Nature of the game

Nature of the game

A goalkeeper dives to stop the ball from entering his goal.
Football is played in accordance with a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game. The game is
played using a single round ball, known as the football. Two teams of eleven players each
compete to get the ball into the other team's goal (between the posts and under the bar), thereby
scoring a goal. The team that has scored more goals at the end of the game is the winner; if both
teams have scored an equal number of goals then the game is a draw.
The primary rule is that players (other than goalkeepers) may not deliberately handle the ball
with their hands or arms during play (though they do use their hands during a throw-in restart).
Although players usually use their feet to move the ball around, they may use any part of their
bodies other than their hands or arms.[7]
In typical game play, players attempt to create goal scoring opportunities through individual
control of the ball, such as by dribbling, passing the ball to a teammate, and by taking shots at the
goal, which is guarded by the opposing goalkeeper. Opposing players may try to regain control
of the ball by intercepting a pass or through tackling the opponent in possession of the ball;
however, physical contact between opponents is restricted. Football is generally a free-flowing
game, with play stopping only when the ball has left the field of play or when play is stopped by
the referee. After a stoppage, play recommences with a specified restart.[8]
At a professional level, most matches produce only a few goals. For example, the 200506
season of the English Premier League produced an average of 2.48 goals per match.[9] The Laws
of the Game do not specify any player positions other than goalkeeper,[10] but a number of
specialised roles have evolved. Broadly, these include three main categories: strikers, or
forwards, whose main task is to score goals; defenders, who specialise in preventing their
opponents from scoring; and midfielders, who dispossess the opposition and keep possession of
the ball in order to pass it to the forwards. Players in these positions are referred to as outfield
players, in order to discern them from the single goalkeeper. These positions are further
subdivided according to the area of the field in which the player spends most time. For example,
there are central defenders, and left and right midfielders. The ten outfield players may be
arranged in any combination. The number of players in each position determines the style of the
team's play; more forwards and fewer defenders creates a more aggressive and offensive-minded
game, while the reverse creates a slower, more defensive style of play. While players typically
spend most of the game in a specific position, there are few restrictions on player movement, and
players can switch positions at any time.[11] The layout of a team's players is known as a
formation. Defining the team's formation and tactics is usually the prerogative of the team's

The History of Soccer

Discovering the history of soccer isn't as straight forward as you might think. This is partly due
to the fact that there were many similar games played long ago which might resemble soccer but
are totally not alike.

Much research has been done on the history of soccer but I am going to keep it as short and as
simple as possible (just so it doesn't get too boring!)
History of Soccer Tournaments from around the World - Click Here!

It has been said that the Romans and Ancient Greeks played many ball games that involved the
use of their feet. An on-going theme about sport back long ago seems to be the high level of
violence in which these games were played at.
Perhaps earlier versions of soccer were played as far back as the second century BC where the
Chinese would play a rather dull kicking game. Many warriors (including the Ancient Greeks)
would use soccer related games in preperation for battle.
Furthermore, it appeared the Chinese military as far back as 3000 years ago played a game called
cuju (kick-ball). Cuju involved kicking a leather ball through a type of goal made from bamboo
canes and silk cloth.

In medieval France a violent version of soccer originated called la choule. Although when I say
soccer, any part of the body was allowed along with any accessory to get the ball into the
opponents goal. The game was so violent in fact that it was banned for a period of time.

However, a different version the game caught on in medieval England and became very popular
with rules and regulations soon being assigned.
The English came up with the 'laws of the game' in 1863 when the Football Association was
formed.
A memorable part of the history of soccer came in the first world war. England and Germany
were fighting on the Western front until Christmas Eve 1915 when a temporary truce took place
between the countries. From somewhere a 'football' was thrown out and both Englishmen and the
Germans began a free-for-all soccer game. From boxing day onward they were back in the
trenches shooting at each other (with guns... not soccer balls!) Funny old game isn't it?
The first international game was played between England and Scotland in 1872. Form here
onward the game became very popular in Europe and soon spread to many different parts of the
world.
According to reports soccer was first played in the USA in 1827, although once again it was
played between college teams on 'bloody Monday' and fists were also used.
The American soccer league was established in 1921 and soon started to become more popular.
In modern times the American Soccer League has started to attract well-known, talented soccer
players. David Beckham and Fredrick Ljungberg players to note.

