On the way home from work last Saturday evening I made my monthly pilgrimage to Barnes and Nobles Booksellers to score the latest soccer rags. I grabbed a 'FourFourTwo' and a 'World Soccer', but I left 'Champions' on the shelf this time, since $19.49 was already exceeding my entertainment budget for the evening.
So I get home, have a little breakfast for dinner, settle back and IM for a spell with fellow North Phoenix High School 5-Minute Mile Club member Trini Baldarama while AOL Radio provided the soundtrack for the evening. I signed off and put on MadTV, and then opened my 'FourFourTwo' and went right to the Wayne Rooney interview where he revealed his feelings about diving (at right.)
One look at the following video certifies that Wayne is indeed speaking the truth, as he's pushed and grabbed and still gets off a shot which, if goals were to be titled like paintings, I'd call this one:
"Determination"
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But I must admit that such expressions of opinion about diving are a little ironic since his fellow Manchester United striker Christiano Ronaldo dove with such regularity in the recent FIFA World Cup that he was likely given honorary membership in the Portuguese 'Navy Seals.'
Anyway, the next morning started as most do, a few sit-ups followed by a cup of coffee or tea enjoyed as my favorite wake up tunes (Daniel Kleefeld, Steve McDonald, Phil Gould, Jim Wilson, Darby DeVon, David Becker Tribune) gently lifted me out of the fog. The caffeine kicks in so it's off to the library, and as I look around for reading material, it occurs to me that I haven't yet checked out Soccer Philosopher Paul Gardner's regular feature "Global View" in that November 2006 issue of World Soccer magazine.
And there it was, on page 44:
It's just so good to have Paul acting as my straight man these days, providing the perfect opening line for my soccer schtick. So here we go...
Disclaimer: Look, 'Blind Justice' I ain't. In fact, far from being unbiased on this issue, I am already on record as being somewhat anti-corner kick, particularly my idea 'E', which uses the corner kick as the carrot to encourage more offensive oriented play. Check it out:
E. Encourage the 3 Defender Formation via the Corner Kick
At the beginning of each match the captain of each team informs the referee whether they plan to use a 3 defender back line or a 4 defender back line, and who will be playing central back (3 man back line) or central backs (4 man back line). Option #1: Using the 3 defender back line permits the taking of standard corner kicks, while employment of the 4 defender back line means that throw-ins are to be used in place of corner kicks. Option #2: During corner picks, the central back (or backs) are not allowed to move further up field than the mid-field line. A 3 man back line means that there is only one central defender, so only that defender is held back at the mid field line.
OK, now that I've come clean on that little item, let's have some fun...
While my support of Team France might encourage the knee-jerk reaction to simply apply Mr. Gardner's idea to the 120 minutes of pure soccer enjoyment which was the FIFA World Cup Final Match of 2006:
| ITA | FRA | |
| 5 | Shots | 13 |
| 5 | Corners | 7 |
| 17 | Fouls | 24 |
and begin shaking my head in agreement...yes indeed, more corners by France, more shots by France, more fouls by France, clearly one team came to play soccer while the other was hanging around awaiting the penalty shoot-out.** Hey Paul, where do I sign up?!?
If only life were so simple here in America. While these World Cup stats are fresh in your mind, let's contrast them to those of the MLS Cup Championship of 2006 at right. Same 120 minute duration, same 1-1 result, yet there are serious differences:
And this without any unnatural encouragement. I hate to have to spell it out, but the question is how high do we really want these particular numbers to go.
Hey check it out...sophistication is indicated by the 'professional foul' in 2 of Houston's 3 yellows.
This is a prime example of why important matters such as changing the rules of soccer require many years of analysis, and then ultimately testing in nothing less than multi-cultural tournament conditions such as the European Championships or even the World Cup itself, where the pressure to NOT LOSE is so great that the game is distilled down to it's primary elements.
First off, adding another count to the scoreboards isn't really that big of a deal. Scoreboards in the NBA and NFL track lots of items, so why not soccer. But make no mistake, once the corner kick count takes its place on the scoreboard, it will be ever present in the minds of the coaches, the players, the fans, and yes, even the commentators. I can hear the bantering:
Yes indeed people, all aspects of the beautiful game will be altered. The final 15 minutes of far too many matches will likely be corner kick after corner kick, punctuated by the fouls required to prevent the taking of even more corner kicks. And if you doubt it, feel free to click on the following link:
Coach Jim Valvano's Contribution to Basketball
where I discuss a parallel in the other 'World Game.'
