Quote:
Originally posted by soup sandwich
I watch all of five minutes of soccer a year, but here are some suggestions:
How about pulling goalies or not allowing them to use their hands in OT? How about removing one palyer from each team every ten minutes to create more space and more opportunities? How about not calling offsides in OT? Have any of these been tried?
Also, I always thought a Golden Goal was a goal scored in "extra time" added to the end of the game.
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Stop the insanity!! While there may not be much scoring, soccer is an exciting sport. I think it's harder for newbies to understand because the play is flowing and continuous. In basketball, football and basketball the action is broken down into neat little packages. During each at bat/down/posession there are 2-3 commentators explaining everything that is happening (or what should be happening, if they disagree with a manager's tactics) on the field. After the play they re-live it (even when nothing happens) through replays and diagrams, telestraters and more commentary. 30 seconds later, it starts all over again.
Soccer doesn't have convenient breaks where commentators can show a replay over and over and over again and diagram out what should have happened. One guy may have the ball, but what happens next depends on where his teammates run to, where the defenders are, is the goalie off his line, where is the space, what is the score, etc. There's a lot more to it than 22 people playing kickball. Unless you grew up playing, or have a kid learning the game, you probably won't appreciate the game.
Rugby. Having watched the Rugby World Cup last year, I am surprised that it is not more popular in America. Again, I attribute it to the lack of a natural break, play doesn't stop.
As for your suggestions on how to make soccer more exciting--
There is no need to pull the goalie. Goalies can play the field (who wants the softball?) like any other player. They are only allowed to use their hands inside of the penalty area. It's more common in indoor, but I have seen goalies play more of a sweeper/keeper position.
Removing a player to create more space? Doesn't work, that usually creates to much space between the players. Passes are inaccurate and intercepted and you get bogged down running back and forth in midfield. Yawn.
Not calling offsides? Maybe. There is no offsides in indoor and it does change your tactics. Many teams would have to change their defensive strategy and alignment. Especially those who use the offside trap. It's such a basic rule of the game (along with the no hands thing), it would be tough to ignore it for only part of the game.
A golden goal occurs during sudden death OT.
Why do they go to PKs? 'Cause their needs to be a winner. Hasn't college football recently adopted a similar format?
Anybody awake?