Soccer is now widely considered the most popular sport in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009
was sold to Real Madrid from Manchester United for 80 million ($120 million).

Players wages are topping $150,000 per week. Massive stadiums such as the one above are being
built all over the world.
The history of soccer has come along way since the Ancient Greeks would enjoy a violent freefor-all. The world cup and continental competitions attract huge crowds and the standard of
players has become very good

A Football History:
from its origin to now
There is no clear documentation stating the date and place of origination of today's most popular
sport - world football. However, most historians agree that some type of a ball game has been
played for at least over 3000 years.
The origins of the game can be seen in games played in China, Japan, Egypt, Greece before our
modern game developed in England.
Here is a brief outline of some of the events that have shaped the game of soccer throughout
history.

A Football Timeline
There is evidence in China that military forces around 2nd and 3rd century BC (Han
Dynasty) played a game, originally named "Tsu Chu", that involved kicking a leather ball
5000-300 B.C.
stuffed with fur into a small hole. Like Soccer, no hands were permitted during the play
of the game.
There was possibly a version of a type of ball game played by young women in Egypt
2500 B.C during the age of Baqet III, as images of this sport were depicted on his tomb, though
there is not much known of this sport except that it was played with a ball.
The Japanese version of 'soccer' is was called Kemari, a game much like modern
hackysacks, played with two to twelve players, and played a larger ball stuffed with
1000 B.C.
sawdust. There was also a field designated by four trees (cherry, maple, pine and
willow).
In ancient Greece, they played a game called Episkyros, in which two equally numbered
teams would try to throw the ball over the heads of the other team. There was a white
B.C.
line between the teams and another white line behind each team. Teams would change
the ball often until one of the team is forced behind the line at their end.

China's Tsu Chu players and Japan's Kemari players were the first to have an
50 B.C. "International" game of their versions of soccer, believed to have occurred roughly 50
B.C.. There is a definite date of such a game occurring in 611 A.D.
In Mexico & Central America the rubber ball was created, and used in a game on a
recessed court 40-50 feet long shaped like a capital "I". In the middle of each wall, was a
600 - 1600 A.D.
mounted stone or wooden ring and the object was to project the hard rubber ball
through the ring.
The first Football games played in Britain was played by the locals of east of England,
starting after a 'legendary' game that involved kicking around the severed head of a
700s
Danish prince that they have defeated in a war. These games were violent, where injury
and death were not uncommon
1331

Despite the violence of these games, they were still popular. This led King Edward III of
England to pass laws in 1331 to stop the game

1424 King James I of Scotland also passed a law banning the game
In Italy they played a game called "calcio" with teams of 27+ people. The game involved
1500 kicking, carrying or passing a ball across a goal line. In 1580, Giovanni Bardi published a
set of rules of the game of calcio.
1572

Queen Elizabeth I of England, enacted laws that could sentence a football player to jail
for a week followed by penance in a church.

In Alaska and Canada the native Eskimos played a game called aqsaqtuk on ice, using
1600 balls stuffed with grass, caribou hair, and moss. One legend tells of two villages playing
against each other with goals 10 miles apart.
1605 Football became legal again in England
In North America, native American Indians in the original Jamestown settlement played
a game called pasuckuakohowog, meaning "they gather to play ball with the foot." It
1620
was a rough game, played the beach, the field a half-mile wide with goals 1 mile apart,
with as many as 1000 players at a time.
1815 Eton College of England established a set of rules for the games.
1820

In the USA, football was played among the Northeastern universities and colleges of
Harvard, Princeton, Amherst and Brown.

1848 The rules were further standardized and a new version was adopted by all the schools,

college and universities, known as the Cambridge Rules.

1862

The first soccer club formed anywhere outside of England was the Oneida Football Club,
Boston USA.

