I will chime in about the IR sensor and maybe that will get the ball rolling.
Is this soccer game going to be outside? I ask because the IR sensors either photodiodes or transistors will not work outside because the amount of nearIR light in ambient outside light will probably saturate the sensor. In the event the sensors is not saturated the IR from the ball will probably be far less than that from the sun and the signal may get lost.
You might want to put more thought, or show us that you have thought about, a project if this magnitude before asking us to provide that many general questions. Google works real good for a lot of general questions and forums for finer points.
wade