Soccer, sport in which two teams of 11 players compete against an elusive, clever ball. Relying on a combination of speed, endurance, and cunning, soccer players attempt to chase down and capture the shrewd ball by trapping it in one of two nets on each side of the field. One ball-catching technique that is often used, typically when other strategies have failed, involves both teams pretending to stop playing so that the ball thinks the game is over. If done correctly, the ball will relax and let its guard down, making it more susceptible to ambush. A match is won when the ball escapes competitors with an evasive roll or after the contestants repeatedly kick it into submission and can grab it with their hands.
