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From: nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken)
Newsgroups: net.sport
Subject: Re: Football ( soccer to you plebs :-) in US
Message-ID: <940@abnji.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Nov-85 13:31:36 EST
Article-I.D.: abnji.940
Posted: Wed Nov  6 13:31:36 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 06:17:29 EST
References: <20@uw-june>
Organization: Terminus Hospital, Incorporated
Lines: 68

>One complaint ( maybe that should read "another complaint" given what
>I said last time :-) I have about US soccer is that they play different
>rules from the rest of the world, that is, they don't use FIFA rules.

A sportswriter I met in Scotland had an epitaph for the NASL, it read
something like "The Only Soccer League to last 15 years and never play
a single soccer game"

>One difference I know about is the way penalties are taken ( as I recall
>the US version has a 1-on-1 situation between keeper and penalty taker ).
>While this particular instance may not make a major difference to the game,
>the fact that there is one difference means there are probably others.

This rule (the shoot out to break ties) applied only to the "penalties"
taken at the end of the game to decide a winner.  Penalties taken during
the regulation time were the same as in the rest of the world.

>This
>is bound to alienate other countries against US ( I've often if this affected
>US's chances for getting the '86 World Cup ). You may argue that the changes
>are for the better, but if every country went ahead and made local changes
>which they thought were for the better then we would soon have chaos. I
>say follow the Central ruling body.....

Among the other changes:

1. No ties allowed.  If the scores are level after 90 minutes, play 15
minutes of OT, if still level, go to the shootout.  The OT ends as soon
as somebody scores.

Comment:  Normally, ties are allowed during the regualr season, many
tournaments allow ties, which leads to replays.  If there is overtime,
it lasts 30 minutes REGARDLESS of whether or not somebody scores.
Remember the France-West Germany semifinal in Spain 3 years ago?  It
was 1-1 after 90 minutes, then in extra time, France moved out to a 3-1
lead, onbly to give up two late goals to West Germany and lose in 
penalty kicks.  Under NASL rules, the game would have ended 2-1 to
France.

2. Two legged tournaments did not have an "aggragate" rule.  In 1980
(?) Cosmos lost to Minnesota 9-2 in Minnesota, then won in New Jersey
2-0.  Under normal rules of conduct for two legged ties, Minnesota
would have advanced to the next round, 9-4.  Instead, Minnesota and
Cosmos played a 30 minute "mini-game", which ended up 0-0, and a shoot
out (which the Cosmos won), to decide the results.

This rule was changed to be best 2 out of 3 games.

3.  Three substitutes were allowed.  Although this is a variable, league
matches are held with a maximum of 2 subs (one in England!).  Further-
more, these subs are designated before the game, as opposed to chosen
from a pool.

4.  The offsides line was moved from midfield to 35 yards from the end
line.

All these changes applied to the NASL.  Other places tried much better 
to follow the FIFA rules.  (At Duke, the only differences I recall are
that you have unlimited substitution.  This I think is OK in a
"learning" environment.)

>Please check all nuclear arms at the door.

I don't carry any.
-- 
James C. Armstrong, Jnr.	{ihnp4,cbosgd,akgua}!abnji!nyssa

"All these corridors look the same to me!"  Who said it, what story?