Clark Hunt is selling the Columbus Crew soccer team

[KCrockaholic]

http://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/...-columbus-crew

Hadn't seen this posted on here yet.

Not sure that it means anything, but it's partially Chiefs related.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by InterruptingCow

As much as I hate the rule, we shouldn't tamper with it in any way that differentiates American soccer from international rules. We have a hard enough time being taken seriously as a top contributor to the game. Making the rules more offense friendly to appease an American audience would make us look ridiculous.

If Americans want instant gratification and constant stimulation there are plenty of sports and events they can attend to fulfill that purpose. If they can't be sold the nuance, complexity, and intricacy that is soccer then let them go elsewhere.

Americans are too stupid for soccer.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Only fix I could see to make it palatable for American audiences is to not allow an offensive player in the box / within the yard line until the ball has crossed, and give a 2-3 yard-ish "buffer" behind the last defensive player and the GK to the point that an offensive player can't be much farther away without the ball as well.

The offside law is fine as it is. It is the American's understanding of the law that is the issue no the law in itself.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Americans are too stupid for soccer.

Judging by the NFL, Americans are also too stupid for football.

[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by penguinz

There is only one interpretation to it. The issue is just that the officials are human. You have to be able to see when the ball leaves the players foot, head, etc and also see where the receiving player is in relation to the second to last defender at the same time.

Easy to do if there is a slow pace and the two offensive player are in the same line of vision.

Very hard to do when they are moving at a very fast pace and are not both within the same field of view.

As far as gettign rid of the offside rule....This would destroy the game.

I mean, kind of, but not really. A player can be in an offside position, but not be actively involved in the play. There's plenty of interpretation that can go into it on less than clear plays.

[memyselfI]

This is why KC loves it's soccer team. It's also why the sport will grow in this country.

Sporting KC fans

Some say that the content of one’s character can be judged by an individual’s behavior when no one’s looking. At a time when disturbing events in the news outweigh the good, I am compelled to share the actions of an inspirational hometown athlete.

Recently, three of my children were playing soccer with a neighborhood friend and his dad on the grass along the Harry Wiggins Trolley Trail. A young man with white hair, dressed in a Sporting KC shirt, driving down Brookside Boulevard, spotted them playing soccer, parked his car and crossed to meet them.

Much to my children’s delight and surprise, Jimmy Nielsen, Sporting KC’s standout goalie and the team’s 2011 MVP, observed them practicing saves and punts and proceeded with a few pointers on post-goal punting.

After a short clinic and an autograph for a pair of goalie gloves, he headed back to his car.

I am impressed with Jimmy’s passion for the game and its future. His selfless generosity speaks volumes for the Sporting KC franchise.

We wish the team the best of luck in the remainder of the season and the MLS Cup Playoffs. My children are fans for life.

Marcia Ziglinski

Kansas City
Posted on Mon, Oct. 22, 2012 06:04 PM

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/22...#storylink=cpy

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Whitlockbabymomma

This is why KC loves it's soccer team. It's also why the sport will grow in this country.

You know why the sport is growing in this country?

Because they're GETTING THE KIDS.

I live in Iowa - rural America. Granted, we have a lot of Hispanic immigrants here, but the number of kids playing in soccer leagues is EASILY more than Little League baseball and Pop Warner COMBINED.

Soccer at all levels, not just MLS but also the lesser pro franchises, are doing a GREAT job of getting out in the community and energizing the NEXT generation of fans.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

I mean, kind of, but not really. A player can be in an offside position, but not be actively involved in the play.

A player not involved in the play has nothing to do with offside or not offside.

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

There's plenty of interpretation that can go into it on less than clear plays.

No there isn't. The law is really simple.