October 26 of 1863, the Football Association was formed when eleven London schools
and clubs came together at the Freemason's Tavern to establish a single set of rules to
administer any football match that were to be played among them. On December 8
1863 1863, Association Football and Rugby Football finally split onto two different
organizations. Later in the year, the first ever soccer match was played on Barnes
common at Mortlake, London on 19th December 1863 between Barnes Football Club
and Richmond Football Club. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
1869

The Football Association rules were further amended to exclude any handling of the
ball.

The first official international football match was played, between the national teams of
1872 Scotland and England, played in Glasgow Scotland. The game was played on 30
November 1872, and finished with a 0-0 draw.
1883

The four British associations agreed on a uniform code and formed the International
Football Association Board.

1885

The first international match played by teams outside of Great Britain was between USA
and Canada, played in Newark and ended with Canada winning 1-0.

1888 Introduction of the penalty kick.

1904

Establishment of FIFA by delegates from France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands,

Spain, Sweden and Switzerland at a meeting in Paris on the 21st of May.

1900 Soccer played at the Olympic Games for the first time
1930

In 1930, The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) held soccer's first
World Cup tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay, with 13 teams.

Soccer was taken off the program for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, due to a
1932 controversy between FIFA and the IOC over the definition of amateur and the reluctance
of many strong soccer countries to travel the US because of the expense involved.
1991 The inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991 in China was won by the United States
1996 The American women's team won the first-ever women's soccer event at the Olympics

he United Football League, commonly known as UFL Division 1 or UFL, is an association

football league based in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, governed by the Football
Alliance (FA) in partnership with United Football Clubs Association (UFCA).[1][2] The UFL is
the Philippines' primary football league. It is contested by 10 clubs and operates on a system of
promotion and relegation with the UFL Division 2. Games are often scheduled on Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Saturdays.[3] To avoid the country's rainy season, the league usually kicks off
sometime in the month of January each year.[4]
The league started as semi-professional tournament in 2009.[5] Since then, it has been described
as a thriving football league, organized by former football players and aficionados.[6] A total of
21 clubs have competed in UFL Division 1 since its founding. At present, it is organized by the
Football Alliance, whose long-term goal is the continued development of football in the
Philippines through a premier league.[7]
Since the UFL first started, three clubs have been crowned first division league champions:
Philippine Air Force (2), Global (2), and Stallion (1). The current champions are Global, which
won the title in the 2014 season.

Contents

1 Structure and competition

o 1.1 Promotion and relegation
o 1.2 Qualification for Asian competitions
2 Format
o 2.1 UFL FA League Cup
o 2.2 UFL Cup
o 2.3 UFL FA Cup
3 History
o 3.1 Origins and foundation
o 3.2 Corporate backing and sponsorship
o 3.3 Founding members
o 3.4 Expansion year and TV coverage
o 3.5 Stadium and officiating developments
o 3.6 Refinements in league structure
4 Past league champions
o 4.1 Results by year
5 Current members
o 5.1 Former clubs
6 Venues
7 Players
o 7.1 Eligibility of foreign players
o 7.2 Individual awards
8 Honours
o 8.1 Golden Ball award
o 8.2 Golden Boot winners
o 8.3 Golden Glove trophy
9 Broadcast partners

10 Official match ball

11 See also
12 References
13 External links

Structure and competition

The league is composed of two divisions, both with clubs playing a double round-robin format.
During the course of a season, which commences sometime in January, each team plays every
other club twice for a total of 18 games. However, during the 2014 season, the first division
implemented a triple round-robin system, which increased the games from 18 to 24.[8] Like most
football leagues around the world, it adopts the standard point system wherein match winners
receive three points and losers get none. Each club receives a point, on the other hand, if the
match ends in a draw.[9] At the end of each season, the team with the most points is crowned
league champion. For clubs that are level in points, the following tie-breakers are applied:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Goal difference for the entire season

Total goals scored for the entire season
Head-to-head results (total points)
Head-to-head goals scored
Head-to-head away goals scored
Total away goals scored for the entire season

Promotion and relegation

Since the start of the 2013 season, a new promotion-relegation system has been adopted by the
league. The club that finishes second in UFL Division 2 also has a chance of being promoted via
a two-legged aggregate-goal playoff against the ninth-place team in the first division, similar to
the system used in the Bundesliga.[10] For the 2015 season, a single team in UFL Division 1,
Pasargad, was relegated to the second division. Further, the top two clubs from the latter, Ceres
and Manila Jeepney, were both promoted to the first division.[11] Before the start of this season,
Manila Nomads' decided to voluntarily step down from the first division to play in UFL Division
2, citing its inability to comply with the league's foreigner cap rule.[12] Below is a complete
record of the number of clubs that have played in the first division throughout the league's
history.

