Without friction they would slide around the pitch like a bunch of air-hockey pucks. Friction allows them to run and make cuts. It also means that the ball will slow down after being kicked so they can stay with it if they want to and continue to make small kicks to control it's direction. Friction allows the goalie to push off from the ground to launch himself/herself into the path of the ball to block goals.
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Gravity causes the soccer ball to come back down when you kick it up. It also keeps the players in contact with the field, and keeps the goals from floating away.
The ball goes up and eventually goes down into the basket. It's basic physics, folks!
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It keeps all the players on the field.
It allows the ball to be thrown in an arc over opposing players.