• “nearer to his opponents’ goal line” means that any part of a player’s head,
body or feet is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the
second-last opponent. The arms are not included in this defi nition
• “interfering with play” means playing or touching the ball passed or
touched by a team-mate
• “interfering with an opponent” means preventing an opponent from
playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s
line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in
the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent
• “gaining an advantage by being in that position” means playing a ball that
rebounds to him off a goalpost or the crossbar having been in an offside
position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having
been in an offside position

The issue is that there are humans involved making the call at real speed. the other issue is that most coaches, players, and many inexperienced referees do not understand Law 11.

[WoodDraw]

Have you ever reffed a game? And tried to decide these things? It sounds simple, but it's a bit harder in real life.

Let's say a player is in an offside position on the left wing, but the ball is played late to a player on the right wing, and he scores. Hasn't the offside player on the left played some role in distracting the goalie? But plenty of goals are scored with players in an offside position, but legitimately so. But there are plenty of judgement calls.

It's like when people say "hand ball" is "really simple". No, it's not. **** off. It's called completely differently on the circumstances.

Even your own definition accounts for this: "in the opinion of the referee"... In what world does that not call for interpretation?

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

Have you ever reffed a game? And tried to decide these things? It sounds simple, but it's a bit harder in real life.

Let's say a player is in an offside position on the left wing, but the ball is played late to a player on the right wing, and he scores. Hasn't the offside player on the left played some role in distracting the goalie? But plenty of goals are scored with players in an offside position, but legitimately so. But there are plenty of judgement calls.

It's like when people say "hand ball" is "really simple". No, it's not. **** off. It's called completely differently on the circumstances.

Even your own definition accounts for this: "in the opinion of the referee"... In what world does that not call for interpretation?

I have reffed thousands of games. Youth, College, etc.... The example you just gave above is not off.

And deliberately handling is a simple one as well. It is peoples understanding on what actually constitutes deliberately handling that most do not understand.

[rtmike]

Originally Posted by Whitlockbabymomma

In addition, their becoming the largest youth soccer club in JOCO and all ages of kids wearing a Sporting shield on their uniform will practically guarantee a perpetual interest in the team. What kid going to Sporting games won't want to wear their shield while playing and vice versa. I know if my son wasn't in his last years of club soccer it would be a huge draw for him.

My daughter's team has been called the Timbers a couple decades anyways. We just absorbed a club so there was talk of what the name might be?

Fast forward to the beginning of summer. The Portland Timbers are just across the river (just like KC, Mo. & KC, Ks. in that a river separates. With us it's Vancouver, Wa. & Portland, Or.) & approached our club, Vancouver United, & 3 of the top tier clubs' in Portland about starting up what they call an Alliance. So now it's North (us), eastern, western, & south Timbers. We also had a sponsor step up so the uniform kit has "Director's Mortgage" on the front with each club's insignia up in the front corner.

It's cool for the kids' since all the clubs were top notch to begin with so the name Timbers is well represented in the NW. Got to talking to someone & the NW has grown some decent players.

We're hoping for the women to someday move in. That would benefit our daughter. She's currently on the premier team at her age level. She wants to play for the National team someday. With the boys, my understanding is they can add a local player & it won't count towards a draft pick or something??? Which is super cool since they signed one of their 1st off the U23 team.

I'm trying to give her what my Father never gave me. It's been super easy so far simply because I'm there for her. I'm her full time chauffeur.

I too, use to hate soccer but have really grown to enjoy it now. The Portland Timbers sell out @ the beginning of the season. We've talked about buying season tickets cause it's actually not that much money!

[rtmike]

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

It's like when people say "hand ball" is "really simple". No, it's not. **** off. It's called completely differently on the circumstances.

Even your own definition accounts for this: "in the opinion of the referee"... In what world does that not call for interpretation?

It has to be a thankless job. They're always short on referees' & side judges' up here.

I thought that handball rule was modified recently?

We went down to northern Ca. for the Mustang tournament. The refs down there were amazing. I wheeled up to each & every one of them thanking them after every game. I think they were in a state of shock. One ref explained to me he wouldn't call fouls, etc. unless whatever infraction it was, would have made a instant/direct impact on the game.

