English for THE GAMES Football (7-a-side) When athletes come together from around the world to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, they are fulfilling their dreams and competing at the highest level. Billions of people across the globe join in; watching, listening to and reading about the greatest global celebration of sport. To celebrate the London 2012 Games, the British Council is making a wide range of classroom resources available for learners of English worldwide. There are two football events at the Paralympics: 5-a-side and 7-a-side. 7-a-side Football is played by athletes with cerebral palsy. The rules are very similar to 11-a-side Football, with some modifications. Have you ever seen a game of 7-a-side Football? Goal Throw-in (throw underhand) Pitch Mi n 70 m Ma x7 5m m 55 ax M m 50 Min To find out more visit www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish B122 London 2012 English Worksheets Football 7_a_side_V2.indd 1 British Council 2012 Brand and Design/B122 15/02/2012 10:27
1. Vocabulary a. Write the correct words in the spaces provided. a. pitch b. goal c. throw-in (underhand) 1 2 3
2. The rules of 7-a-side Football What is it? 7-a-side Football is basically the same as 11-a-side Football, but with rules adapted for athletes with a disability. Who can participate in 7-a-side Football at the Paralympics? 7-a-side Football is open to athletes with cerebral palsy. Classification Classes 5, 6, 7 and 8: class 5 is for athletes with the most severe disabilities, progressing to class 8 for the least disabled. There are ambulant athletes in all these classes. Teams must include at least one athlete from either class 5 or 6. How is it played? 7-a-side Football is a fast and physical game, very similar to 11-a-side Football but the rules have been modified. These include: Each team consists of seven players; Each half lasts 30 minutes; The playing field is a little smaller, as are the goals; There is no offside rule; Players can make throw-ins with one hand only.
a. Match the words in the table with their definitions below. a. tackle b. cerebral palsy c. offside d. pitch e. throw-in 1. A physical condition involving permanent tightening of the muscles which is caused by damage to the brain around or before the time of birth. 2. The place where the game is played. In 7-a-side Football it is smaller than in 11-aside Football. 3. In a position where you are not allowed to touch the ball. 4. The act of throwing the ball from the side line after the ball has gone out of play. 5. An attempt to take the ball from a player in the other team. 3. Reading Practice makes perfect 1. Introduction Millions of people around the world know that football can be very enjoyable to play or to watch. Perhaps you are one of them? However, did you know that playing football can have huge benefits for people with cerebral palsy? Players and officials agree that participating in 7 a-side Football can have two very positive outcomes. It can contribute towards rehabilitating the disability itself and it can also help the athlete s integration into society. 2. Johannes Siikonen Johannes Siikonen, who captained the Finnish 7-a-side team, commented that playing football increases physical fitness by strengthening muscles all round your body. He talked about cases of players who are now able to run (where) they hadn t been able to do it before. 3. Valeire Suskevic Valeire Suskevic, President of the Ukraine Paralympic Association, also described benefits for people with cerebral palsy. He said that there are many examples where, after playing football, players spirit and muscles became much stronger and this helped them get adapted and be able to lead a normal life within society. 4. Luke Evans Irish player Luke Evans agreed: It obviously helps with the physical attributes, but at the same time it makes you more determined, more committed. I think it s essential to have a sport in your life, because it does help with your attitude and how you look upon things.
a. Match each sentence to one of the paragraphs from the text. 1. It helps you physically and also helps with how you think about things. 2. It helps you in two different ways, and many people don't know this. 3. It helps your muscles get stronger, and helps some people do something that they couldn t do before. 4. It helps your muscles get stronger, and also helps you adapt to a normal life in society. b. Arrange the words to make phrases from the text. 1. benefits / can / football / have / huge / playing 2. by / fitness / football / increases / muscles / physical / strengthening 3. a / essential / have / in / it s / life / sport / to / your 4. after / became / football / much / muscles / playing / stronger / their 5. at / determined / it / makes / more / same / the / time / you
4. Solution Exercise 1a 1. b; 2. a; 3. c Exercise 2a 1. b; 2. d; 3. c; 4. e; 5. a Exercise 3a 1. d; 2. a; 3. b; 4. c Exercise 3b 1. playing football can have huge benefits 2. football increases physical fitness by strengthening muscles 3. it s essential to have a sport in your life 4. after playing football their muscles became much stronger 5. at the same time it makes you more determined