Comments on: Think you know your offside? http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/ Football in Tasmania Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:13:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Walter Pless http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/#comment-6037 Walter Pless Fri, 15 Jun 2007 06:20:06 +0000 http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/#comment-6037 The BBC explains the new interpretation very well. But, I am in favour of the original off-side law. I think football is played with the head as well as the feet and intelligence is an important factor. The off-side law should be a legitimate tool for intelligent defenders, as well as intelligent attackers. That's what makes the game so appealing. It gives it an extra dimension compared to many other sports. The new interpretation, unfortunately, caters for the lowest common denominator in terms of player intelligence and gives far too much power to a referee' or assistant referee'. It comes down to their opinion, and as we have seen so often already, opinions vary. Players often don't know how a referee will interpret 'interfering with play'. The original law left no-one in doubt. As one famous coach said: "If my players are not interfering with play, what are they doing out there?" The new interpretation is yet another example of FIFA president Sepp Blatter's reign. As one German journalist said: "Blatter has 50 new ideas a day, 51 of which are bad." The BBC explains the new interpretation very well. But, I am in favour of the original off-side law. I think football is played with the head as well as the feet and intelligence is an important factor. The off-side law should be a legitimate tool for intelligent defenders, as well as intelligent attackers. That’s what makes the game so appealing. It gives it an extra dimension compared to many other sports.

The new interpretation, unfortunately, caters for the lowest common denominator in terms of player intelligence and gives far too much power to a referee’ or assistant referee’. It comes down to their opinion, and as we have seen so often already, opinions vary. Players often don’t know how a referee will interpret ‘interfering with play’. The original law left no-one in doubt.

As one famous coach said: “If my players are not interfering with play, what are they doing out there?”

The new interpretation is yet another example of FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s reign. As one German journalist said: “Blatter has 50 new ideas a day, 51 of which are bad.”

]]> By: tasblue http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/#comment-6025 tasblue Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:22:34 +0000 http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/#comment-6025 The 'new' off-side rule is great in promoting attacking play. It's not hard to comprehend at all and I strongly disagree with Observer that it the young assistant refs. that get it so wrong. In games I've seen this season older assistants have seen a guy 'off-side' but not being active, raised their flag and stood still, whilst the play, quite rightly, continued. The ref. allowed the game to continue and there was another possible 'correct' off-side. Assistant 20-30 metres behind the play. The young boys and girls running the lines know the new rule. They're doing the courses. Good on them and we should all support them. The problem actually comes down to the older 'fans' who haven't followed the laws updates and give young assistants a hard time. The ‘new’ off-side rule is great in promoting attacking play. It’s not hard to comprehend at all and I strongly disagree with Observer that it the young assistant refs. that get it so wrong.
In games I’ve seen this season older assistants have seen a guy ‘off-side’ but not being active, raised their flag and stood still, whilst the play, quite rightly, continued. The ref. allowed the game to continue and there was another possible ‘correct’ off-side. Assistant 20-30 metres behind the play.
The young boys and girls running the lines know the new rule. They’re doing the courses. Good on them and we should all support them.
The problem actually comes down to the older ‘fans’ who haven’t followed the laws updates and give young assistants a hard time.

]]> By: Observer http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/#comment-6014 Observer Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:22:39 +0000 http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/#comment-6014 The offside rule....love it....not!! One rule I struggle with as it is implemented on the basis of how the linesman interprets it. Here in tassie it is normally incorrect....not having a dig, however so often even in premier league games linesman are young boys or girls learning the trade (which is fantastic) however they don't fully grasp the idea and therefor you can't play the offside trap. The offside rule….love it….not!! One rule I struggle with as it is implemented on the basis of how the linesman interprets it. Here in tassie it is normally incorrect….not having a dig, however so often even in premier league games linesman are young boys or girls learning the trade (which is fantastic) however they don’t fully grasp the idea and therefor you can’t play the offside trap.

]]> By: A Whisper http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/#comment-6011 A Whisper Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:26:21 +0000 http://tasfootball.plebian.net/blog/20070613/think-you-know-your-offside/#comment-6011 HO HO...here is a debate that should draw discussion from all about the place. Nice one BJ. For my money, one of the most important parts of this rule is the "Gaining an advantage" section. For example if a player steps over a ball but does not play it...surely he has used his position to confuse the defenders or 'keeper and gain an advantage. It is the one part of the rule where I think referees and assistants become confused and players have trouble understanding their decisions. HO HO…here is a debate that should draw discussion from all about the place. Nice one BJ.
For my money, one of the most important parts of this rule is the “Gaining an advantage” section. For example if a player steps over a ball but does not play it…surely he has used his position to confuse the defenders or ‘keeper and gain an advantage. It is the one part of the rule where I think referees and assistants become confused and players have trouble understanding their decisions.

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