Explanation

[TheAnalyst]

As I was watching Copa America last night Peru vs. Columbia, I had a few questions I would like someone to answer.
What it the intention of the offsides rule? It seems to keep the score low, but what other purpose does it serve? If an offensive guy gets behind the defense, to me that's just poor defense. What incentive does a player have to NOT let players get behind him? If, as a player, I know if someone gets by me and is going to be called offsides, then why play defense. I'm sure it is just ignorance on my part, but thought maybe someone could explain. I know hockey has a similar rule, but the game goes at a much faster pace in a much more confined area, so it kinda makes sense to me, but not in soccer.

And why do the players constantly fall to the ground, roll around for a while, bring out the stretcher, for what I would consider minor injuries? Is there a level of theatrics involved to draw penalties or what? I told my wife I felt like I was watching professional wrestling except they were kicking a ball around!

[speedball33]

rules are rules sometimes you dont agree with them but you just have to play by them .

[TheAnalyst]

Thanks, but as noted by the title of this topic, I would like an EXPLANATION. If I want to further my knowledge of the sport, some of you need to enlighten me on some of the rules/practices of the game.
Where's Gunner when I need him?

[speedball33]

im sorry about that analyst

[4him]

Ah yes, let me start with the falling. You certainly won't see this AS MUCH in high school level soccer. Professional players, however, take pride in how well they can fake being fouled in order to get a "free kick". Of course, the more you dramatize it, the more convincing you will be. Watch and you will often notice that a guy will act like he is dying until the referee blows his whistle and pulls out his cards. Then he will get up and be perfectly fine, maybe have a slight limp (which is also fake). But yes, the entire objective here is to give your team a free kick in a dangerous spot. Inside the box is the most advantageous area to get the call, but you will notice that a referee rarely calls penalties within the box.

Just so everyone fully understands the offsides rule in soccer (which is different than in hockey)...First of all, a player who possesses the ball may dribble as far behind the defenders as he chooses. Secondly, a player receiving a pass must have 2 defenders between him and the goal in which he is attacking. Generally, the goalkeeper is one of those defenders, so you just think of having one defender between the player and the goal. Most importantly, once the ball has been distributed, a player receiving the pass can be behind all defenders. So if my teammate kicks the ball past the last defender, I can then run onto it and I am not offsides. I can even run past the defender before the ball makes it past him, as long as I am not past that defender before my teammate has made the pass.

This rule adds an interesting element to the game. Defenses must choose whether to hang back and give up the long shot or play an offsides trap in which they are trying to pull their opponent offsides. The offsides trap leaves you vulnerable though. If the opponent times his run correctly, he can be 10-15 yards or so behind the defenders when he receives the ball, leaving him 1v1 with the goalie.

Take the offsides rule away and you free up the game to "cherry pickers". If the opposing team is attacking my goal and they are pressing everyone forward. With no offsides, I will stand just outside of their 18 yd box so as soon as my team wins the ball, they can boot it to me and I score.

[Gunner18]

in short the offsides rule helps defenses control how much space the other team has (one exception, u cannot b offsides on ur defensive half of the field, this is why most defenders will not go past midfield) but if ur defense is pushed up to midfield, then that leaves the other team with only half a field to work with and doesnt allow as much for individualism but emphasizes passing which makes a team more vulnerable for a turnover. tho i am impressed that u r watching the copa america, i didnt even think anyone else around here knew what it was...one question tho, did u happen to catch mexico defeat argentina 1-0 for the first time since 1990? AWESOME game

[TheAnalyst]

Until recently I didn't know what it was. And since my wife is from Peru, well, that explains it. And some of the games are being played in her home town, so she is really wishing she was there right now. She's a big soccer fan, so I usually watch with her and give my own commentary about the 'sissies'. I figured most of the 'injuries' are fake, but every sport has that to some degree to draw penalties. Just bringing out the stretcher is a little too much for me.

Now I understand the offsides a little better. I understood how it worked, just not why. Even if there was no offsides rule, you still couldn't push all of your players forward, because then you would be vulnerable to counter attack. A team would always have to leave defenders back. At least that's my way of thinking.

Thanks guys.

[Gunner18]

if u leave ur defenders back, then the other team has a large large gap between them and ur midfielders which allows them to attack much easier (it is confusing but just trust me on this)

[TheAnalyst]

What kind of shoes do soccer players where? Are they spikes similar to football? Do they have any special characteristics that make it easier to control a ball when kicked? I did see one of the guys get kicked in the head and knew it had to hurt. So that got me to wondering what their shoes were like.

[brlnsoccerchick19]

Professional soccer players usually wear cleats made of kangaroo leather, which is lightweight, durable, and thin, which gives the player good touch on the ball. Soccer cleats are kind of similar to football cleats, but they aren't high-top around the ankle and the spikes themselves are different. There are hard/firm ground cleats, turf cleats for really hard and dry fields or for astroturf fields, softground cleats for soppy and slippery fields, and indoor shoes that have no spikes, but a gum rubber bottom. Some companies, like Adidas, have special things about their shoes that make them superior for feel and weight. Adidas has a line of shoes that has a split sole, which allows for reduced weight and better flexiblity on the forefoot, which gives better feel on the ball and, in my own opinion, a faster and cleaner pivot when making direction changes. They also have Predator elements on the upper and inner forefoot that help grip the ball, and when kicked give it extra spin and helps put it in flight.