"Unkown" Sports: Part #3

[lmanchur.]

I'm continuing my series of threads on this forum to try to get it a little more active. The series will consist of a new thread every week, each highlighting an "unknown" sport -- one that gets very little popularity, but absolutely no reason to hide in the dark versus major sports like football, baseball, and hockey. Express your thoughts on these sports in this series of threads.

Part #3: Soccer

My Take: This is obviously popular among Europeans, but it is still growing in North America (especially in Canada where parents are convincing their kids to play soccer over hockey because it's a lot cheaper).

However, every four years, soccer takes center stage in the sports world with their World Cup. To be honest, I really do try to watch this tournament, but not other soccer, just because I find it absolutely boring and I don't understand the rules.

...so can anyone explain some of the rules in the game? I realize there's 90 minutes (right!?) in a game, but sometimes it goes over that or something?... I don't know -- I forget... the last time I watched soccer was the '98 World Cup in France! :)... and even then it was only a bit of the first half and a bit of the second half of the championship game!

What does everyone else think about soccer? Like or dislike? Do you play? Got any tips for first-time soccer players? Do you have a favorite team or player? Never watched it before and need a basic explanation of the game and rules? Get in on the action and start popularizing the "Other Sports forum" today!!!

[iFroggy]

I already know about Soccer! And more then I know about Curling! ;)

Let me see...

What does everyone else think about soccer?

Its alright, I don't really like it.

Like or dislike?

Dislike. No offense, I just don't enjoy it.

Do you play?

Not really.

Got any tips for first-time soccer players?

No, do they have any times for me? ;)

Do you have a favorite team or player?

Umm... I don't know. Not really.

:)

[Marc]

Soccer is actually one of the most popular sports for young children to play recreationally in America, but professionally, it's not as possible. Certaintly, it's a lot more well-known that curling!

[NickHammy]

I think its more popular among young children b/c it's a rather easy game to understand. "Just kick the ball in the goal". There aren't a lot of crazy rules.

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by NickHammy
I think its more popular among young children b/c it's a rather easy game to understand. "Just kick the ball in the goal". There aren't a lot of crazy rules.

Good point... I remember playing soccer a lot during lunch hour at school when I was in grade three or so, and it's still the same today -- that sport is played more than all the others.

...I ref hockey, and half the kids on the "squirts" teams (the real little guys -- anywhere from age 3 to 6) don't know what an "offside" or "icing" or how to line up for the faceoff!!... soccer is probably the simplist sport around.

[Wedge231]

Yes. I played soccer until 6th grade. I wasn't any good but oh well. Two of my teachers played professional soccer. Just wanted to share that...

[weekender]

I am actually a big soccer fan, especially European championship soccer. I like Bayern Munchen and Manchester United. I also closely follow Poland soccer and some of the teams there can easily make it to European championship.
Anyway, I would like to see MLS as part of pro sports...I mean its better than XFL, the biggest joke that I can think of for organized sports. I've seen games of touch football more interesting...

[icas]

The reason why soccer games go over the 90 minutes is that they never stop the clock... so when there's an injury or "stoppage time" they let the clock run and then they play the time that they weren't playing... uh i probably just really confused you... but basically it's to make sure they actually play the whole 90 minutes of the game... as for my soccer background i got into it at 3-4 years old... still love it though i don't play on a club team or anything else anymore... and my fav. teams are Everton FC in the English Premier League and LA Galaxy in the MLS... the MLS needs better coverage and hopefully the new womens league WUSA(i think that's what it is called) will get a lot of attraction though it probably will, more than the men i can assure you... weird how men's soccer in america isn't that big but the women are... all it takes is a winning team, something the men can't prove to do... fav players are Kevin Campbell(English) and Brian McBride(American) of Everton, Cobi Jones(American) of Galaxy and Oliver Beirhoff of Germany...

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by icas
The reason why soccer games go over the 90 minutes is that they never stop the clock... so when there's an injury or "stoppage time" they let the clock run and then they play the time that they weren't playing... uh i probably just really confused you... but basically it's to make sure they actually play the whole 90 minutes of the game...No... you didn't confuse me, so thanks for answerning my question!!... still, that makes zero sense... I mean, why don't they just play it like any other sport and play in the Stop-Time format, where you actually stop the clock during "stoppages"!?!????

whatever...