Football Made Easy - A Game of Chance.

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Football is a game of chance as I would love to call it. It's more than just kicking the ball just about taking your chances. Others might have just a single chance in the whole of the game and might end up winning that game compared to those who have several chances and take none. Someone funnily described football and called it a game where 22 adults run after the ball. It's more than that.

We have 10 outfield players dissected into different zones. We have the attacking areas, we have the midfield areas and we have the defensive areas where the goalkeeper belongs to make it 11 players on the pitch. Each player would be grouped according to their roles. We have the offensive-minded players and the defensive-minded ones. How each team form their shape is dependent on the coach and the formation or tactics that the coach wishes to employ.

The traditional formation has been 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 which means for 4-4-2 we have 4 defensive players with 4 midfield players and 2 attackers. The 4 at the back comprises of the Right Back (the player that operates on the field of play from the right and at the back), the Center Backs and the Left Back. The 4 at the middle comprises of Right Midfielder, Center Midfielders and Left Midfielder. The 2 upfront can be called Striker or Center Forward.

Those at the back, including the goalkeeper, has been delegated to stop opposition attacks from finding the back of the net. The Right Back and Left Back can launch forward to support the attack and give more options upfront but their major role is to keep the defensive shape and stop the opponent's attack. The Midfielders are the engine room of the team because they coordinate and control how the game would go. They are the gap between the defence and the attack and they are expected to be technical, strong and creative so they can determine the outcome of the game. Yes, a lot rests on the defensive line too because they can nullify the work of those at the front but with the midfielders, when they control the play, it makes it easier for the defensive line to enjoy a considerable level of ease throughout the game.

The Forwards or the forward, depending on the formation employed would be delegated with making use of the chances created by the midfielders to give their side the advantage in the game. Football had evolved over the years and even every department is saddled with the responsibility of chipping in the goals and also defending when the team is under pressure.

We have the linesmen on both sides of the pitch who serves as the eyes of the referee (the man at the center of the pitch). They help in determining the corner kicks (balls that went over the line, behind the goal post. Team A can be attacking Team B, the moment team B got the last touch over the line after the goal post, team A gets the corner kick but if team A was the one who kicked the ball over the line, then team B gets the goal kick) the throwing (ball crossing outside the line of the pitch, away from the line at the back of the post.

The linesmen also help in picking out fouls (a perceived injustice against another player even though the referee determines the outcome. The referee can override the decisions of the linesmen because every decision runs through him. He can give a player the yellow card (after 2 warnings of what has been perceived as a tough play or injustice meted against another player) while also issuing the red card (either direct - depending on the severity of the offence or after the second yellow card of the game has been issued).

The game spans over 90 minutes which a few minutes can be added after the first 45 minutes and after the second 45 minutes depending on the time wasted on injuries or substitution - to replace another player with another which is the exclusive right of the coach. Football is a game of 2 halves (45 minutes apiece). An addition 30 minutes can be added in Cup competitions where a winner is mandated to be found and the game was still at a draw. 15 minutes apiece would be given to each half to determine the winner. If no winner is still found, then they would result in penalties.

Note: 3 substitutions are allowed per match and penalties are taken by the first 5 players highlighted by the coach at the end of the 120 minutes until a winner is found, they would have to keep taking the penalties one after the other even after the initial 5 had taken and no winner is found till the goalkeepers would also try their hand and the process would be repeated all over again.

A penalty can also be given during the game when an opponent is fouled in the 18 yards demarcated box of another. It would be taken by one of the opposing players against the goalkeeper.

These are the basics for anyone who doesn't understand what football is all about. There are fans or spectators inside the stadium as well watching the football amid cheers or jeers.

Cheers.

Gingered Up! ❣️



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