2010: 8 clubs
2011: 7 clubs
20122013: 10 clubs
2014: 9 clubs
2015present: 10 clubs

Qualification for Asian competitions

In January 2013, Global FC chairman Dan Palami posted a picture via Twitter of the letter of
approval from Asian Football Confederation general secretary Dato Alex Soosay of his club's
participation to the 2013 AFC President's Cup, which was scheduled from 2 to 12 May 2013 for
the group stage.[13] The team's participation marked the first time that the UFL and the
Philippines sent a team in the cup to compete against clubs such as Taiwan Power Company,
Hilal Al-Quds, and FC Dordoi Bishkek, to name a few.[14][15] Global qualified and was chosen to
represent the country after winning the league title in the 2012 season.[16] However, for the 2014
AFC President's Cup, instead of the UFL, the PFFSmart National Club Championship served as
the qualifiers for the country's representative. Ceres, the 2013 PFFSmart National Club
Championship champions, represented the Philippines in the 2014 edition of the tournament.[17]
Further, the ASEAN Football Federation announced in April 2013 the creation of the ASEAN
Super League. This annual regional club football competition would be participated by Southeast
Asian teams run by the AFF, and its winner is projected to receive a slot to compete in the Asian
Champions League.[18]

Format
Season

League Cup

Cup

League FA Cup

2009

2010

2010

2011

2011

2012

2012

2013

2013

2014

2014

2014

2015

2015

2015

Note: The Philippine football season starts with the FA League Cup. The
2009 cup was held to determine the clubs for the UFL Division 1 in 2010.

Originally, the regular season of the UFL was composed of two competitions, namely: the
United Football Cup, a single-elimination tournament that allows clubs to participate regardless
of their division, and a domestic league. The latter is composed of separate round-robin
tournaments for clubs in the first and second divisions.[19] This is similar to the season schedule
of the Philippine Basketball Association, which currently follows a three-conference format in a
single season. The cup competition used to run from November to December of each year, while
the league ran from January to July. Thus, these two competitions used to happen in separate
calendar years.[20] Since then, UFL officials have continuously introduced new formats,
schedules, and tournaments to align the league calendar with those in the ASEAN region.[21]

Beginning the 2015 season, the football season in the Philippines starts around September of
each year with the FA League Cup. Further, the league and the UFL Cup both kick off every
January, and these two competitions would be played simultaneously. Each season ends with the
FA Cup, considered the culminating tournament of the UFL.[22] This shift was done to align the
UFL calendar with the football leagues in Southeast Asia and to avoid possible conflicts with the
schedule of the Philippines national football team.[23]

UFL FA League Cup

Main article: UFL FA League Cup

The United Football League Football Association League Cup, commonly known as UFL FA
League Cup, is a Filipino men's association football competition. It is played on a multistage
format that culminates with single-elimination, knockout games. All clubs that currently play in
UFL Division 1 and UFL Division 2 are eligible to compete in the FA League Cup. The cup
starts with a qualifier for the bottom eight teams from the second division, with the top four
advancing to the 16-club group stage. The top two teams from each of the four groups in this
stage would move on to the knockout stages, culminating in a finals match sometime in
November.[24] Most all FA League Cup matches are played at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The
competition was introduced to the league calendar before the start of the 2015 season.[25][26]
Year Winner Score Runnersup
2014 Ceres

