Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski
That may be a fallout of the rule but doesn't explain what is was intended to do. and by the way, the leagues around here don't even use it until U-8. It's complicated rules, with some subtle
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The fallout explains what was intended, which, as you say, was to prevent goal-hanging.
http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/...o-present.html
I think it's hard to say exactly what would happen if you eliminated the rule altogether (which is unrealistic) or modified it somehow (more realistic) because it usually takes awhile to figure out the impact of radical changes. We've had a 3-point line in basketball for over 30 years, but it's taken a while for the game to develop to the drive and kick strategy so prevalent now - in the 80s 3 pointers weren't nearly the large part of the offense they are now.
I suspect that true goal hanging wouldn't really work. Long balls played to a striker would generally not meet their mark, and the GK will have an advantage in those circumstances anyway. Question I think that needs to be answered is whether a modification of the rule could open up play but not change the game too much.
