Questions for you soccer fans

[scottmandue]

I have been slowly gaining interest in soccer over the past few years and I have noticed it is becoming more popular in America as a spectator sport. My favorite sports bar has even been showing all the games leading to some discussion as usually goes on in sports bars.

1. One guy was ranting that they need more than one Ref. and it does seem like a big area for one guy to cover, what do you think?

2. Another person complained that there is too much jumping and diving going on. I have only been watching for a short time but there does seem to be more action on the field. Is this a good or bad thing?

3. What is up with the new soccer ball? How long have they had it and am I the only one that thinks it looks like a bunch of pantie shields sewn together?

[Steve PH]

A Football (sorry I mean soccer!) non experts reply, don't ask me about the off side rule, confuses the hell out of me!

1. As far as I remember you have one referee and what is known as linesmen who patrol up and down the pitch and report what they see to the ref.

2. Diving is either a player exagerating the fact that he has been foul'ed to make it clear to the ref he has been unfairly treated or a deliberate attempt to manipulate the game in his teams favour. Highly questionable which ever way you look at!

3. Pantie shields? That simply had occured to me but now you mention it......

[artplumber]

1. They don't need more than one ref, there are two lines people as well. Some of them do need to get their eyesight checked.

2. Diving was even worse a few years ago. At least you can get a yellow card for it now. Even so, there's still too much going on. Worst offenders are usually from specific regions. Diving is a bad thing. Worst thing is faking an injury to slow the tempo of the game when the other side has the ball and is attacking and your team is out of position/tired.

3. New ball design this Cup, for hopefully some more knuckle ball flight.

[Sarc]

Hi Scott,
I'll give it a try:

1. Although an additional ref on the pitch might be helpful, it's not entirely necessary as long as the ref stays within proximity of the action. If anything (in my opinion) an additional ref on the pitch would just be one more guy to potentially get in the way of play.
I am, on the otherhand, all for having additional linesmen working the sidelines. It frustrates me when a linesman 35 yards away from the action calls a ball out of play when it was clearly in (the entire ball must be on the outside of the sideline to be considered out)

2. Yes. Yes. Yes. Entirely way to much diving and acting in football. Usually this is done to a) get a quick breather in and b) to hopefully get the ref to award a free quick to actor's team.
Either way it's a pathetic occurence in an otherwise beautiful game that doesn't help in winning over new fans (especially those accustomed to American football)

The easiest way for this to be remedied is for a ref to take control early in the game and not award free kicks for this acting. A good example of this occured today with the match between Italy and Germany. The result was a thrilling match with lots of action.

3. Haha, yes it looks like Kotex made the new ball and not Adidas. I have ot imagine the industrial designer that came with that design got a good laugh out of it.
On a side note, the ball itself has incorporated a new design for this tournament. This new ball is made up of 14 panels stiched together as opposed to the traditional 32 panel design. The result is a ball with less rotational resistance that enables he ball to act in a similar matter to a baseball's curve ball.
*the panel numbers are off the top of my head so I might be off.

Steve,
(Picture looking at a field from the side) When a player is offsides, it simply means he/she is standing between the goalie of the opposing team and that team's last line of defense prior to being passed the ball. This layer must be standing in the same line/plane of these last defenders. Once the ball leaves the foot of the passer, then the striker can break free and make a run towards the goal.

When you hear the term offside trap, this occurs when the defense of a team "pull up" on the field, leaving the striker (who usually is only paying attention to the ball working it's way towards him) offside. Being offside turns the ball over to the other team.

I hope this helps....now get out here and try playing. You'll become addicted.

[wrecktech]

Originally posted by Steve PH
A Football (sorry I mean soccer!) non experts reply, don't ask me about the off side rule, confuses the hell out of me!

Any player can be anywhere on his side of the field. To be on the opponent's side there must always be an opponent between the player and the goal unless the player has the ball or the ball is between the opponent closest to the goal and the opponent's goal

[scottmandue]

I am aware of the two linesmen... as a matter of fact the guy who was saying they needed more than one ref. told me that when I asked him who the other two guys in yellow shirts were (part of my learning curve)
I think what was setting him off is they kept replaying the shot where it appeared the goalie caught the ball inside the net and punched it back out. If the ball passes the plane (opening) of the net is it a goal if the goalie catches it while standing inside the net?
I'm probably using the wrong terminology but you probably know the play I am talking about.

[artplumber]

Unlike US football, "breaking the plane" does not apply. The entire ball has to cross (just like the touch lines).

[wrecktech]

Originally posted by artplumber
(just like the touch lines).

I had the "whitest" black cleats because of this.

[Z-man]

Regarding diving - since when did soccer become a bunch of pansy-metrosexual drama queens that claim MAJOR injury when they are barely touched by someone on the opposing team? There's more bad acting on the soccer field than in Swamp Thing and Swamp Thing II combined!

Soccer is a CONTACT sport. It involves KICKING a ball around the field. Sometimes players will miss the ball and kick other things, including shins, feet, legs, and other body parts. If you play soccer, you are going to get hit, bumped, tripped...etc. by the other team. GET OVER IT.

If a soccer player is bent over backwards in pain and agony one minute, yet the next minute his is charging down the field ready to score a goal, that player should be taken out of the game.

And no, I'm not advocating violence in sports - but this diving crap simply ruins the game for me - I watched most of the Italy / German semi finals yesterday and all this drama of diving, waving of hands (look at me!!! Look at ME! I've fallen and I can't get up!) totally killed the momentum of the game, and really distrupted the enjoyment of watching the game.

These divers should take their pink panties that are all bunched up and to play some other non-contact sport where they don't need to worry about some big-ol-meaning touching them. Perhaps lawn darts are more suitible for these sensitive new-age guys...

End rant,
-Z-man.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by artplumber
Unlike US football, "breaking the plane" does not apply. The entire ball has to cross (just like the touch lines).

Can the goalie catch the ball while standing inside (behind the plane) of the net? Granted we had the advantage of slow-mow replay but it appeared that he held the ball for a fraction of a second then poked the ball out onto the field.

[MichiganMat]

I watched an MLS game last night. It was kinda like watching a HS varsity game compared to the matches in the World Cup.

[artplumber]

Originally posted by scottmandue
Can the goalie catch the ball while standing inside (behind the plane) of the net? Granted we had the advantage of slow-mow replay but it appeared that he held the ball for a fraction of a second then poked the ball out onto the field.

Matters where the ball is, not where you are.

As I've said elsewhere, MLS and US soccer is nowhere near the level of the really elite teams. Even my wife can tell US soccer vs Premier league or other Euro/south american league games by the quality of the play, and she's learning the game by looking over my shoulder.

[Flatbutt1]

how do I attach an interesting mpg on this topic?

[Neilk]

Originally posted by flatbutt
how do I attach an interesting mpg on this topic?

Go to Youtube.com. You should be able to imbed the video in the post through their site.

[MikeSid]

Originally posted by wrecktech
Any player can be anywhere on his side of the field. To be on the opponent's side there must always be an opponent between the player and the goal unless the player has the ball or the ball is between the opponent closest to the goal and the opponent's goal

Actually TWO opponent players must be between you and the goal for you to be in an "on side" position. It's just that 99% of the time the second opponent player is the goalie - so this distinction gets glossed over. It doesn't happen often and when it does it's usually with a very agressive goalie on a corner kick or close-in set piece.

FIFA law 11 is the best explaination of the Offsides rule and is really pretty clear. The trouble is evaluating the different scenarios...deflections off defenders, balls off the frame, etc.

[}{arlequin]

can't wait for today's game. seems like the day is dragging.
hope to see italy/portugal in the final.