The American Spectator

“Scoring is no fun”… Does Mr. Collins really believe that soccer players/fans hold to this belief? Has he ever seen what goes on after a goal is scored in soccer?

“Non-Contact”… Maybe at the eight-year-old level, but every game I’ve ever seen involves numerous collisions and injuries. The rules include tackles (not the NFL type) and shoulder charges which can be quite violent. All without the use of helmets or pads (other than shin guards). Two players attempting to head the same ball in the air leads to all kinds of mayhem.

“The bloodless nature of the play is reflected in the benign attitude on the sidelines. Ever hear of an irate Dad punching out a soccer referee?”… Well, as a matter of fact, most sidelines are quite animated. Lots of anger — again, usually after the age of 8. And, as a matter of fact:

New Jersey (Soccer) — Referee James Clay, a 50-year-old with seven years of officiating experience, was slugged in the head and neck after ejecting a Clayton High School player. The player was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. He was released to the custody of his parents. (Contributing source: Philadelphia Inquirer)

Florida (Soccer) — Parent Xxxxx Xxxxx enters the soccer field to check on his son, who has been injured in a skirmish for the ball. Angry that a more severe penalty had not been levied on the opposing player, Xxxxx confronts the referee and shoves him to the ground. The game is stopped and forfeited by Orange Park High School to Nease High.

South Dakota (Soccer) — A 42-year-old adult man strikes the soccer referee, who happened to also be the town’s mayor, during a match between 11-year-old girls. The coach was sentenced to one year in jail.

“No such thing as multiple fouls before ejection”… One is only given a card (and most time not a red card) for an egregious foul. Players can commit many fouls in a game without being ejected. This mistake of his actually makes me believe that he has never seen a soccer match.

“Size Matters”…It does in soccer as well. Being able to shield the ball from an opponent or bump him off the ball are real advantages. There is also position specialization: goalie, sweeper, striker, and stopper all have benefited from specialization. And just like the other sports not every team has monsters on it but some do.

p>In conclusion, I must also express my disappointment in your fine publication to include such nonsense in its pages. I can only hope that it was a holiday for your usual authors. br> — Jim Cadden br> Endicott, New York /p>

Mr. Collins offers some humorous insight as to why Americans are bewildered by the popularity of soccer outside of the U.S., with the exception of our own “bloodless” suburbs, where Mommies reign supreme. As a football/baseball/soccer/basketball/softball dad and coach, I’ve seen the participants, officials and the spectators up close and personal. Even with my own kids on the field, soccer stood alone in its singular ability to bore, stultify and confuse. I tried to like it…

In any case, some improvements to the game may make it more palatable to American tastes; who says we have to play the game in the Euro-style?