Soccer is a game of skill, athleticism and determination. Rough play is not allowed, but there will always be physical play when two players both want control of the ball. The sport has safety rules that are designed to prevent players from suffering serious injuries as a result of reckless, dangerous or dirty play.
Rough Play
Two players may use their bodies to screen their opponent from the ball in order to gain possession and make a play. However, legal physical play does not include pushing, shoving or kicking another player. Players who put their opponents at risk because of their pushing and shoving get a warning (yellow card) from the referee and must cease and desist from such behavior. Continued pushing and shoving to gain an edge on an opponent may result in an ejection (red card) from the game.
Dangerous Play
Players cannot put themselves or others at risk with their dangerous play. Both a high kick and a low header are considered dangerous plays. A low header can be an effective play, but it is only allowed when no other players are in the area when the player has taken a dive for the ball to drive a low ball toward a teammate or the goal. He could easily take a kick to the head when he dives for a low header. On a high kick in traffic, a player may be putting his own teammates as well as his opponents at risk for serious injury. When the referee sees a dangerous play, he awards a free kick to the opponent.
Raised Knees
The goaltender can be guilty of breaking a key soccer safety rule when he raises his knees to protect his body from an onrushing player. The goaltender can use his hands to stop a low driving kick or catch a high cross or shot. The natural inclination for most goaltenders is to gather the ball to his body after making the catch in order to protect the ball and maintain possession. While raising knees can help the keeper secure the ball, it represents a threat to an onrushing player. The referee will blow his whistle and award an indirect free kick to the opponent from a very vulnerable spot on the field.
Member Comments
MarcelBarrinton January 5
Load Of Shit