But honestly, my problem with increasing the frequency of corner kicks lies in the fact that it reminds me of volleyball. And I really don't enjoy watching volleyball at all. Think about it...the smaller player runs to the corner and attempts to place the ball in the perfect position to be slammed down by the taller defenders and mid-fielders, with the smaller players awaiting on the outside of the real action, hoping to pick up the scraps...something like this: ****
Volleyball Photographer: Matt Bowen
Ok, maybe that wasn't as unbearable as I remembered it being, but at least in soccer we don't have to watch all the players 'high five' after every point, an experience which for me is nothing short of a beating.
I mean, look at this classic example. Don't these ladies realize that in sports, even the fans don't deserve to have that much enjoyment. It's frustration, frustration, and more frustration, punctuated by brief moments of hope, and the occasional moment of ecstasy enjoyed to the soundtrack "GOOOOOOOLLLL". Now that's what makes the sports world go 'round.
And if this 'Volleyball Parallel' doesn't concern you, well you obviously don't agree with me when I make the case for different type of goals having different entertainment values. A pity.
Let's study a couple of videos from the recent World Cup which I feel clearly demonstrate how an attacking player will all too often choose the easy path by simply attempting to kick the ball off the defender for the corner kick:
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These are examples of a team which is obviously motivated to choose the corner kick over other more creative and entertaining scoring options. In both cases the ball handler could whirl around and pass out or dribble out from the corner, opening the way for more creative opportunities. But that would take talent, especially the ability to dribble well with both feet.
Vivid in my mind is a match from about 6 or 7 years ago where my daughter's club team, the Texas Image '83, played the previous year's Lake Highlands Girl's Classic League champion, the '82 Arlington Texans. The mighty Arlington Texans had lost their primary offensive weapon, as Mansfield's Jessica Hopkins had gone on to play for the University of Texas, yet they were still deep in talent, including Keller High School goalkeeper Erin Rice, who went on to UConn and finished her college soccer career on national TV in the NCAA Tournament's championship game against North Carolina.
But most importantly, the Arlington Texans had speed.
Watching the game, it didn't take long to realize what the reigning champion's game plan was...kick the ball toward a corner flag, run the ball down as fast as humanly possible and kick the ball off of the defender for a corner kick. I don't recall a single serious attempt to attack the middle of the field by the Arlington Texans that windy evening. It was corner kick after corner kick. The game plan was simple and effective - 3 goals scored by the mighty Arlington Texans '82 that game...all via corner kicks.
But that isn't so much a slam on the Arlington Texans '82, it's a statement about what lengths coaches will go in order to insure at least a tie, as it is a statement about what winning soccer is all about. Actually, it's not even a statement about winning soccer, as the Texas Image '83 scored 4 goals that match, most via open field play, probably at the end of low through passes which are much more effective in the strong wind which commonly plagues North Texas. **
Now don't get me wrong here. I appreciate the fact that Gavin Hamilton, the editor at "World Soccer', has given Mr. Gardner license to openly address soccer's shortcomings. These two surely aren't sitting around singing:
"Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be"
but are actively getting into the game. And you gotta love them for it.
But at the same time, as you watch the following supreme example of creative play, be thankful that there wasn't anything in the sacred laws of the game which would have encouraged Freddy Ljungberg to simply move the ball toward the end line and meekly kick the ball off of a defender to set up the corner.
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Or on this next example (and save your comments about the off-sides) which demonstrates the kind of play which should define what creative and entertaining soccer is all about:
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Now let us let the mind run free for a second and consider how this example might have been played out under a rules set which encouraged the corner kick. Note here that The Arsenal is up a goal in this last example. If wearing a coaches hat in this or any important match (and let's face it...they are all important!) even I would be tempted to instruct the offense to look for any opportunity to increase the corner kick count at this point, just as insurance of the win should Liverpool manage a goal. Which Liverpool did, and this would have put even more pressure on me as a coach to play the percentages and go after the corner kicks, particularly if my fleet footed wings didn't possess the ability to dribble with both feet, a skill which comes in handy once a ball handler needs to reverse direction and look for the cross while moving back against the grain...but again, that takes even more talent...the ability to cross with both feet. But unfortunately our recently acquired outside midfielders were chosen because they could run the 100 meters in under 11 seconds while dribbling the ball with their primary foot, and had proven their ability to quickly stop and kick the ball off the defender to earn the corner kick. Heck, they occasionally even manage to get off a clean cross into the penalty box, but no one in the middle has the speed to get under the pass.
