Football Association

Association football, also known as just football, is an international team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. It is the most popular non-professional sport in terms of television audience and attendance, playing an important role in the schedules of many major sports tournaments. It is also the most popular non-profitable sport in terms of its revenue generated – second only to the professional sport of golf.

The different codes of football allow for many different styles of play. The rules for each are different, too, meaning that teams may try any strategy they wish to use in order to gain an advantage and score more points. The different codes of football each have their own traditions and regulations for the game, which are often referred to as ‘culture’, or the ‘code of the game’. Some of these traditions are based around religion and nationality, while others are not.

Association football is played between teams in leagues and competitions; fixtures are played over several days with extra time allowed for extra goals and substitutions, overtime if necessary, before a final result is determined. There are two distinct phases of the game: the active and passive phases. The passive phase is when the play is going on without an actual ball being launched, and in this type of play, the clock does not stop. The active phase is when the ball is launched and the play is started – this is referred to as ‘converting play’.