Football is a great sport for young and old, whether you are a spectator or a player, a coach or a referee, a fan or an official.  It is a great sport for team building as well as for showcasing individual talent, and it is taught and played in schools throughout the UK precisely because of it's versatility.  If you are considering learning how to play football or are thinking about coaching or teaching football, you're not alone!  Every year thousands of people of all ages take up the sport, and there are schools, clubs and classes (as well as private coaches) scattered all over the UK.

One of the easiest ways to learn and teach football is to utilize the games broadcast on television.  Watching football is one of the simplest ways to pick up the rules and to analyse the particular techniques used in play.  It is far easier to show someone a game on television than it is to try and demonstrate the rules on the field, so it is advisable to try watching games first.  It is also a good idea to have a good guide book or rule book on hand for those tricky questions about the off-side rule and the different sorts of penalties and fouls. 

From a practical point of view, it is important that regular practice is maintained so that the skills required to play football are allowed to build up and improve.  Various drills that practice different types of kicks, passes and dribbles are recommended.  Defence is another area that needs constant training, as it is far easier to learn and understand when practising than it is when someone is trying to describe verbally.