For those of you who are interested in the result of this interesting match which contrasted soccer's two primary offensive schools of thought:
"build from the back" vs. "long ball"
check out the following ultimate example of how knowing your opponent's tendencies can work to the offense's advantage as well:
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What a magnificent goal, truly the perfect combination of brains and grace. Make no mistake, I want more goals from open field play, and nothing which would encourage more of the following kind of set piece soccer action:
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| ITA | FRA | |
| 5 | Shots | 13 |
| 5 | Corners | 7 |
Context: In 120 minutes of regulation and over-time.
Of course, there's typically many ways of addressing an issue, and in this case I've laid the groundwork for indirect use of Paul's idea in my page where I discuss alternative score keeping systems for soccer at:
Alt_Score_Keeping_Systems1.html
But if you go there, please pay particular attention to the later portion of that page where I discuss ways to encourage goalkeepers to catch the ball. It's obvious that any rule which rewards the earning of corner kicks will serve this purpose, and frankly it's the best aspect of Paul's idea. I love it when a keeper has the athleticism to "go for the grab," over the far less risky simple one-handed redirection around the goal which sets up the corner. It's just that I feel that with any system which rewards the simple earning of corner kicks, you have to reward the keeper and his/her team for taking the greater risk...both physically and on the scoreboard...by going for the grab. That's just common sense. Check it out at:
Alt_Score_Keeping_Systems1.html#GK_RiskvReward
And yes, the creation of additional statistical categories "Goalkeeper Catches" and "Game Saving Catches" is some small reward, but that will only balance out the pressure felt by all goalkeepers and defenders brought about by the creation of that obvious other new stat category "Corner Kicks Yielded."
This is so much fun! Folks, I could go on and on with this subject for days, so I better finish this now.
Mike "The easy way isn't always the best way" Kimbro
To return, best to hit the back arrow button, or simply hit:
Mike's Home Page or Visualize Higher Scoring Soccer
PS - It's true, the above is written with the assumption that Paul's idea was immediately applied to the upcoming European Championships, and was found to enhance the soccer spectating experience to a high degree. Again, anything worth doing is worth doing right. If it's an idea which has merit at tournament level, then I'm thinking that someone on FIFA's executive board might feel that it could be worthy of application across the board. If that sounds weird to you, consider the regular season records:
| MLS Cup Finalists 2006 | GP | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New
England Revolution
Houston Dynamo |
32 32 |
12 11 |
8 8 |
12 13 |
of teams which fought for the MLS Cup Championship of 2006. Not surprisingly, the game played to 0-0 regulation, 1-1 in overtime, and the PK shootout was won by Houston, a clear indication of what winning soccer is all about in the MLS...playing for the draw.
Yet while I abhor this sad situation, even I wouldn't want to make a change to the game which would relegate forwards to the level of support for those who are tall enough to head in all those corner kicks and free kicks. Yet I am in the minority, and you have to understand that there are so many who now feel that headers by 6' 4" defenders are every bit as entertaining as goals scored off open field play. It's like they say..."hunger is the best sauce."
PSS - Obviously, what drives me hard to nip this idea at the bud is the fear that it will sweep through all levels of soccer, and even all age groups. I've sat through years and years of youth soccer, and if there is one thing that I know for sure, it's that the chance of successfully scoring a goal off a corner kick at the high school or club levels is appallingly low. I can't express the pity I would feel toward parents who would have to sit through high school matches which suffered a marked increase in the number of corner kicks, without the promise of more goals. It brings to mind that famous line from Coleridge's poem:
Water, water, every
where,
Nor any drop to drink.
PSSS - Under the heading: "Timing Is Everything!"
I've been concerned that readers of my open letter to America's Soccer Press at:
../KimbroCon1/A_Plea_4_Leadership.html
was just a little too general to be effective at conveying my message.
