulds, the late historian for the USSF, liked to say, they are "Americans of foreign birth." Just like each one of them, soccer has always been an American game of foreign birth.

An MP4 player works like an MP3 player as a container of digital data for entertainment purposes. The device is designed to record and play videos in a compact and portable way, providing hours of easily transportable and accessible entertainment. Inevitably, the storage is important for the video output of the device. It needs to be able to contain the information, provide enough playing time, and at a high quality.

There are two types of MP4 player; the hard disc storage and the solid state memory type. The solid state is named as such because it does not contain any moving parts such as discs. Each have their pros and cons, so it important that you understand the differences before making your purchase.

Both types of MP4 player provide the same level of performance with regards to other general features. Both will store photographs, videos and music files which can either be downloaded from the internet or recorded directly. Both devices will have colour screens and both work best when the stored information is kept uncluttered. This means having clear files and storing only the required information on the device, keeping it reserved on the home computer until required. However, there are also some subtle differences that may affect your choice.

An important feature of the MP4 player is the storage capacity. The hard disc has the larger storage capacity of the two types. The hard disc can store up to 250 films, and so this is a major attraction. However, to achieve this it needs the addition of several components built in. These extra components make the hard disc device bulkier in terms of appearance and so this gives it the disadvantage of being less portable.

The solid state MP4 player stores less film, but the minimum amount is still around the hundred range. What it loses in terms of capacity, the solid state device makes up for in terms of portability. The solid state mp4 player is sleek and incredibly light in comparison to its hard disc counterpart.

Cost is also a consideration when choosing an MP4 player. The solid state version is less expensive as it does not have as much storage capacity. The quality of the images and sound on the solid state device is not as good quality as that provided by the hard disc player.

In some scenarios, the solid mp4 player does not have the capacity to play some films from the internet; in other scenarios they are played but with poorer quality. If they are not compatible, this will be stated on the website. alternative versions can usually be found so this is not as disadvantageous as it may initially seem. Again this difference in output is down to the memory capacity and the graphics and so the higher price tag of the hard disc player reflects the product performance.

The battery life is usually slightly longer with the hard disc MP4 player though not by much. The average battery time for the hard disc device averages 16 hours in total. The hard disc device battery can take up to double the time to recharge than the solid state version, which does not seem compatible with its minimal increased battery life. Neither version has any real advantage here. Both versions of the music/video player are excellent entertainment devices, and whichever chosen is bound to please the owner.

The purchaser simply needs to decide their budget, and whether the MP4 player of their choice needs to have a huge array of films stored or be more compact and portable, needs higher quality graphics or whether standard quality is sufficient.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.br

Golf ball material is not the most popular subject but I actually took a look at some of the history behind creation of the golf ball and its materials. prepare to be amazed all you avid Golf fans Lol! A famous quote from a well know

English Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill once described Golf as -

"a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose."

I use this quote to illustrate how Golf ball material has been an important advancement in the game, and to clear the this term Golf ball material up, what is meant is the actual material used to make a Golf ball and the actual Golf ball material.

At the time Sir Winston made this quote he may have been right but today this just is not the case, sophisticated material is the order of the day, where Golf ball material is concerned.

The most notable advance has been golf club head sizes, big and small heads, although they have generally kept the same shape.

Looking at an actual Golf ball and the Golf ball material we can see that the balls today are remarkably similar to the 19th century balls, the difference though cant be seen because it is in side the ball that there has been upgrades. These can be accredited to either chemistry or physics. These advances have meant that ball can be hit further bend in the air and still have the ability to stop on landing.

Golf ball material was not always as sophisticated as it is today back in the 15th century scotland the Golf ball was made out beech wood. In the early 17th century was the arrival of the featherie this consisted of a leather pouch stuffed with boiled feathers from chickens or geese.

More development for the Golf ball in 1848 the Gutty was hatched it was made from gutta-percha, which is a coagulated latex, consisting mainly of trans-1,2-polyisoprene, that exudes as sap from sapodilla trees. When the sap is heated then rolled into a ball it would create a virtually indestructible ball.

The late 1800 begun the manufacturing of rubber golf ball materials from moulds The ohio-based tire and rubber company B.F. Goodrich introduced the first ball that had rubber threads wound around a natural rubber core. These developments were exciting for the golf between 1800 and 1950 there was even an incident that involved an exploding Golf ball.

By the late 1950s came a major development from Richard W. Rees, a chemist. He created a material that would ultimately transform the game of golf and golf ball material. With the help of another chemist Rees produces a substance called ionomer resin, the ultimate Golf ball material! (for the outer shell) better still when this substance was rolled into a Golf ball it showed tremendous potential.

Rees went commercial with the product in the 1960s under the Surlyn trade name, which introduced its use as golf ball material on the amateur market.

Around the same time Rees was developing Surlyn a chemical engineer Robert A. Molitor who worked for spalding, sporting goods manufacturers developed a ball that had an outers shell made of polyurethane and a synthetic polybutadiene rubber core.

Later Molitors outer core was replaced with Rees Surlyn. These two golf ball materials became know as the distance ball. This multi layered approach is now the theme of Golf balls, the first one hit the scene in 1996, which launched the distance revolution.

