What is Soccer?
Soccer is a sport played internationally that consists of a match played by two teams and one round soccer ball. Each team plays with 10 field players who are allowed to use any body part except their hands and arms as well as 1 goalkeeper who has their own set of rules. Goalkeepers are the only position allowed to use their hands as well as any other body part. Although, their ability to use their hands is confined to what is known as the penalty box, also known as the "18-yard-box." The intention of each team is to score as many goals in the opponent's net as possible while also denying the other team to score in your goal. This concept may sound easy, but as you will learn, there are mental, conditional, and most importantly SCIENTIFIC components to the game.
To the right is a labeled diagram of a soccer field which can either be grass or artificial turf. |
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Physics Key Terms
Inertia - the tendency of an object to remain in its state of motion.
Force - a push or pull that is applied to an object.
Sum of the forces - also known as net force, is the deciding factor on the direction of an object.
Acceleration - the change, either increase or decrease, in speed of an object.
X Direction - The X direction can be positive or negative according to an XY plane. For the application of this website, the X direction is horizontal.
Y Direction - The Y direction can be positive or negative according to an XY plane. For the application of this website, the Y direction is vertical.
Gravity - The pull of the Earth on objects in the negative Y direction. This is also known as the Force of Earth.
Normal Force - Normal Force is the push in the positive Y direction that often times balances the Force of Earth.
Friction - The resistance of movement between two objects in contact.
Force - a push or pull that is applied to an object.
Sum of the forces - also known as net force, is the deciding factor on the direction of an object.
Acceleration - the change, either increase or decrease, in speed of an object.
X Direction - The X direction can be positive or negative according to an XY plane. For the application of this website, the X direction is horizontal.
Y Direction - The Y direction can be positive or negative according to an XY plane. For the application of this website, the Y direction is vertical.
Gravity - The pull of the Earth on objects in the negative Y direction. This is also known as the Force of Earth.
Normal Force - Normal Force is the push in the positive Y direction that often times balances the Force of Earth.
Friction - The resistance of movement between two objects in contact.
Soccer Key Terms
Shot - kicking the ball in the direction of the opponent's net in a planned location with the intent of scoring a goal.
Lean Over - This term is associated with shooting a ball. To lean over the ball means to force your body over the ball at an acute angle while taking a shot. This will force the ball to stay low to the ground during the duration of the shot.
Lean Back - In contrast to leaning over the ball, leaning back is just the opposite. If you lean back during a shot, you are creating an obtuse angle with the ball which the cause the soccer ball to lift into the air during the shot.
Goalkeeper - the only position allowed to use their hands in the penalty box to stop the soccer ball from entering their and letting up a goal.
Bouncing Ball - A bouncing ball is a ball that is neither entirely in the air nor on the ground. It "bounces." This often times happens during a shot so that the goalkeeper must anticipate the momentum and direction of the bounces.
Penalty Box - An 18 yard tall box in which goalkeepers may use their hands.
Penalty Shot - This is awarded to a team when a foul occurs inside of the Penalty Box. A player takes a shot 12 yards away from the goal with only the goalkeeper able to prevent a goal.
Lean Over - This term is associated with shooting a ball. To lean over the ball means to force your body over the ball at an acute angle while taking a shot. This will force the ball to stay low to the ground during the duration of the shot.
Lean Back - In contrast to leaning over the ball, leaning back is just the opposite. If you lean back during a shot, you are creating an obtuse angle with the ball which the cause the soccer ball to lift into the air during the shot.
Goalkeeper - the only position allowed to use their hands in the penalty box to stop the soccer ball from entering their and letting up a goal.
Bouncing Ball - A bouncing ball is a ball that is neither entirely in the air nor on the ground. It "bounces." This often times happens during a shot so that the goalkeeper must anticipate the momentum and direction of the bounces.
Penalty Box - An 18 yard tall box in which goalkeepers may use their hands.
Penalty Shot - This is awarded to a team when a foul occurs inside of the Penalty Box. A player takes a shot 12 yards away from the goal with only the goalkeeper able to prevent a goal.
Personal Analysis
Most athletes would have to agree that there are countless components put into the execution of a sport. Soccer of course is not exception. I personally have played soccer since the age of three and have grown up loving the game. I have had a plethora of experiences ranging from mesmerizing over professionals, my own practices and games, to coaching and even reffing the sport. I know all of the aspects of the game inside-out. Although, trying to find scientific reason behind soccer is an entirely different story. For as long as I could remember, I have been told by coaches to lean over the ball when shooting from close to the goal, but lean back when I further away. Why is this?
All of the coaches I have had in my thirteen years of soccer have put great emphasis on proper form while taking a shot on net. Now that I reflect back, I can make sense of the instructions I have been given after applying them to Newton's three laws.
All of the coaches I have had in my thirteen years of soccer have put great emphasis on proper form while taking a shot on net. Now that I reflect back, I can make sense of the instructions I have been given after applying them to Newton's three laws.
Application of the Laws (in regards to shooting)
Newton's First Law
Generally, this law states that an object will only change its state of motion if a force is applied to the object. The motion of a soccer ball during a shot can be considered while explaining this law. The ball will remain at rest until put into motion by the force applied for the kicker. The ball will once again change its state of motion in one of three main ways. It can be stopped by the goalkeeper, stopped by the netting of a goal, or come to rest because of the force of friction. In all three of these cases, the ball will be put into motion from rest by the kicker, and then travel until stopped by an alternate force. This concept demonstrates the claims of Newton's First Law of Motion. To further understand the idea, following the link below by clicking the button.
Newton's Second Law
This law basically states that an object will accelerate in the direction proportional to the net force. To relate this to a shot in soccer, if you intend on scoring, you must face the direction you would like the ball to travel. If you would like a more control over the course your shot takes on the way to the goal, you can consider this law to decide your body positioning. For example, a shooter may want to lean back while taking a shot to ensure that it goes farther as well as up into the air. This is because you are facing upward forcing the ball to travel in that proportional direction. It will also travel further because the element of friction is canceled causing for a greater net force. To further understand the application of Newton's Second Law of Motion during a shot, follow the link below by clicking the button.
Newton's Third Law
Newton's Third Law of Motion explains that no action will occur without another equal and opposite action. This means that each action is happening simultaneously as the opposite action in the same quantity. In regards to a shot, a ball will often times bounce during the duration of the shot. A goalkeeper can anticipate the bounce of a ball because of its equal and opposite "reaction." As the ball bounces, it is feeling force from the ground pushing it back up. At the same time, the ground is experiencing the force of the ball pushing down on it. This concept depicts Newton's final law. To understand more about this law, follow the link below by clicking the button.