May 26, 2011 | By Anthony Grahame
Anthony Grahame has been a writer for more than 15 years. He began writing professionally online in 2008. He has a degree in English literature from the University of Sussex and is an experienced traveler and travel writer. His work has been published on a variety of well respected websites including "Living in Peru".
For many kids in the United States, playing football is a natural choice as far as a team sport. But for millions of players across the globe, soccer is the better option.
Popularity
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world in terms of player numbers. According to the 2006 FIFA Big Count, there were 265 million soccer players in the world, 270 million when referees and match officials were included.
Support
With so many registered soccer players across the globe, it's not surprising that soccer has more fans worldwide than any other sport. If you want to become a globally recognized sport star, soccer is a better option than football.
Inexpensive
Soccer players don't need to spend large amounts of money on equipment. The two most costly items are soccer cleats and a ball, and neither need be overly expensive. A jersey, shorts and shin guards are the only other requirements. Football players must buy a large number of protective items for competitive play.
Fluid Play
Football is a stop-start game with frequent pauses between each play. Soccer is a more fluid sport, an aspect that appeals to many fans and players.
Easy to Learn
It doesn't take long to learn the basics of soccer. The rules are straightforward and easily defined, with only a few regulations -- such as the offside rule, leaving much room for confusion. Football is a more complex sport in terms of set plays and regulations.
Physical Requirements
Soccer players don't need the physical strength of football players. Athleticism and fitness are important, but you don't need to be physically imposing to play soccer. Some of the world's top players, such as Lionel Messi, rely purely on skill and creativity rather than strength and stature. This makes soccer a more inclusive sport than football, for men and women.
Olympic Sport
If you dream of being an Olympic athlete, football is not the sport for you. Though football was featured in the 1932 Summer Olympics as a demonstration event, the International Olympic Committee has yet to accept football as an Olympic sport. Soccer has been a regular feature of the Olympics since 1900.
Global Reach
Soccer has a truly global reach; football is largely contained within North America. Soccer is like an international language that crosses cultural barriers, allowing you to share your love for the game with other fans throughout the world. Whether you are in Brazil, Burundi, Belgium or Bangkok, you find people with a common interest in soccer.
International Competition
Soccer provides more opportunities to compete internationally, at amateur and professional levels. Youth teams often go on tour abroad, and individual players can train in soccer camps across the world. At the highest level, soccer also gives you the chance to represent your national team against all other nations on the planet, something that football does not offer in any comparable way.
Injuries
Soccer players are less prone to injuries than football players, according to the 2006 High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The one-year study found that football players had the highest injury rate, with 4.36 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures. Male and female soccer players had a rate of 2.43 and 2.36, respectively.
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