Some of the parents need to bring lollipops'. They want calls every time their precious little one takes an elbow or falls down. Excuse me, but do you even know how soccer's played? We have about 3 girls' on the team that are solid. It's funny when an opponent runs into one of them. Opponent always ends up on their ass.

[carlos3652]

Yea - offsides is really tricky - the one that really gets me is the fact that the rule states that there needs to be 2 players (usually a goalie and a defender) in front of the player recieving the ball, once the ball is passed from another teamate.

So basically if the goalie comes off his line - and there is only one defender to beat on goal - if that offensive person makes a forward pass to another teamate and said teamate was behind the defender but in front of the passer - he would be offside as well...

Refs at all levels screw the offsides up - its hard, and you are told if its close to keep your flag down....

That being said on the international and bigger leagues, they get this call right 90% of the time... they are only human -

On the hand ball, you bet your ass its depending on the ref thats calling the game - some have no leeway - it hits you in the hand in the box and its away from your body regardless if intentional or not - its supposed to be called a penalty - and a yellow - and every ref has his own interpretation - sometimes its completely missed, sometimes its fabricated and sometimes its interpreted that a)he was protecting his body, b) had no time to react and wasnt trying to handball it... it sucks -

but yes, handball, and other fouls are judgement calls that the ref makes in game, with a split second to react, he has to interpret a lot of things before making the call (advantage, yellow/red card, intent, etc)

offsides is mostly the lines duty to get it right - but a player that is not active in the play (that is close to the play) might be charged for offside based on being a distraction... but again, the line judge has less to interpret - its almost black and white for them...

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

You know why the sport is growing in this country?

Because they're GETTING THE KIDS.

I live in Iowa - rural America. Granted, we have a lot of Hispanic immigrants here, but the number of kids playing in soccer leagues is EASILY more than Little League baseball and Pop Warner COMBINED.

Soccer at all levels, not just MLS but also the lesser pro franchises, are doing a GREAT job of getting out in the community and energizing the NEXT generation of fans.

Soccer is also fairly cheap to play compared to Baseball and football. Not as much gear to buy.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by carlos3652

On the hand ball, you bet your ass its depending on the ref thats calling the game - some have no leeway - it hits you in the hand in the box and its away from your body regardless if intentional or not - its supposed to be called a penalty - and a yellow - and every ref has his own interpretation - sometimes its completely missed, sometimes its fabricated and sometimes its interpreted that a)he was protecting his body, b) had no time to react and wasnt trying to handball it... it sucks -

but yes, handball, and other fouls are judgement calls that the ref makes in game, with a split second to react, he has to interpret a lot of things before making the call (advantage, yellow/red card, intent, etc)

offsides is mostly the lines duty to get it right - but a player that is not active in the play (that is close to the play) might be charged for offside based on being a distraction... but again, the line judge has less to interpret - its almost black and white for them...

This is somewhat correct. The referee first has to determine if it was the hand that hit the ball or the ball that hit the hand. If it is ball to hand then there a some other criteria that have to be taken into account to determine if it is a foul or not. Advantage has nothing to do with it being a handball or not.

As far as the yellow card.... Just because it was a hand ball in the penalty area it does not mean you must give a yellow. If it was not a yellow card worthy foul at mid-filed then it is not when in the area either. If anything you are more lenient with yellows in the area because the player/team is already being punished with an almost certain goal from the PK.

Do different referees have different interpretations on "handballs"? Yes, this is part of the game. It is a result of the soccer culture in the US of most people not completely understanding the definition of deliberately handling.

As far as line judges... There are no line judges in soccer. There are Referees and Assistant Referees. (AR's)

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Soccer is also fairly cheap to play compared to Baseball and football. Not as much gear to buy.

Have you ever looked at the cost of a quality pair of shoes?