Fortunately, this issue is serving to underscore the significance of my categories:
"Goal Entertainment Value" & "Desired Scoring Distribution"
better than anything I could have dreamed up in 5 years of meditation.
PSSSS - When discussing with others the following idea, which is idea 'O' from my list of rules change ideas:
O. Put the Keeper in the "Sand Box"
A much more expensive alternative to the spikeless keeper involves
turning the 6 yard box (or the entire penalty area) into the "sand box."
Dig up the sod down to about six inches and replace it with coarse sand.
While the sand will obviously slow down the goalkeeper's ability to move
and will destroy his ability to quickly change directions, the irregular
surface of the sand will make the ball jump unpredictably on low shots.
This will compensate for the fact that the sand will slow down balls rolling
along the surface of the sand. Over time the keepers will prefer the sand
because it will extend their careers by reducing the body's wear and tear.
The wildcard of the "Sand Box" idea is the 'Lip', the interface between
the turf and the sand. Field players will be able to slide from turf to sand
while keepers will not be able to slide from sand to turf for fear of catching
a heal on the "Lip", which might result in a twisted ankle or worse. And
running out over the 'Lip' wouldn't be any less scary for a keeper, so the
keeper would likely stay closer to the line.
I naturally thought that this was an idea which could easily be restricted to application to high level tournaments only. Over and over I have been told that there was no way this could ever happen, since one couldn't significantly change the rules of the game just for tournaments. Well, let me assure you that making the six yard box a "sand box" wouldn't change the game of soccer nearly as much as increasing the number of corner kicks taken would. So I'm hoping that you can appreciate the frustration which I bring to the table due to these past encounters.
** Before you get the idea that I'm proclaiming France to be the ultimate incarnation of entertaining soccer, let's look at stat's for the previous semi-final match against Portugal over 90 minutes of play:
| POR | FRA | |
| 12 | Shots | 5 |
| 8 | Corners | 3 |
| 18 | Fouls | 11 |
and then there's that other stat, the 1-0 result courtesy of the 33rd minute PK by Zizou, which means that there is a difference between the two matches, in that while France assumed the lead before they dropped back into the "22 legs in the box formation", Italy never had the lead and was actually behind for a spell.
*** Looking back, I'd say that this match against the Arlington Texans was the 2nd most important win of that 2 year period for the girls of the Texas Image '83, as it was not only an early league win, but it gave the girls the confidence they would need to beat the Dallas Texans in the semi-finals of the Longhorn's Spring Classic Soccer Tournament. That was hands down our most important win, not just because it put us in the finals against the Sting '83, and not just because it helped impress the many college coaches who were on the sidelines that wonderful morning, but more importantly it inspired the Dallas Texans club to do what they do best...recruit away our 4 best players. It was truly sad, making me wonder if we'd have been better off loosing the match and staying off the Dallas Texan's recruiting radar.
Ok, I agree that it's probably time to put that behind me, but it's difficult after a recent incident at Frisco's Pizza Hut Park. I'm there to catch the action between the Lady Mustangs of SMU and the Lady Tarheels of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The temperature that late August afternoon was around 95, so you can bet that I was plenty thirsty at halftime as I took my place at the end of the long line for the very limited number of concession booths which were open that afternoon. In front of me were a few members of a young Dallas Texan's girl's team, including their coach. During the next 15 minutes in the blistering sun, more and more team mates and friends were allowed to cut in front of me. I let the girls and coach know that I wanted this to stop, yet it continued. I finally had enough after the mother and father of one of the girls cut right in front of me as well. Pathetically, all I could manage to say was "Man, you gotta be kidding me", as I walked away from the situation...frustrated and thirsty. I could have said more, but he was big and bloated and he made it clear that, even in the presence of his daughter and wife, he was all too willing to defend his right to cut in front of a pencil neck like myself. I'm thinking this guy was well practiced at taking whatever he wanted in life, be it a choice place in the water line, or another team's top players, or even an entire team from an opposing club...truly the perfect poster child for the mighty Dallas Texans Soccer Club.
Lord that felt good! This internet discussion thing allows for a healing experience. Now I think I'm ready to move on.
**** Here's a few more photos collected from DePauw University's Volleyball Site, a team I chose because I attended DePauw U. 1975-1976, during my freshman year of college:
Go DePauw Tigers!!!!!!
Volleyball Photographer: Matt Bowen
