17-02-2002 09:35									#31
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quote: Originally posted by Pembleton But there are times when you don't have to tag the runner, but only the base. The first example is running to first base. You can also run to first if you strike out but the catcher drops the ball or lets it go by him. And if there's a "force out", you don't have to tag the runner either.

I was keeping it simple.

	17-02-2002 09:36									#32
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quote: Originally posted by Goingonit I was keeping it simple.

And I wasn't.

	17-02-2002 09:38									#33
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quote: Originally posted by Pembleton And I wasn't.

Feh. That's why I said "basic rules of baseball".

	17-02-2002 09:42									#34
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quote: Originally posted by paiktis22 so a runner can stand next to a base and wait right? when will he be able to move again? is it when the next hitter hits the ball and the other team tries to catch it and return it to a «baseman»?

He can move whenever he wants. You can "steal" a base by doing this. If a player tags him with a ball though he's out with an important exception:

The ball is hit in the air. He must go back to the base and "tag up", otherwise he can be forced out without a tag at the previous base. As soon as the ball is caught, or misses it, or it hits the ground, he can leave the base. "Tagging up" means to stand on the base.

	17-02-2002 09:45									#35
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Ok I think I got the basic rules.
Thanks

	17-02-2002 09:49									#36
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quote: Originally posted by Pembleton The ball is hit in the air. He must go back to the base and "tag up", otherwise he can be forced out without a tag at the previous base. As soon as the ball is caught, or misses it, or it hits the ground, he can leave the base. "Tagging up" means to stand on the base.

When I think I about it, what I said isn't *completely* technically correct, but you only want the basic idea, so it's not important that I clarify...

	17-02-2002 09:54									#37
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I would just like to say that I was a soccer ref for a young kids league.

	17-02-2002 10:06									#38
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Could someone explain how the World Cup qualifiers work? I noticed that Holland has done pretty well when it has qualified, but this year they didn't even qualify. I heard they have some of the best players in the world.

And how international are the leagues? I see on Yahoo Sports that they list England, Italy, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Spain.

Where's the Brasil league, the nation with the most World Cup wins? Do most Brasilian players play in other countries?

	17-02-2002 10:22									#39
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Next, we'll explain the Infield Fly rule and the Balk rule.

BTW...soccer truely is the greatest sport. I plan on playing it at some level. I love it.

	17-02-2002 10:33									#40
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quote: Originally posted by David Floyd Offsides is when you try to pass to a player and there are no defenders closer to their goal than he is. Right?

Not to burst your bubble, but this is not exactly correct.

Offsides occurs when the ball is played past the mid-field stripe and there is an offensive player without the ball behind the defence when the ball is initially passed. The official rule states there must be 2 players in front of the offensive player when the ball is passed across the midfield stripe to take into account the goalie.

	17-02-2002 10:39									#41
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quote: Something ain't right. The USA have jumped 11 places in the last month in the world rankings. They're now 13th in the world!

That's because US has played friendlies when most European squads have been on winter break.

But don't worry, at the end of the year they alter the points so that only the seven best results counts. And US will once again end up where it belongs; in the places 21-40 group.

	17-02-2002 10:47									#42
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quote: Originally posted by Pembleton Could someone explain how the World Cup qualifiers work? I noticed that Holland has done pretty well when it has qualified, but this year they didn't even qualify. I heard they have some of the best players in the world.

Keeping really simple, you play various teams in your region and try to earn points towards qualifying. 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. Holland was outpointed by, I believe, Ireland in there final qualifying round. You are correct about Holland being good, it was an upset that they didn't advance to the World Cup. They had a horrible defeat in the European Regional tournament (EuroCup) 2 years ago and many people believe they lost their confidence.

quote: And how international are the leagues? I see on Yahoo Sports that they list England, Italy, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Spain.