Chemist Tom Kennedy, vice president of research and development for top-Flite Golf, has summed up quite nicely what the objective was for golf ball material-

Firstly, "You want to reduce the spin that comes off the driver so that you don't have the ball ballooning up in the air and losing distance; hence the mantle"

Secondly, "Then, in order to have a good playing ball around the green, you have the very soft outer cover."

The latest golf ball material is found in Titleist's solid-core Pro V1, and the average driving distance of professionals as increased by more than 6 yards according to Golf digest magazine. The latest Golf ball material is said to be polyurethane with ionomer resin as the outer Golf ball material.

Now you know the importance of golf ball material why not improve your golf swing! Click my link below to uncover an advanced method of doing so.

A writer on various subjects of interest, with an aim to increase the Public perception. http://insightempire.com/Golfmagic/index.html

The secret to successful weight loss is a winning combination of efficient exercise, a healthy lifestyle and smart eating. Each one by itself, with total disregard for the other is a sure recipe for disaster and frustration. Going on a starvation diet while spending time on your couch glued to the TV is as fattening as running a few hundred laps round the track and then tucking into a bowl of creamy chocolate mousse.

Moderation and consistency are keys to successful long-term weight loss. Make a doable plan and stick to it. Dont rush out to buy hundreds of pounds worth of fitness equipment in an attempt to look as svelte as the model advertising for it. Youd just end up losing the wrong pounds.

Here then are a few weight loss tips that are simple and easy to keep up with:

Act Now: Thinking yourself thin is great for the psyche but that fat will not budge till you actually act

Set realistic goals: Aim to lose weight slowly and healthily. Weight loss does not happen in a day. It takes months of consistent exercise and proper eating.

Shake a leg: Make sure you get at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Dont start pounding the pavements if the thought horrifies you. Youre more likely to give up an activity that you do not like. Instead could join an aerobics class, go swimming with the kids or join a belly dancing class. Anything that gets your heart-rate up.

Watch what you eat: A moment on the lips; a lifetime on the hips. Every mouthful counts when you are trying to lose weight. Eat smaller meals more frequently. Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates such as white breads, cookies and cakes have empty calories that you could do without.

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of good old fashioned water- it helps the muscles stay hydrated and flushes out those unwanted toxins. 8 glasses of water a day is the minimum recommended amount.

Get your zzzs : Unless you are a sleepwalker you are unlikely to be eating while sleeping. So go ahead and sleep your weight off. It will leave you more refreshed the next day and you will have more energy for another round of beach volleyball.

Try CardioMate and CholesteSoy to improve your health.

The apple iPhone was introduced into the world, at least to the US, on June 29th 2007. Thousands of people clamored to be the first to get their hands on an iPhone and from most accounts, they are very proud of their new acquisitions. Though apple provided the basic accessories required to use the iPhone, like most special things, it came into the world naked. So after investing $500 to $600 on an iPhone it only makes prudent sense to invest a few extra dollars in an iPhone case to protect it.

Initial product stress tests of the apple iPhone have been quite impressive. apple wisely switched to optical grade glass for the innovative touch screen of the iPhone and it is almost impossible to scratch it. Even with a key. This, however, doesnt mean it should be left unprotected and the rest of the iPhone is still prone to dings and scratches.

The solution to protecting your new iPhone is actually quite simple, though all the talk about skins, cases, wallets, and screen protectors can be a little bewildering. Dont worry, below are the options available for protecting your iPhone and the good news is that they typically cost much less than your monthly bill with AT&T.

Types of iPhone cases:

*iPhone Skins -- a skin is just a cover that completely wraps around your iPhone with cutouts to allow you access to the touch screen, main navigation button, as well as the side buttons, charger, and camera. iPhone skins are made from silicone, which is a flexible, yet rugged type of plastic. The benefit of a skin, is that it will protect the surfaces of your iPhone from nicks and scratches and even offer some protection if dropped. However, dont rely on a silicone skin to offer you complete protection against drops.

IPhone skins come in clear silicone as well as several popular colors ranging from feminine pink to stealth black. Some iPhone skins also come with a screen protector and neck strap, but be sure to check the product details to make certain.

*Phone cases and Wallets -- a step up in style and convenience is an iPhone case or wallet. Many of these cases also include a belt clip so you can keep your iPhone at the ready. Unlike cell phone holsters, a case or wallet fully protects your iPhone when not in use. cases and wallets typically come in both leather and canvas varieties and in a wide range of styles. Chose the type that best suits your usage and expresses your personal style. You may even want several cases to match different clothing and occasions!

*iPhone screen Protectors -- an iPhone screen protector typically is a piece of very thin silicone with an adhesive backing that covers the entire front of the iPhone. Like a skin, it also has a circular cutout to expose the main navigation button at the bottom of the iPhone. A skin can then be placed over the screen protector. Not all iPhone screen protectors are created equal though. The better ones have dust resistant and anti-glare properties. Many iPhone skins and cases already come with a screen protector so you typically dont need to purchase one separately.

An apple iPhone is a truly innovative technology product that is a joy to own. Their owners have every right to be proud and can be forgiven, at least for now, for showing them off every chance they get. And you can tell a truly proud and worthy apple iPhone owner by how they have chosen to dress up and protect their baby.

Rich Rojas covers the cell phone and pda industry. You can find a large selection of iPhone cases at http://www.pdaflicks.com/iphone-cases.html