Some say soccer—or football, as it’s called in much of the world—started in China 2,000 years ago. A similar ball game may have been played by the Maya in Central America even earlier. And ancient Greeks and Romans played a soccer-like game called harpastum.
No matter where it started, people love kicking a ball around on a grassy field. Since the official rules were written in 1863, people have been perfecting the sport and its gear. “Sporting goods companies continue to create new balls using innovative designs with new materials that are more accurate in flight, have a softer feel, and are safer to hit with your head,” says Ed Farnsworth, director of the Society for American Soccer History.
When did people start playing soccer? Some experts think it was in China around 2,000 years ago. The Maya people in Central America may have played a similar game even earlier. The ancient Greeks and Romans also played a soccer-like game. They called it harpastum.
No matter where it started, people love kicking a ball around. But what that ball looks like has changed over the years. “Sporting goods companies continue to create new balls using innovative designs,” says Ed Farnsworth. He’s the director of the Society for American Soccer History. Modern balls use “new materials that are more accurate in flight,” he says. They also feel softer and are safer to hit with your head.