What I don't know about soccer would fill a....well....soccer stadium. Here's what I know, or at least, think I know.
A soccer field is huge and is called "a pitch". At each end of the pitch are very large nets held up by two upright posts connected by one long horizontal pole.
The player guarding/defending this territory is called the "goalie" and is the only one on the field allowed to touch the ball with his hands during the game. The object of the game is to get the ball past the goalie and score one point. If the goalie is successful in stopping the ball before it makes its way into the net, he will either throw a long pass to one of his teammates or kick the ball as far down the field as possible for the same reason.
Should the ball during play cross the sideline it is considered "out of play" and must be brought back in. This is usually accomplished by throwing it to a teammate . (The player on the "outside" is allowed to use his hands to get the ball back into play).
Sometimes a player will trip and fall on his own (you try running at top speed not really watching where you're going) and sometimes an opposing player will try to "help" you trip. In this case, the tripped player hits the ground and acts like he's injured. In some cases he really is injured and in others well, let's just say "And the Oscar goes to..." and leave it at that.
This is all done in an attempt to cause the offending fellow to get a "color card" from the referee. If however, the ref doesn't believe an infraction occurred the player on the ground gets the card. Too many cards on the same player means that player is off the field for the rest of the game.
Sometimes a penalty is SO severe the other team is allowed a "penalty kick." The defensive players line up in front of the goal and try to help the goalie stop the ball or at least deflect it away from the goal. There is also something called a "corner kick" but I have no idea what it's for.
In the case of a tie score, each team is allowed to kick the ball at the goal one player at a time.If the first kicker doesn't score then the other team tries. They also alternate the goalies so a player is always facing the opposition goalie. This continues until a player scores.
I think soccer is the only sport where the timeclock starts at zero and counts time by addition instead of subtraction, I don't know why. Once the clock reaches the total required time for the game the referee tells the teams how much more time is left to play due to injuries and the like, because the clock never stops during play.
I also think I know that two of the greatest players of this game were Pele and Beckham.
So, now you know what I know. Please correct my information or fill in any gaps (even the BIG ones)
so I can learn why soccer fans are so passionate about this game and so fiercely loyal to their teams.
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Comments (26)
Thanks for the compliment.
Lady, Miss Lady | 02/25/08, 10:20 PM
Report Offensive Commentfunny
jeevs BS | 02/26/08, 08:17 PM
Report Offensive CommentInteresting,the blog and your name,lol.
"Cincy" hurts less | 02/26/08, 08:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentAlright, Beckham isnt the greatest player of all time for sure.
Those in the running are Pele, Maradona, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Di Stefano, and Duncan Edwrards usually.
Beckham is just a celebrity.
jeevs BS | 02/26/08, 08:33 PM
Report Offensive CommentAs far as kicking at the goal one player at a time, it is called a penalty shootout. That only occurs if their is overtime after the game and its still tied. Sometimes there is no overtime, and it ends in a tie after regulation.
jeevs BS | 02/26/08, 08:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentPenalty kicks are for fouls in the box (the place where the goalie can pick up the ball). Penalty kicks to decide a game are only used in Cups or Tournaments. There are draws in regular play.
Pele and Maradona are the 2 greatest players of all time.
IrishR#1 | 02/26/08, 08:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentAnd I'm pretty sure the clock goes up in rugby. It's a European thing.
IrishR#1 | 02/26/08, 08:37 PM
Report Offensive Commentwat u call a penalty kick is actually called a "free kick"
A penalty kick is when you are followed in the opposite teams penalty box and try to score against the keeper 1 on 1
jeevs BS | 02/26/08, 08:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentNo wonder he moved to California, he'll fit right in.
But what about the rules of the game? There must be gaps in my knowledge.
Lady, Miss Lady | 02/26/08, 08:38 PM
Report Offensive CommentOkay, so the goalie is called the keeper.
Lady, Miss Lady | 02/26/08, 08:39 PM
Report Offensive CommentAh. Jeevs beat me to it.
IrishR#1 | 02/26/08, 08:40 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe rules of soccer as in fouls are pretty much you can't knock a player down without touching the ball on a slide tackle, you can't touch the ball with your hand, you can't flop, you can't pull a player down, and the keepers have a limited amount of time they can hold the ball. All of those will probably lead to a yellow card. 2 yellow cards = a red card which is an ejection and a ban for a game.
IrishR#1 | 02/26/08, 08:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentSoccer has limited amount of rules which is why it is the best game to play unorganized.
IrishR#1 | 02/26/08, 08:44 PM
Report Offensive CommentKeep the comments coming. I might not get to them all tonight but I will get to them.
Lady, Miss Lady | 02/26/08, 08:44 PM
Report Offensive CommentThank you people.
Lady, Miss Lady | 02/26/08, 08:45 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood blog. You are definitely more informed about the game, then a lot of other people here.
At least you didn't say Soccer sucks. That would have annoyed me.
J. HOVA: CATCH A FIRE | 02/26/08, 08:51 PM
Report Offensive CommentYeah, thanks for at least trying. I love to actually see some new members show us some respect for once, and I appreciate it very much.
Keeper | 02/26/08, 09:13 PM
Report Offensive CommentOne thing I have to tell that I didn't before is that growing up I lived in a town here in the US with a fairly large Portuguese population. High School had the usual football, baseball, basketball you'd find at most high schools, but because of the population base they also had soccer. Now, as an adult, I'm back in my "hometown" which is the home of the Western Mass Pioneers. In fact, their pitch is near Our Lady of Fatima church in my old neighborhood. But seeing a game live wouldn't be possible now (too long to be away from the bathroom facilities, hence the name above) and what I wrote up above truly is what I remember from high school. So I do appreciate anything and everything you tell me.
Lady, Miss Lady | 02/26/08, 11:23 PM
Report Offensive CommentYou did pretty well for your first summary of the rules of the game, LP... I'm including a link here (from the England Football Association) which lists the 17 "Rules of the Game").
http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesAndRegulations/FIFALawsOfTheGame/Postings/2002/05/12111.htm
Detractors sometimes don't understand that the very simplicity of the game (these 17 rules are it!) is part of the appeal, as there is so much room for variation in both team strategy and individual creativity. (as contrasted with more regimented sports such as "American" football--I call soccer "English" football, as the origins of the *modern* game of soccer were in England)
KansasToonami | 02/27/08, 01:41 AM
Report Offensive CommentDon't forget Goerge Best Jeeves he was great also and you left out Platini and Zidane. Cheers!
RMadrid(Los Blancos) | 02/27/08, 09:14 AM
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