Soccer primer for the ignorant (me)

[Willie Bee]

If someone would like to help educate an old fart with regards to soccer, I'd appreciate it. Went to one World Cup match in '94, a most entertaining contest up in Dallas between Brazil and the Netherlands. But I spent the majority of the time watching the Brazilian ladies bounce around in the stands. And I dated a Scouser for a while when I was a much younger man, but the only thing she taught me was that Man U sucks, and I believe she was a bit biased.

I do enjoy watching the game occasionally, but quite honestly I really have no flippin' clue what I'm watching most of the time. So what are three things that an ignorant Yank such as myself should be looking for when watching a match. Appreciate the input and your assistance with my continuing education

[The HG]

Good thread, I'm interested to see what people might have to say about soccer, and the betting aspects of it as well.

[Shark79]

Willie,

This Wikipedia link pretty much says it all

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football

[pavyracer]

1. The ball is round. If you paint it green with stripes you may eat is as watermelon.

2. Using your hands to touch the ball is prohibited and penalized. You may use your hands to push, shove, pull shirts and shorts or grab others players privates as long as the ref doesn't see it.

3. Watching commercials or going to the outhouse is prohibited while the game is in play so be prepared to hold it when watching a game.

4. Last but not least, if you don't know what they do then watch the spelling bee. It's more fun.

[McBa1n]

A good primer is to follow the handful of guys that are CRUSHING the bets in Euro 2008 and fade me. It's mustard.

You'll pick up how it's played quickly. If there's an explanation of the 'offsides' rule in the wikipedia - learn that one. It's probably the most important rule (well, other than you CANT use your hands unless you're a goal keeper). There's a lot of confusion in offsides calls - but blown calls either way make/break games and this tournament has been no exception.

[Willie Bee]

Yeah McBain, that's one I'm not sure I do understand too well. Is there a certain point in the play that the defense has to have two players back (like before the passing kick is made)? If a guy kicks one towards the other side of the pitch, can an offensive player outrun the guy defending him while the ball's in the air leaving just the offensive player with one defender (the goalie) between him and the net?

[pavyracer]

You need two defensive players between the ball and the offensive player, always in defenses half, when a forward pass is made to avoid being offside. 99% of the times the first player is the goalie so technically you need to be covered by at least one defender unless the goalie is lurking in offense which rarely happens.

[Shark79]

In order NOT to be in offside position this must occur:

- Offensive player must be behind the line of defense
- If the player is in between the last defender and goalkeeper hes OFFSIDE
- If the ball is passed and at the moment of the pass the offensive player was behind the line of defense, he is ONSIDE, leaving it to the striker to score.

It is a VERY touchy subject ... many have requested to use cameras to have a second opinion if they are or not in OFFSIDE (just like in the NFL), but FIFA has denied it multiple times (guess because it would not allow many games to be rigged)

[fingas]

i think you are talking about the OFF SIDE

at the back, a team can have as much players they want, they can have the whole team or only the goalkeeper, it doesn't matter.

But in the offensive side, a player has to be in line (at most) with the last defender from opposite team (goalkeeper doesn't count).

If he is ahead of the last defender it's called OFF SIDE and a free kick is taken by the defensive team (it the referee whisles)

This rule only takes place after the midfield line.

Search for the OFF SIDE rule so that you can get another examples or a more clear explanation

[pavyracer]

In order NOT to be in offside position this must occur:

- Offensive player must be behind the line of defense
- If the player is in between the last defender and goalkeeper hes OFFSIDE
- If the ball is passed and at the moment of the pass the offensive player was behind the line of defense, he is ONSIDE, leaving it to the striker to score.

It is a VERY touchy subject ... many have requested to use cameras to have a second opinion if they are or not in OFFSIDE (just like in the NFL), but FIFA has denied it multiple times (guess because it would not allow many games to be rigged)

The problem with this proposal is that not all games are televised so it will be impossible to enforce and have a consistent rule.

[SBR Lou]

I am not the most knowledgeable soccer guy myself either, but I pick up on things fairly quickly.

[pavyracer]

The critical item is that it has to be a forward pass. All backward passes are not offsides.

[Willie Bee]

- If the ball is passed and at the moment of the pass the offensive player was behind the line of defense, he is ONSIDE, leaving it to the striker to score.

Thanks Shark, I think that explains what I was in the dark about.

[Shark79]

Thanks Shark, I think that explains what I was in the dark about.