Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
I've always wondered if there's not a defensive strategy to 'force' an offsides call.
I mean, if the 'back' defender rushes forward as the ball is being played, could he not effectively wreck the play? And because of that, doesn't it take a TON of starch out of the possible run? Afterall, it would seem to make a hard crash from the forward all but impossible when you have to worry about the defender 'creating' an offsides.
Is there a "no, your defenseman was a dipshit and ran himself out of the play" exception to this rule?
It's the biggest struggle I've had with soccer rules. You can know enough about hockey for most of soccer to make sense, but an offsides being determined by a moving target has always been tough to wrap my head around.
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Offsides trap is more of a strategic mentality than a situational gambit.
Teams with solid defense will shrink the field by keeping their defenders forward, so that counterattacks have to start nearer midfield due to offsides offences.
Or even in the defensive third, they will coordinate pushing forward to minimize the space the offense has to work with. Push up to the 18, or push up to the top of the arc, every time the ball recedes to between the arc and midline.
But if you 'try it' situationally, you not only have to leap forward right when the ball is struck, but you have to have the situational awareness to know you are in fact the 2nd to last defender.
Would really suck to give up a cheap goal because you tried to force the defender offsides all by yourself, only to find there was another player way out on the wings, possibly behind your back, that mooted your effort and give the opposition a free barrage on your goalie all by himself.