Help my ignorance (SOCCER)?

[pmedic920]

How does “off sides” work, what constitutes it?

Why does it seem that when a player gets absolutely mugged/ thrown to the ground, or similar he ends up getting the foul.

What is a “tackle” exactly?

Several other?s but let’s start here.
Maybe there are others that want to be educated.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

"Offsides" is when past midfield, an offensive player is closer to the goal when the ball leaves the feet of the passer. If you are even it is not offsides. Must be from the midfield line onwards though. Anything on your side of the field is fair game (the side you defend) if you are on offense. Most teams last defender will sit at midfield and stop. Even if the passer is on their side of the field and the offsides player is past the last defender on the offensive side of the field it is still offsides.

A tackle is a play that it appears you go more for the player than the ball. Or you just are going for the ball and swipe at the ball with your feet but you hit the player instead of the ball.

 

[pmedic920]

"Offsides" is when past midfield, an offensive player is closer to the goal when the ball leaves the feet of the passer. If you are even it is not offsides. Must be from the midfield line onwards though. Anything on your side of the field is fair game (the side you defend) if you are on offense. Most teams last defender will sit at midfield and stop. Even if the passer is on their side of the field and the offsides player is past the last defender on the offensive side of the field it is still offsides.

A tackle is a play that it appears you go more for the player than the ball. Or you just are going for the ball and swipe at the ball with your feet but you hit the player instead of the ball.

Ok but are “tackles” legal?
Why do I hear announcers say “great tackle “?

If so, why do some similar things/plays get called fouls?

 

[Wsumatt1982]

Ok but are “tackles” legal?
Why do I hear announcers say “great tackle “?

If so, why do some similar things/plays get called fouls?

a tackle is legal if you make full contact with the ball. If you go for the ball but make all or majority of your contact with the player INSTEAD of the ball it's a foul.

For example if you slide and hit the ball, then the player with the ball's momentum carries them into you, that's a great tackle no foul (or should be.)
If you slide for the ball but miss the ball and make contact with the player = foul.

There's a lot of nuance to it. I'm trying to keep it simple.

 

[pmedic920]

a tackle is legal if you make full contact with the ball. If you go for the ball but make all or majority of your contact with the player INSTEAD of the ball it's a foul.

For example if you slide and hit the ball, then the player with the ball's momentum carries them into you, that's a great tackle no foul (or should be.)
If you slide for the ball but miss the ball and make contact with the player = foul.

There's a lot of nuance to it. I'm trying to keep it simple.

I appreciate it, it’s the “nuances” that are hard to figure out without actual explanation.

I know I’m not the only one, hopefully this thread gains traction.

 

[pmedic920]

I know this much.

We complain about favoritism and inconsistency with NFL officiating, it appears to be WAY worse in pro soccer.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

I know this much.

We complain about favoritism and inconsistency with NFL officiating, it appears to be WAY worse in pro soccer.

It's much worse in soccer. They only have 3 refs in soccer and 2 of them are each sideline. Views can easily be obstructed for really just 1 referee. It really is a guessing game. That's why there is so much flopping because the refs most likely never really saw what happened. The video ref has helped a lot, it used to be much worse. I played for 19 years. I haven't played since I left college but it was a fun sport to play. Frustrating but fun.

 

[Kamcussionator]

A 'tackle' is just a challenge for the ball. Most upper body contact is legal in soccer as long as it doesn't involve the arms (shoving, grabbing). A "great tackle" is one where the defender manages to knock the ball away without fouling the offensive player. Fouls are like holding in football in that they can be called on almost every play, so there is a lot of discretion on the part of the ref as to how tight they want to call it.

In general: Getting the ball first -- even if your momentum carries you into the player -- and coming from in front of the attacker will result in a no call. Missing the ball while getting the player and/or coming in from behind or extremely violently or out of control, will get you a foul and/or a card if it is egregious. Often there's a lot of drama on the part of the fouled trying to draw the harsher penalties.

The exception to this is a concept called 'advantage', meaning that if you are fouled, but your team still possesses the ball and is in an attacking position, the ref will say, "Play on" rather that stop play that may be leading to goal opportunity for the fouled player's team.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

A 'tackle' is just a challenge for the ball. Most upper body contact is legal in soccer as long as it doesn't involve the arms (shoving, grabbing). A "great tackle" is one where the defender manages to knock the ball away without fouling the offensive player. Fouls are like holding in football in that they can be called on almost every play, so there is a lot of discretion on the part of the ref as to how tight they want to call it.

In general: Getting the ball first -- even if your momentum carries you into the player -- and coming from in front of the attacker will result in a no call. Missing the ball while getting the player and/or coming in from behind or extremely violently or out of control, will get you a foul and/or a card if it is egregious. Often there's a lot of drama on the part of the fouled trying to draw the harsher penalties.

The exception to this is a concept called 'advantage', meaning that if you are fouled, but your team still possesses the ball and is in an attacking position, the ref will say, "Play on" rather that stop play that may be leading to goal opportunity for the fouled player's team.

You worded that so much better than I did. Thank you.

 

[Kamcussionator]

You worded that so much better than I did. Thank you.

Eh, the ref is as much a part of the game as the field and the weather. Part of playing is learning what the ref will allow and adjusting accordingly. It's tough for a casual observer to rationalize why a thing is a foul in one game and a no call in another.

But in real competition, understanding the difference means winning or losing. Like in the recent world cup semis, you could tell Argentina was going to beat England because England was complaining to the ref instead of adjusting to the physicality of the play he was allowing.

Your answer was great too. I was just focusing on the nuance part that explains why a foul is not always a foul.