Sick of those chippy kids coming out hand-in-hand with players before the game? Think the goal should be bigger? Want games to start with a cannon firing a ball into play? Soccer is a great game but it definitely could use some rule changes. Here are 10 rule changes, 5 that could happen and 5 that probably won’t see the light of day.
Five Rules that Could Be Implemented...
1) Goal-line Sensors (within the next 4 years)
Big games are too important to be decided by bad calls. Get those computer chips in the balls, the two sensors on the goal posts and let’s get it right. There is no reason in 2006 to still have a ref, huffing it down the pitch, standing 30 yards away and guessing if the ball inched across the line or not.
2) Shallow Water, No Diving (possibly within the next few years)
I’m sick of all this “Joga Bonita” BS from a guy who is famous for flying off the pitch and Kung-fu kicking a fan. The problem isn’t players not “playing beautiful”, it’s divas diving left and right. Regardless if it’s caught during the game or in a replay after: if you dive it's a yellow, in the box, a red.
3) Offsides Sensors (likely in about 12 years)
As complicated as this might initially sound, it takes about the same amount of technology as you’ll find in an average department store. Sticking sensors on the heel of each boot (that would weigh ounces and cost cents) as well as two large ones on each side at the half-line to triangulate location, you could have a permanent fix if players are in an offsides position. Using the chips inside the ball you can determine when a ball is passed as well. Result: never have a disputed offsides again.
4) No Sleeves Required (likely whenever Sepp Blatter is dethroned)
After the fiasco in 2002 when the FIFA suits came down on Cameroon for their kits, similar sleeveless shirts have popped up across training pitches everywhere. Players now days are built. Any reservations people have about soccer players being weak could be tossed aside.
5) Fourth Sub in Extra Time (possibly within the next few years)
This rule change is pretty explanatory. Gift teams an extra sub in extra time. This would pick up the pace and new legs could turn in a game-winning goal and avoid PKs.
...and Five Changes That Will Never Happen
1) Reduce the amount of players from 11 to 10
Scores are low and teams are parking men in front of the goal. Less men equals more room, more opportunities on goal and less blocked shots. Also, with only nine men using their feet, teams will most likely adapt to a 3-3-3 formation giving players clear sections of the field to cover as well as setting up juicy man on man match ups across the field.
2) Out-of-Bounds on Contact
This rule would basically change the out-of-bounds rule so that players could curve the ball out and back into play as along as the ball stays airborne. Corners could now banana out and then back into play and passes down the sidelines could curve out over the crowd. This would bring the game closer to the fans and decrease stoppage.
3) Fans Keep the Ball
One of the best things about attending a baseball game is leaving the park with an extra souvenir. Adapting this to soccer, any ball launched into the stands now belongs to the supporter who nabs it.
5) Timeouts
Now before you complain that it’s a game of stamina realize that timeouts are essentially already a part of the game with players dropping on the pitch and rolling in “pain” to give the other guys a rest. Give each team one time out that can be used after the first 10 minutes and before the last 10 minutes of each half. Coaches can take a minute to regroup, TV stations can take a commercial break, and ESPN commentators can breath, possibly getting some oxygen into their brains.
4) Move Penalty Kicks Back & Let the Goalie Off the Line
The drama during penalty kicks is if the taker's nerves will crack; even I could chip a ball in the corner from 15 yards out. Push the spot back to the top of the box and allow the players to dribble toward the goal if they want. Let goalies off the line and defenders into the box as soon as contact is made with the ball. This would open up the options and drama of penalty kicks. For shoot-outs the ball needs to be cleared from the box.
Have any ideas for rule changes? Think mine are retarded? Shoot me a comment.
I think that the difficulty in getting a goal adds to the drama and makes it more of an achievement hence the commentator shouts
...GoGogooooooooooooaalllllll !
High scoring type games are overated I think as its too easy to score.
The idea about technology is interesting. However what I am concerned about is unfair and inconsistent calls by the ref. I think that big teams are favored. Did you see the T&T vs England game where Peter Crouch pulled the defenders head around by the hair to score ? It was a disgrace as there were maybe 5 yellow cards disbursed to the T&T squad for what seemed to be less serious infractions.
Goal sensors - has already been used (tested in international youth tournament) and when the technology is proven it will be in use at the top level.
Diving - Agree, a card should be awarded retroactively (spelling??) if a dive is obvious when watching the replay, interesting take on the red card for diving in the box. If the ref see catch you diving the rule today is that he should give a yellow...
Offside sensors - The offside rule has changed, to the better imo, a couple of times in the last few years and the way the rule is now it would be hard to have sensors decide if you're part of the play or not.
No sleeves - This is not a rule. If you say so, FIFA might have stopped them in the WC but every league decide their own rules on this matter.
4th sub in extra time - Good one. I've had another one for a while. Let subbed players come back. Add the rule that if you need medical assistance you have to be subbed out and cant come back until the next substitution is allowed, e.g. when you get your next freekick. Think this would stop players from laying down to slow down the game, also add a 30 secs to a minute (or more if the play is stopped for more than that) every time this happens.
10 players - Dont like this idea, I fear that teams would play it safe and use less players when they go forward.
Out-of-bounds on contact - Easier to ref and could create som interesting situations, but I think it could also cause more injuries in particular in stadiums where the fans are really
Out-of-bounds on contact - Easier to ref and could create som interesting situations, but I think it could also cause more injuries in particular in stadiums where the fans are really close to the pitch. Like the corner-kick example though and would like to have an exception there.
Keep the ball - Dont have a strong opinion on this one but I lean to say that I dont like it... mostly for cost purposes but it could also stop the flow of the game.
Timeouts - Has been tested in some places with bad results. Fans hate it and the games I've been to where it has been tested has booed during timeouts. Might work in MLS or in other places where fans are used to timeouts though.
Penalty kicks - Dont like the dribble on pk's. Wouldnt mind changing the rule a little bit though. Only give PK's as they are today when there's a goal scoring opportunity, like hockey, otherwise if a foul is commited inside the box a freekick can be allowed on the line of the box. Maybe even with no position players allowed in front of the ball. With all the cheating the goalies are doing today I'd also like an additional line about 3 feet in front of the goal line and the goalie should not be allowed to touch the outside this line on a PK.
I like soccer. I watch a lot of soccer. Sometimes I play soccer and it's a sad site.
I pretty much exclusively support Liverpool after being deserted by the MLS (see: San Jose Clash… I mean Earthquakes… I mean Houston 1836? errr… Dynamo, whatever). I’ve been following the game since 1995, and in-depth since about 2002. I’m currently a senior in college at Arizona and catch Sounders games over the summer in Seattle. So yup, that’s about it.
