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Using Understanding Soccer
Click Blog to View Postings and to Ask Questions or Comment
Understanding Soccer is both an educational and informational website that can be used in a variety of ways. Knowledgeable fans can navigate at random. If you are new to soccer or want to increase your understanding of the game, then you should begin with Soccer Rules. Soccer rule books can be very detailed and more than you need to know unless you intend to be a referee or are very detail oriented.
The 17 basic rules of soccer are simplified to aid in your understanding and enjoyment of the game. They also contain videos and images that illustrate the rules. Most of the videos are from professional games.
Soccer History, League Play and Some Background gives some of the flavor of soccer.
The 17 basic rules of soccer are simplified to aid in your understanding and enjoyment of the game. They also contain videos and images that illustrate the rules. Most of the videos are from professional games.
Soccer History, League Play and Some Background gives some of the flavor of soccer.
My Approach to Understanding Soccer
I mentioned in Some Background that I am not a soccer expert and was not even aware of the game until I was fourteen. I did not grow up learning the basic skills of soccer as I did with baseball and basketball. Children around the world know more about soccer by the time they were five or so than I did when I started. Since I was a goalie, I never learned ball control or any of the skills needed to be an attacker or a defender. During my ten year career, I played in the field for one hour in practice at the end of my senior year at Lehigh.
The goalie is the only player on a team who sees the entire field of play and most of the time is an alert observer evaluating what action is necessary. In addition to one's own positioning, they are observing the flow of the offense and directing the defense. Other players do not have the same overall perspective of the play.
The goalie is the only player on a team who sees the entire field of play and most of the time is an alert observer evaluating what action is necessary. In addition to one's own positioning, they are observing the flow of the offense and directing the defense. Other players do not have the same overall perspective of the play.
A Goalies Perspective
It seemed logical for me to explain the game of soccer through a goalie's perspective because that how I learned the game. Although they are the last line of defense, goalies must direct their defenders and read the opposition's attack.
The attacking team is continually reading the defense and probing for weaknesses. With this in mind, I've explained the game with both perspectives in mind. For example, team B may have scored, but the inability of team A's defense to clear the ball several plays earlier from many
yards up field was what led to the goal.
This approach will become apparent as you view the seventeen rules with their videos. This will also be eveident in other areas of Understanding Soccer.
The attacking team is continually reading the defense and probing for weaknesses. With this in mind, I've explained the game with both perspectives in mind. For example, team B may have scored, but the inability of team A's defense to clear the ball several plays earlier from many
yards up field was what led to the goal.
This approach will become apparent as you view the seventeen rules with their videos. This will also be eveident in other areas of Understanding Soccer.