It's not about how fast anyone can run. There is the equiv of a fast break in soccer, too, it's just that the ball meeds to be in motion first.<br /><br />Can you imagine baseball without its quasi-offside rule? what if players were allowed to run the bases before they hit the ball?!?
....I'm serious..... <br />As for the off-side rule.........well I think it is only American type games that do not have "off-side" rules. Our Rugby Union (Rugger to a certain class of POM), Rugby League, Soccer, Hockey etc all have off-side. Aerial Ping-pong is the exception but that is totally different.<br />Never been a Soccer fan, but do appreciate the Game. I read: It is the largest sport in the World. This World Cup is the largest sporting event in the World.<br />Another interesting points about American Sports.......they seem to have "time-out" and a large number of reserves on the bench, and as for bringing on a specalised kicker just to make a kick.........well that is a sign of softness to us. Our kickers have to play the game too.<br />Then again, different Courses, different Horses.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Phillip
Please remind me Philip,was the Australian national soccer team the one that a few years ago was so rowdy and drunk on a flight and was so wild with the stewardesses that the pilot had to cut the flight short and unload the soccer team before the flight could continue???
<br />Cheers<br />Phillip But your confusing me here. <br />Remember what side of the pond I'm comming from and the terms we use.<br />It sounds like you are refering to soccer and rugby as the same game.<br /><br />Had a friend who was on a loose netted international team. They played the pro's.<br />He was a captain in the Army with me in Korea and lived for Rugby! <br /><br />Rugby IMO is the only true game of football! Hard hitting, no padding, smack the other guy with a head butt that knocks him out, bare bones team fighting.<br /><br />American Soccer and Football are for the girlie guys that watch Rugby!<br /><br />IE: I have 5 grand kids that play soccer and the oldest is so excited because they have been picked for a real team this year.<br /><br />Up until now if one team made 5 points they had to help the other team make points until they were even. Soccer SUCKS! What kind of a sport is that! <br />Worse than baseball which isnt even a sport at all!<br /> <br />I've been doing google searches while typing this.<br />Is Soccer a watered down version of Rugby??<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Link
<br /><br />Bob
Hellooo??? Link, come back buddy...you're so far out there, farther then Major Tom. This is ground control to Major Tom....for the girlie guys? are you out of your mind? where in the crap that you have to make up for the other team points? and NO, soccer is not a water down version of ruggby, it's totally different game. If you think it girlie, try to go out on a 100 meters long by 50 meters wide and run constantly for 45 minutes half without time out.
I would leave a league that promoted trying to end a game in a tie by making the winning team turn around and score against itself so the less talented or unlucky team doesn't feel badly.<br /><br />Part of the benefit of sports is to teach kids to learn to lose well and win well. It's called "sportsmanship". Now, if I have a very strong team and am playing a weaker team, I will play my strongest players on defense or sub them out once it is apparent that we are going to win the game. My objective is not to run up the score and make the opposing coach, parents, and players feel badly.<br /><br />Soccer is a good sport. Some love it. Some would rather watch grass grow.<br /><br />I, for one, could care less about watching Nascar, pro baseball, pro basketball, horse racing, drag racing, synchronized swimming. Do those sports "suck"? Well, no, but they just don't appeal to me.