21 Global

Venue
Rizal Memorial Stadium

UFL Cup
Main article: UFL Cup

The United Football League Cup, also known as the UFL Cup, is an association football
competition in the Philippines that annually starts and runs alongside the league every
January.[27] The cup is a single-elimination tournament where clubs from both divisions of the
UFL are eligible to compete. In addition, the competition is also open to local clubs in the
country that have passed the requirements set by the Football Alliance.[28]
The UFL Cup was first held on October 2009, sanctioned by the National Capital Region
Football Association (NCRFA) and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).[29] The cup was
originally formed to determine the distribution of clubs over the first and second divisions in its
inaugural season. Philippine Air Force was the inaugural cup champions, defeating Philippine
Army, 21.[30][31] For the 2012 cup, 28 clubs competed in four groups of five and in two separate
stages.[32] Clubs from UFL Division 2, along with other guest teams, participated in the first
stage of the cup. Teams from UFL Division 1, on the other hand, played during the second stage.
After, the top 10 clubs moved on to the knockout stage of the 2013 PFF National Men's Club
Championship. Stallion FC defeated Global FC in the finals of the said cup with a score of 2
1.Team captain Ruben Doctora, Jr. and Rufo Snchez scored one goal apiece to upset Global.[33]

Club

Won Runner-up Years won Years runner-up

Philippine Air Force

2011, 2009 2010

Global FC

2010

2012

Loyola Meralco Sparks

2013

2011

Stallion FC

2012

Philippine Army

2009

UFL FA Cup
Main article: UFL FA Cup

The United Football League Football Alliance Cup, also known as the UFL FA Cup, is an
annual knockout cup competition in Philippine football, considered as the culminating
tournament of each UFL season.[22] In 22 April 2014, it was officially announced that the
league's version of a Super Cup would be held annually after the end of each league competition.
Its participants would be the top six clubs of the first division. UFL president Randy Roxas said
that the FA Cup was supposed to include foreign teams competing against the UFL Cup and
league champions. However, he explained that inviting foreign teams became too expensive.[34]
The FA Cup was first introduced to conclude the 2014 season. The league champion and runnerup of that season received byes to the cup's semi-finals, while the other four clubs competed in
two-legged knockout games.[35] Global defeated Kaya, 31, on 26 July 2014 to capture the first
ever FA Cup.[36] During this inaugural tournament, the league also implemented its foreigner cap
rule, which means that only five foreign players were allowed for each club during their matches.
This number would be further reduced to four players in the succeeding years.[37]
Year Winner Runner-up Result Date
2014 Global Kaya

Venue

City

31 26.07.14 Rizal Memorial Stadium Manila

History

Origins and foundation

Main article: 2010 United Football League (Philippines)

In September 2009, with the aim of reviving the interest of Filipinos in the sport, the Football
Alliance, composed of Santi Araneta, Randy Roxas, Phil Hagedorn, Javier Mantecon, Dong

Longa, Mike Camahort, Monchu Garcia, and Christopher Hagedorn, discussed the possibility of
creating a football league in the Philippines.[38] At the time, the Filipino Premier League, the
country's top level football league governed by the Philippine Football Federation, has already
been discontinued after its inaugural season. But instead of creating a whole system and
competition, the United Football Clubs Association agreed to partner with the Football Alliance
in operating the United Football League, which was then a semi-professional league.[39]

Corporate backing and sponsorship

Local courier company LBC became the principal sponsor of the UFL in 2009

The first season of the United Football League, officially named then as LBC United Football
League for sponsorship reasons, was made possible with the aid of several local companies,
namely: LBC Express Inc., Magma Inflatables, 2GO, Mutual Fund Management Corp., Orient
Freight, and ATR Kim Eng.[40]
Since its inception, the UFL Division 1 has received corporate sponsorship. After air cargo
delivery service company LBC Express Inc. committed as its principal sponsor in October 2009,
the league kicked off as a premier tournament composed of several football teams around the
nation.[41]

20092011: LBC (LBC United Football League)

Founding members
The inaugural year of the league was held in the 2010 season, and was originally composed of 16
local clubs. The 16 founding teams of the league are the following:

Diliman FC
Global FC
Green Archers
United
Kaya FC

Loyola Agila
Mama Africa
FC
Manila AllJapan
Manila Lions

Expansion year and TV coverage

Manila Nomads
Mendiola United
Philippine Air
Force
Philippine Army

Philippine Navy
Sunken Garden
Union Manila
United South FC

Main article: 2012 United Football League (Philippines)

