The first versions of the manual were written by Itsuki Noda, while developing the soccerserver, and around version 3.00 there were several requests on an updated manual, to better correspond to the server as well as enable newcomers to more easily participate in the RoboCup World Cup Initiative. In the fall of 1998 Peter Stone initiated the Soccer Manual Effort, over which Johan Kummeneje took responsibility to organise and as a result the Soccerserver Manual version 4.0 was released on the 1st of November 1998.
Since November, the soccerserver has changed version to 5.0 (currently 5.14) and is continously developed. Therefore the Soccer Manual Effort has developed a new version, which you are currently reading.