Offsides
Overall, I will say the linesman did a great job at the World Cup. I would have guessed off-sides controversies would have been the biggest negative issue, but they really weren't.
Still, based on the effect incorrect calls have on determining the winner of a match, I think offisdes is the greatest problem area in the game right now (particularly in League play, where numerous yellow cards and suspensions aren't as big of an issue as they are at the World Cup).
About a year ago, I heard about a study done on offsides that said the human eye can't reliably do what is asked of a linesman. It is too difficult for the linesman to look at the ball, last defender, most-forward attacker, and time of delivery. If that is true (and judging by the volume of missed calls, I think it is), we need to accept that linesmen will make mistakes and focus on limiting chances for mistakes. This includes clear, well-defined, simple rules on what constitutes an off-sides.
I think they should say offsides is only if the attacker's entire body is completely clear of the last defender (daylight rule) - Pipo Inzaghi would love this rule. I think given the above study and the propensity for linesman to look a split second after ball is delivered, this would be a better measure (it would at least shift some current incorrect offside flags into the no-call category). I thought they were supposed to be doing this already, but it seems unclear.
By my estimation, at least 20% of offsides calls are incorrect, and they are often stopping what would be golden scoring opprotunities, often a breakaway for an attacker (which has a high probability of resulting in a goal). Teams that are inventive and creative should be rewarded with good scoring opportunites, but too often they are stymied by a bored linesman who saw an attacker's head bob in front of a defender long after a through ball has been delivered.
Tinkering with the offsides rule (like passive offsides) has only increased confusion and not successfully adressed the real problem of too many miscalled offsides. I would scrap the passive offsides - it is too difficult to interpret whether a player has affected play or not. I think having linesmen try to determine the passive/active issue will only lead to more missed calls.
Lastly, I think the governing bodies should offer incentive for linesman to keep their flag down (I think for every one legit offside let go, they call about 10 off-sides that aren't) Do they have a system for counting miscalls? My idea is you miss a certain % of calls and you get relegated.
Still, based on the effect incorrect calls have on determining the winner of a match, I think offisdes is the greatest problem area in the game right now (particularly in League play, where numerous yellow cards and suspensions aren't as big of an issue as they are at the World Cup).
About a year ago, I heard about a study done on offsides that said the human eye can't reliably do what is asked of a linesman. It is too difficult for the linesman to look at the ball, last defender, most-forward attacker, and time of delivery. If that is true (and judging by the volume of missed calls, I think it is), we need to accept that linesmen will make mistakes and focus on limiting chances for mistakes. This includes clear, well-defined, simple rules on what constitutes an off-sides.
I think they should say offsides is only if the attacker's entire body is completely clear of the last defender (daylight rule) - Pipo Inzaghi would love this rule. I think given the above study and the propensity for linesman to look a split second after ball is delivered, this would be a better measure (it would at least shift some current incorrect offside flags into the no-call category). I thought they were supposed to be doing this already, but it seems unclear.
By my estimation, at least 20% of offsides calls are incorrect, and they are often stopping what would be golden scoring opprotunities, often a breakaway for an attacker (which has a high probability of resulting in a goal). Teams that are inventive and creative should be rewarded with good scoring opportunites, but too often they are stymied by a bored linesman who saw an attacker's head bob in front of a defender long after a through ball has been delivered.
Tinkering with the offsides rule (like passive offsides) has only increased confusion and not successfully adressed the real problem of too many miscalled offsides. I would scrap the passive offsides - it is too difficult to interpret whether a player has affected play or not. I think having linesmen try to determine the passive/active issue will only lead to more missed calls.
Lastly, I think the governing bodies should offer incentive for linesman to keep their flag down (I think for every one legit offside let go, they call about 10 off-sides that aren't) Do they have a system for counting miscalls? My idea is you miss a certain % of calls and you get relegated.
posted by the idiot at 10:22 AM
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