Some more so than others. Engalnd's league (Premiership) has lots of money and can attract top International players. The same for Spain and Italy's league. Those three league's are generally considered the World's best.

quote: Where's the Brasil league, the nation with the most World Cup wins? Do most Brasilian players play in other countries?

Brazil has a domestic league, but it is embroiled in a huge controversy (it's always something with the Brazilians) and the league doesn't have enough money to attract the big-time players or keep their own star players.

	17-02-2002 10:51									#43
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Thanks MBloom, are you sure you're American? How many teams were in Holland's region besides Ireland?

	17-02-2002 11:01									#44
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quote: Originally posted by Pembleton Thanks MBloom, are you sure you're American? How many teams were in Holland's region besides Ireland?

I've been a huge soccer (football) fan all my life. With the advent of the Internet, it is much easier to follow the sport Internationally now. I'm not exactly sure about the qualifying in Europe. Initially, I believe, you are placed in a group with 3 other teams and play a series of home-away games with each team. After that, I'm not sure how EUFA handles it. When the European posters wake up, they can answer the question much better than I can. Being in North America (CONCACAF) I was following the US's qualifying much more closely. There are a lot of European teams and it's hard to follow them all. I mainly track England in international competitions.

edit: This is the site I usually follow. http://www.internetsoccer.com

	17-02-2002 11:09									#45
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Is Manchester United the NY Yankees of English Soccer? I believe I remember looking at the standings at the last world cup in 98 and they were the team with the most teams. If so, they must be hated as much as the Yankees are?

	17-02-2002 11:20									#46
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quote: Initially, I believe, you are placed in a group with 3 other teams and play a series of home-away games with each team. After that, I'm not sure how EUFA handles it.

First, all European teams are seeded due to how they managed in the two latest qualifiers (EC and WC) and placed in five pools IIRC. After that one team from each pool is drawn and put together in a group, Then they go on with next one, etc. There are not an even numbers of countries, however, so some groups will contain six countries, IIRC.
Then all teams play each other both home and away, as MBloomIII said. The group winners are instantly qualified for the WC, whilst the runner-ups are paired together two on two and competes in a home-and-away play-off on who will take the WC slot.

	17-02-2002 11:23									#47
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quote: Originally posted by Pembleton Is Manchester United the NY Yankees of English Soccer? I believe I remember looking at the standings at the last world cup in 98 and they were the team with the most teams. If so, they must be hated as much as the Yankees are?

Yes they are. In fact the Yankees and Man. U. recently signed a deal to market each other. Manchester United is arguably the best league team in the world right now. However, they would not play in the World Cup. WC teams are all-star teams for each country and the games they play are known as Internationals. If the full International team plays a game outside of a tournament against another International team, it is known as a friendly and any player who plays in the game earns a cap, a term which simply means you played a game for your countries team.

Europe has a tournament among it's league's as well. To further complicate things, some countries have a tournament among their own domestic leagues. Manchester United recently won a treble championship, which is very rare. They won their domestic league championship (Premiership), they won their countries domestic league championship (the FA cup), and they won the European league championship (Champions League). All of these are competitions among professional teams.

Hopefully that is clear.

	17-02-2002 11:23									#48
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quote: Next, we'll explain the Infield Fly rule and the Balk rule.

Sweet Jesus no, his head will explode

	17-02-2002 11:26									#49
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quote: Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin The funny thing about the MLS is that a game is not permitted to end in a draw. Does the US play any sport where a draw is permitted, or does one side/person always have to win?

Hockey.

	17-02-2002 11:26									#50
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quote: Originally posted by Juggernaut First, all European teams are seeded due to how they managed in the two latest qualifiers (EC and WC) and placed in five pools IIRC. After that one team from each pool is drawn and put together in a group, Then they go on with next one, etc. There are not an even numbers of countries, however, so some groups will contain six countries, IIRC.

That sounds correct, I believe I was confusing EuroCup qualifing with WC.

Typical American.

