Question Number: 13258

Law 1- The Field 7/2/2006

RE: Want to know soccer better Adult

Mark Greenstein of New Britain, CT USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 13195

When, if ever have there been North American or World proposals to enlarge the goal?

An extra 4 feet in width and perhaps 18" in height would keep everything good about the game, but bring scoring into line with what Americans for one (no, for 300,000,000) would welcome at the professional level.

In youth soccer, there is no need to change. Scoring is adequate and interest is high. But note the correlation -- at the college and pro levels, scoring is low and interest is VERY low.

Even among the Europeans we read of discontent with shootouts. And no wonder -- they are the antithesis of what the game seeks to accomplish -- rather skilled coordination among several players, shootouts are largely a matter of whether on goaltender GUESSES which way to jump. Shootouts would be almost non-existent with scores that come as frequently as in hockey, baseball, or North American football.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This Game is all about team play, the team works the ball to a position where a shot can be taken. If it goes in the goal ONE point and that is enough. If the keeper saves or the shot misses, bad luck -- try again AND it takes a team effort to regain possession and get the ball to a place where a shot can be tried. The whole point if this Game is what the team does working together. Who cares how many points are scored, if one understands how to play and WHY we play scoring is immaterial, it is the team's quest for the shot on goals. THE most exciting match ends 1:0 with both sides exhausted.

Make the goal bigger, so much rubbish. How about let's make it the whole goal line and give 6 points for crossing it. How about 3 points for kicking over. Sheesh, why not 2 points instead of a corner kick.

Better yet, why not all of us dress in armour plating and stand around patting each other on the backside. Wouldn't that be fun. AND we could play for the world championship with just American teams.

Make the goal bigger so you can have more goals, NOT in my life time Mark, this Game is the world's Game and North America counts as one of the 207 member nations of FIFA. Need more scoring, there are other games to watch...

There's one thing you did say that I think is worth more than an outright dismissal so I offer this discussion of something I observed. Your statement: "Even among the Europeans we read of discontent with shootouts." indicates belief in something you have read. I have read things like this as well. These are opinions of the writer and may or not have a basis in fact. When the winners were determined by Kicks from the Mark at the end of the Germany:Argentina and the England:Portugal matches I noticed all of the available television sets were more crowded than during extra time. This, to me anyway, indicates some interest in what was happening. Was all the cheering indicative of the possibility of a goal being scored, interest in the test of a player's accuracy or a comparison of the skills of the goalkeepers? Who knows why each person was watching, point is they were watching.

Who were they? Aha, to the point -- they were patrons of the annual Wine Festival in Kleinhoeflein, Burgenland, Austria. So, for the most, they were Europeans. They were VERY interested. I saw no discontent, I saw betting on each kick, I saw smiles, I heard cheers and groans -- I think what I saw was people being entertained and that, Mark, is what games are all about.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Soccer is the only game in the world where anyone would get excited about a 0-0 tie. I think thats pretty cool.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The fact it is different is why I enjoy it! I can not bear to watch a basketball game where I tune in the final 5 minutes to see a result and the cheerleaders are the most interesting thing on the floor. Baseball is great for a snooze in the afternoon with a hotdog and drink at your side. Hockey is a fairly fast paced game if you think 3 hours to play a 1 hr game is the way to go. But at least it can be exciting. I find no lift in the other two at all! To each his own
Cheers