When is offside position determined?
Offside position is not determined at the time the ball is received by an attacker, but rather it is determined at the moment the ball was last played by one of the attacker’s teammates. If, for example, an attacker kicks the ball high in the air toward the opponent’s goal while none of his teammates are in offside position, but then a second speedy attacker penetrates the defence and receives the kick behind the second-last opponent, the speedy one is not offside.
Fouls That Will Lead to a Direct Free Kick
• Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent;
• tripping or attempting to trip an opponent;
• jumping at an opponent in a careless or reckless manner, or with excessive force;
• charging an opponent in a careless or reckless manner, or with excessive force;
• striking or attempting to strike an opponent;
• pushing an opponent;
• making contact with the opponent before the ball when tackling;
• holding an opponent;
• spitting at an opponent; or
• handling the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).
Note: If any of these are committed by a player inside his own penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded.
What is the difference between a “handball” and “handling” a ball?
A “handball” is when the ball strikes a player (other than the goalkeeper) on the hand or arm and there is no intent on the part of the player struck to control the ball with either hand or arm. As such, a “handball” is not illegal. If the player attempts in any way to control the ball with hand or arm it is called “handling” the ball, and is an illegal play.
When were the first goalposts used in soccer?
That would be way back in 1681 when a match was played between servants of the King, and those of the Duke of Albemarle. The doorways of two forts were used as goals, and players attempted to score by driving the ball through one of the doorways.
When was the size of the goal determined?
In 1863 the English Football Association decreed that the goal posts should be eight yards (7.32 metres) apart. In 1866, they further decreed that posts should be eight feet (2.44 metres) high. Both measurements stand today.
What happens if the crossbar of the goal becomes dislodged or damaged during a match?
FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, makes special mention of this in the Laws of the Game. “If the crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play is stopped until it has been repaired or replaced in position. If a repair is not possible, the match is abandoned. The use of a rope to replace the crossbar is not permitted. If the crossbar is repaired, the match is restarted with a dropped ball at the place where the ball was located when the play was stopped.”
Quickies
Did you know …
that there is no law on the books requiring the use of goal nets?
What is a striker?
A striker is a scoring forward, usually a centre-forward who is highly skilled at putting the ball in the net. The striker often plays “pushed up” into a offensive position leading the formation, while much of the rest of the team works the wings, feeding the striker or defence. Many great strikers have poor defensive skills, and are called “pure strikers.” The striker traditionally wears the number 10 jersey.
Quickies
Did you know …
that the first wooden crossbars did not appear until 1875? Prior to that, tape was used between the tops of goalposts.
What is a “sweeper”?
“Sweeper” is the name for a versatile fullback player who “sweeps up” the ball if the opponent manages to breach the defensive line. Unlike other defenders, the sweeper does not mark, or cover, one particular opponent, but covers the centre of defence. The verrou system in Switzerland and the catenaccio system in Italy were both notable for employing sweepers.
What does verrou mean?
The verrou, or “chain,” is a system of play invented by Karl Rappan while coach of Switzerland in the 1930s and 1940s. It was the first system to use four players on defence, employing a sweeper called the verrouilleur — a highly defensive fullback who patrolled the centre of defence ahead of the goalkeeper. The verrou system also required players to switch positions and duties depending on the game’s pattern. It was used by the Swiss national team in the 1938 World Cup to knock out Nazi Germany in the first round. The catenaccio system of Italy evolved out of the verrou system.
What does catenaccio mean?
Catenaccio is Italian for “bolt,” as in a door bolt, and in soccer it refers to a tactical formation made famous in Italy during the 1960s by coach Helenio Herrera and FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan). It uses a strong defensive formation, such as 1-3-3-3 or 1-4-4-1, which implements a fullback called a “sweeper,” who stands in front of the goalkeeper and patrols the centre of defence. From the 1970s to the 1990s, catenaccio became a trademark playing style of the Italian national team. The system, often criticized for its lack of offensive creativity, was nonetheless effective, employing sudden strikes to score early in a game and then relying on defence to protect the lead.
What is the WM system?
The WM system was created in the mid-1920s by manager Herbert Chapman (of Arsenal) to counter a change in the offside law in 1925. The change had reduced the number of opposition players that attackers needed between themselves and the goal line from three to two. This led to the introduction of a centre-back to stop the opposing centre-forward, and tried to balance defensive and offensive playing. The WM system employs three backs, four midfielders, and three forwards, and is so called because in a formation diagram the groupings look like an M under a W, with one player at each point of each letter.
What is Total Football?
Total Football is the term used to describe an influential theory of tactical soccer in which any of a team’s players on the field can take over the role of any teammate. The foundations for Total Football were laid by Jack Reynolds, who was the manager of Ajax Amsterdam from 1915–25, 1928–40, and 1945–47. Rinus Michels, who played under Reynolds, later went on to become manager of Ajax himself and refined the concept into what is known today as “Total Football”
