Practice soccer with experts

Author: Chief Editor: Tong Hui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-07-01
Features: Excerpt: I Why is football called the "world sport" (I) Football as the originator of ball games Compared to ball games like basketball and volleyball, the origins of football are much earlier. It is well-known that football originated in China. At the opening ceremony of the first FIFA U-16 World Youth Football Championship held in Beijing in 1985, FIFA President Joao Havelange said: "This sport originated in China and has a thousand-year history in your country." According to reliable written records, it originated during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). The Zhan Guo Ce (Strategies of the Warring States) records: "Linzhi has a population of 70,000 households. Linzhi is very rich and prosperous, and its people engage in playing the flute, playing the se, striking the zhu, playing the qin, cockfighting, dog racing, liubo, and tàjū." Among these, "tàjū" is also known as "cuju," where "tà" or "cu" both mean "to kick." The "jū" is a ball made of leather with hair inside. Most other ball games appeared successively after the late 19th century. For example, basketball originated in the United States in 1891, volleyball in the United States in 1895, table tennis in Britain in the late 19th century, and badminton in England in the mid-19th century. Therefore, just based on its origins, football is more than worthy of being called the "world sport" and the "king of ball games." (II) The value of football The reason football has become the world sport and the "king of kings" is closely related to its value. Its main values are: 1. Contribution to spiritual civilization and moral education Regular participation in football can cultivate people's bravery, intelligence, decisiveness, perseverance, and the ability to overcome difficulties. Engaging in football can also foster a tactical spirit of daring to fight and win, as well as collectivism, such as teamwork, close cooperation, and a love for the collective. 2. Contribution to physical education, promoting health, and enhancing physical fitness Regular participation in football can improve people's health and enhance their strength, speed, agility, jumping ability, and endurance. It is particularly beneficial for strengthening the function of internal organs such as the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. According to incomplete measurements: An elite football player's lung capacity is 2,000–3,500 milliliters more than that of an average person, and their resting heart rate is 15–22 beats lower than that of an average person. 3. Inspiring national spirit and expanding international exchanges The value and influence of modern football have far exceeded the boundaries of the sport itself. It has become a tool for political, economic, and cultural exchange in a country, involving and permeating many fields of a nation and society. It is of great significance for inspiring national spirit, promoting national culture, and reflecting a country's overall strength. Therefore, the development of football has been valued not only by many developed countries but also by some developing countries.