So, you know a lot about soccer? That’s what we Americans regularly call it, so, to make this book an easier read, that’s what we’ll continue to consistently call it, except for explicit, expository examples. Of course, if you’re an English speaker from another part of the world, you probably call it football or ‘footie’ and if you’re from one of the world’s Spanish-speaking countries, you’ll call it futbol. Whatever you do call it, since it is the world’s most popular sport, chances are you know a lot about it and its origins.
Let me rephrase that last statement: chances are you think you know a lot about it and its origins. The short quiz given below will enable you to keep score. Simply circle T for true or F for false as you answer each numbered question. Then, when you have completed reading the next section, “Soccer’s Story: The Beautiful Game”, you can review how you fared and find out how many of your preconceptions were actually correct. As a pre-test tip, I suggest that you use a #2 pencil with a generously sized eraser. Good luck!
1. T or F: The first early version of soccer that included “sudden death,” was the Aztec game called Tlachtli.
2. T or F: Soccer’s oldest ancestor is the Chinese game called Tsu Chu, which was originally played over 2,500 years ago.
3. T or F: The first fatality involving a non-participant at a sporting event was reported by the famous Roman scribe, Cicero.
4. T or F: The French game called La Soule was never played on Sundays.
5. T or F: Pope Leo IX signed a Papal Decree outlawing Catholics from playing Calcio, Italy’s first soccer-like game.
6. T or F: The Inuit game is called Aqsaqtuk, which means “soccer on ice.”
7. T or F: In 1620, the Indians invited those who landed at Plymouth Rock to a friendly game which involved kicking a ball through a circular goal.
8. T or F: The Tarahumara version of a soccer-style game ends with a corn beer party.
9. T or F: The Romans spread the game of modern soccer to the rest of the world.
10. T or F: The British called their game football since it involved kicking a ball.
11. T or F: The first mention of women playing the sport came as early as 1580.
12. T or F: William Shakespeare mentioned football in at least two of his plays.
13. T or F: The sport’s First Law explicitly prohibited “punching below the belt.”
14. T or F: The sport became known as soccer because the ball was socked, or kicked, with the feet.
15. T or F: The birth of American football involved a Canadian college.
