Professional soccer teams can make an average of over 20 tackles per game, clearly demonstrating that there is significant contact in the sport. Earlier, we mentioned that heavy fouls and excessive contact are illegal but unavoidable and that this automatically makes it a contact sport. When compared to other global sports like American football, rugby, and Australian rules football, or combat sports like boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), soccer isn’t a high contact sport. It would also tax some of Australia’s most profitable professional sports clubs and leagues for revenue not related to promoting the sports. There can be little to see for long periods during the eight hours of play each day from 2 p.m. Players wear their own clothes — such as random soccer or rugby jerseys — rather than matching uniforms.

While the physicality of the game has become diluted over the years, there is still a place for industrious and defense-first players. Some fans embrace the grittier aspects of the sport and get their kicks from last-ditch tackles and 50/50 challenges. We help players grow their skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential. We empower parents with the knowledge they need to navigate youth soccer and the college recruiting process. Our goal is to enhance the club soccer experience by providing clear guidance, valuable resources, and a supportive community.

#1 – Standing Tackles

Players get injured in any sport, and it is crucial to treat all injuries as such to avoid any costly calls. Soccer players do not wear much more than shin guards and other minor protective equipment, so their risk for injury can be rather high if it is not prioritized. No matter the type of contact, legal, illegal, or accidental, an injury is always possible. When a player commits any form of illegal contact, a referee will often issue a penalty. This is usually a free-kick to the opposing team from the player that committed the illegal contact. The way a sport is defined as being a ‘contact sport’ varies by different levels of contact.

What Is Considered a Contact Sport?

Illegal contact, however, results in penalties, designed to maintain player safety and fair play. An essential technique in many sports, including soccer, is to shield the ball from your opponent. Shielding the ball involves positioning your body between the ball and the opposition player, in an attempt to stop the opponent from gaining possession of the ball.

Protective Gear

When discussing contact in football, a term that often arises is the shoulder barge. The debate also centers on finding the equilibrium between maintaining soccer’s essence and ensuring player safety. Striking this balance involves crafting rules that prevent overly aggressive play while preserving the excitement and intensity fans crave. The introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is a step towards ensuring fair play by reviewing potential dangerous plays.

They can be played in a wide variety of settings, from indoor bowling alleys to outdoor golf courses. Here’s a great video that breaks down all the rules of soccer and explains each one. In this blog, I will explain the basics that you need to know about the physical contact aspect of the game. The same also applies to Sean Dyche’s Burnley in the Premier League who are one of the most physical sides but have maintained their place in the league. Soccer is one sport where body contact is necessary and is, therefore, a contact sport. It has been a contact sport since its inception and this cannot be argued or disputed.

• Referees are responsible for determining if this kind of contact is accidental or intentional when assessing fouls.
• ASHBOURNE, England (AP) — This ancient form of soccer has a rule forbidding players from murdering each other.
• And during the conversation, we had opposite views about if soccer or football is a contact sport or not.
• While size, strength, and weight can give you a significant advantage when shoulder tackling, they don’t automatically make you a better defender.
• Debates as to whether or not soccer is a contact sport generally come down to people’s perception of what a contact sport is.

The key to holding the ball up is to lower your center of gravity and lean your weight into the opponent. Players may use their size and weight to shield the ball from opponents. Debates as to whether or not soccer is a contact sport generally come down to people’s perception of what a contact sport is. One of the main differences between contact in soccer and other sports is its necessity. I’ve had non-soccer friends come up to me and tell me that soccer go to the website is not a contact sport and it’s just for wimps. Shooting sports, such as archery, clay pigeon shooting, and rifle shooting competitions, are great examples of non-contact sports.

That will usually result in a red card and, depending where the offence on the pitch is committed, the referee will award a direct free kick, or red card. Players who commit fouls will receive yellow cards from referees who can then issue red cards for repeated offenses. A kicking foul happens when an opposing player kicks the ball out of bounds, into their own goal, or over the goal line.