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10 Things You Need To Know Before Attending Your First Soccer Match

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10 Things You Need To Know Before Attending Your First Soccer Match

Diego Costa
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If you watch soccer on a regular basis, a lot of this will be pretty obvious to you. However, for those of you new to soccer, it can be useful to learn some of the basics before really getting into it. If you're planning on going to a soccer match anytime soon, make sure you know these 10 things.

10. If You're Seeing MLS, It's Not The Most Competitive League

Burnley v Celta Vigo - Pre Season Friendly
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10. If You're Seeing MLS, It's Not The Most Competitive League

Burnley v Celta Vigo - Pre Season Friendly
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This isn't to say that going to MLS games can't be fun, but unlike the other American sports leagues, the MLS isn't the best soccer league in the world. There are several other leagues more competitive and more talented.

9. There Are 11 Players Per Side

Steven Fletcher playing for Sunderland
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9. There Are 11 Players Per Side

4 Steven Fletcher playing for Sunderland - Copy
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If you're an american football fan, you're used to this set up in a sports game. Just add a goalie to both sides and it's almost the same thing. Well, not quite, but you get the idea.

8. You Can't Touch The Ball With Your Hands

FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-QPR
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8. You Can't Touch The Ball With Your Hands

FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-QPR
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This is one of the most basic rules of soccer, but one you need to know to avoid confusion. In all other sports, using your hands are central to the sport, but in soccer it's illegal. Unless you're the goalie and in the box, touching the ball with your hand can get you in some serious trouble in soccer.

7. You'll Get Tired Watching The Players Running All Over

Crystal Palace v Burnley - Premier League
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7. You'll Get Tired Watching The Players Running All Over

Crystal Palace v Burnley - Premier League
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Soccer players cover miles and miles during the course of a match and it's rather impressive. It could make you pretty tired just watching them run around for over an hour on end. Despite their physical prowess, it can't help but make you a bit sleepy.

6. Good Sportsmanship Is Shown Regardless of Outcome

Hull City v West Ham United - Premier League
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6. Good Sportsmanship Is Shown Regardless of Outcome

Hull City v West Ham United - Premier League
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In other sports, sportsmanship can sometimes be lacking for one reason or another. In soccer, except in extreme cases, members of opposing teams recognize great effort on the pitch and congratulate each other after each match concludes.

5. EPL Matches Are Most Competitive

Croatia v Australia - International Friendly
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5. EPL Matches Are Most Competitive

Croatia v Australia - International Friendly
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The English Premier League is the most popular soccer league around the world and their matches are often the most entertaining. They have the most talented players in the world in their division and following their games could be the best way to start off as a true soccer fan.

4. Red Cards Are Not Good

Croatia v Australia - International Friendly
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4. Red Cards Are Not Good

Croatia v Australia - International Friendly
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Red cards don't sound good and they're not. In fact, they get the player who got it kicked out of the game. Unlike in hockey, when a player leaves his team short handed for a short period of time, when a player gets a red card, he leaves his team a man down for the remainder of the game.

3. Don't Expect A Lot of Scoring

Jason Davidson
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3. Don't Expect A Lot of Scoring

Jason Davidson2
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If you're one for lots of scoring and offense in sports, maybe soccer isn't up your alley. In most cases, the winning team scores one or two goals and those plays are exciting, but soccer is about so much more than scoring. Ball movement and other intricacies are what most find beautiful about the game. The goals are just the end result of those things.

2. Soccer Fans Get Crazy

South Africa v Mexico: Group A - 2010 FIFA World Cup
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2. Soccer Fans Get Crazy

South Africa v Mexico: Group A - 2010 FIFA World Cup
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You've probably seen it before, but international soccer matches and matches in other leagues can get heated amongst fans. Perhaps more than any other sport, soccer fans live and die by their team, so if you're planning on getting into soccer, be passionate and jump right into a fan base.

1. Grown Men Will Flop and Fake Injuries

Spain v Ireland
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1. Grown Men Will Flop and Fake Injuries

Spain v Ireland
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Perhaps the most annoying thing about soccer is how much players flop. Constantly, they will jump to the ground and fake injuries in order to try to draw cards from other teams. It will be irritating at first, but it's a prevalent part of the game that you have to be on the lookout for at whatever game you go to.

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