After the end of 2011 season, AKTV became the league's new TV partner with the signing of a
P150 million (~$3.4 million), 5-year deal with two live matches every week.[42] Seven new clubs
also entered the league after its successful third season of United Football Cup. Agila FC, Cebu
Queen City, Diliman, Forza FC, Laos FC, Pachanga, and Team Socceroo participated in the UFL
Division 2, which started on 14 January 2012.[43] Three clubs from the second division were also
promoted to the first division, namely: Nomads, Pasargad, and Stallion.[44]
In December 2011, UFL president Randy Roxas entered into discussions with the Philippine
Football Federation regarding the possibility of sending the league champions to the AFC
President's Cup, a regional club competition that is run by the Asian Football Confederation.[45]
In addition, Pasargad represented the league and the Philippines in the 2013 AFC Futsal Club
Championship qualifiers.[46]
The league struck a deal to use the artificial pitch that was constructed by real estate giant
Megaworld Corporation at McKinley Hill, Taguig City in April 2012. The field was then known
as the McKinley Hill Football Field. Work on the football field was set to be completed by
September of the same year, just in time for the start of the 2013 season. This was followed by
the construction of a grandstand that accommodates 2,000 people.[47]

Stadium and officiating developments

Main article: 2013 United Football League (Philippines)

UFL president Randy Roxas announced in December 2012 the completion of the McKinley Hill
football field in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. The $1-million artificial pitch became the new home of
the league starting the 2013 season. The field was built in partnership with Megaworld
Corporation, and is said to be up to FIFA standards.[48] The first two weeks of the tournament,
which included the opening games scheduled on 5 February 2013, were still played at the Rizal
Memorial Football Stadium, but most of the matches of the league were played at the said
artificial pitch after the Chinese New Year.[49]
The UFL started to use Megaworld's Emperador Stadium in 9 February 2013.[50] The first league
game in the stadium, Dolphins United versus Cebu Queen City United, got cancelled as the latter
forfeited the match. The second match slated for the same day, Philippine Air Force against
Nomads FC, became the first official league game in the stadium. Nomads FC won, 10, against
Philippine Air Force.[51]
In an effort to hold matches outside Metro Manila, United Football League marketing manager
Coco Torre confirmed in 30 January 2013 that the league entered into discussions with its
broadcast partner, AKTV, on the possibility of staging a few games in the provinces.[52] During
this time, UFL assistant technical director Ritchie Gannaban said that they considered staging at
least two provincial matches during the second round of the 2013 season, which was supposed to
be played either at the Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu City or at Panaad Stadium, Bacolod
City.[53]

In cooperation with the Philippine Football Federation, the league directed its referees to undergo
a training module to better their decision making and player management. The training was
facilitated by Football Association of Singapore committee member Augustine Arlando, a former
FIFA match official, and Football Association national referee tutor Dave Roberts.[54]

Refinements in league structure

In November 2013, the UFL started charging for admission during the knockout stages of the
2013 cup competition.[55] The league partnered with online ticket company Ticketworld in
selling the tickets, priced at P100 for the grandstand and P50 for the bleachers. UFL president
Randy Roxas said that the league decided to start selling match tickets to give more value to the
games. In addition, Roxas explained that the selling of tickets is also in compliance with the
requirements of the Asian Football Confederation, which the UFL wants follow for the league to
be recognized in the international scene.[56]
The UFL introduced the UFL FA League Cup in its calendar so that the start of each season
would be in September.[57] The move aligns the league's schedule with those in the ASEAN
Football Federation. The FA League Cup pushes both the cup and league competitions to
January every year, which aligns to the schedules of leagues in the Southeast Asian region such
as the Malaysia Super League and V.League 1. Twenty clubs from both divisions participated in
the 2014 FA League Cup.
To promote football awareness in the country, the UFL conducted mall tours around Metro
Manila in June 2014 before the start of the 2014 FA League Cup.[58] Several UFL players
conducted football clinics in a number of shopping malls, which include the Sta. Lucia East
Grand Mall in Cainta, Rizal, SM City Fairview in Quezon City, and Robinsons Place in Manila.
In September 2014, UFL general manager Rely San Agustin announced the plans of holding an
all-star event to showcase the growing num