	17-02-2002 11:27									#51
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quote: Originally posted by MBloomIII Manchester United is arguably the best league team in the world right now. However, they would not play in the World Cup.

Right, I meant their standings in the Premier League. I see how my wording was unclear.

	17-02-2002 11:44									#52
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Here's an answer to your earlier question concerning groupings.
Results for group 2 can be found here:
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/Wo...Group=1242.html

Group 1
:: Faroe Islands
:: Luxembourg
:: Russia
:: Slovenia
:: Switzerland
:: Yugoslavia

Group 2
:: Andorra
:: Cyprus
:: Estonia
:: Netherlands (Holland)
:: Portugal
:: Rep of Ireland

Group 3
:: Bulgaria
:: Czech Republic
:: Denmark
:: Iceland
:: Malta
:: Northern Ireland

Group 4
:: Azerbaijan
:: FYR Macedonia
:: Moldova
:: Slovakia
:: Sweden
:: Turkey

Group 5
:: Armenia
:: Belarus
:: Norway
:: Poland
:: Ukraine
:: Wales

Group 6
:: Belgium
:: Croatia
:: Latvia
:: San Marino
:: Scotland

Group 7
:: Austria
:: Bosnia-Herzegovina
:: Israel
:: Liechtenstein
:: Spain

Group 8
:: Georgia
:: Hungary
:: Italy
:: Lithuania
:: Romania

Group 9
:: Albania
:: England
:: Finland
:: Germany
:: Greece

	17-02-2002 11:55									#53
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I assume these groupings are mostly random. If so, I see how teams can have a better chance of being upset just by being placed in a stronger group.

	17-02-2002 11:57									#54
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...and guess which team managed the best?

	17-02-2002 14:50									#55
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quote: Originally posted by Pembleton I assume these groupings are mostly random. If so, I see how teams can have a better chance of being upset just by being placed in a stronger group.

There is a sort of ranking before the groups are formed. IIRC countries are grouped together, based on level of play, and when the final groups are formed countries with the same ranking can't end up in the same group.

About the Netherlands not participating, that has nothing to do with losing confidence. It has to do with 19 year old kids getting filthy rich way to fast and easy, the continueing saga of Kluiverts' exploits on the road to maturity being a point in case

	17-02-2002 16:55									#56
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quote: Originally posted by Pembleton Is Manchester United the NY Yankees of English Soccer? I believe I remember looking at the standings at the last world cup in 98 and they were the team with the most teams. If so, they must be hated as much as the Yankees are?

We won the treble in a couple of years back - something never achieved before, and probably never will be again. The treble was winning the English Premiership, the English FA Cup, and the European Cup.

	17-02-2002 17:02									#57
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quote: Originally posted by Juggernaut First, all European teams are seeded due to how they managed in the two latest qualifiers (EC and WC) and placed in five pools IIRC. After that one team from each pool is drawn and put together in a group

quote: Originally posted by Pembleton I assume these groupings are mostly random.

	17-02-2002 17:35									#58
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I always chuckle when I hear Americans say offence when discussing football.

quote: On the contrary, we've seen World Cup futbol and it's still boring

Watching USA vs Iran doesn't really count.

Did you see the Argentina vs England game in the '98 tournament? Best game of the tournament.

	17-02-2002 19:32									#59
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You can tie in football too. What's funny is that they college and pro both changed their rules on it recently.

In college, if you were tied at the end of regulation, it was a tie. Now, one team gets the ball at the opposing twenty. They then have to try and score. Irregardless of what they do, the other team gets a chance at the opposing team's twenty. I liken this rule to shootouts. Last year a college games lasted into 7 overtimes before finally being finished.

In pro, they used to keep doing overtimes until someone won. Now, during the regular season, they just play one sudden death overtime, and if noone scores, then it's a tie.

"A tie is like kissing your sister"

	17-02-2002 20:29									#60
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quote: Last year a college games lasted into 7 overtimes before finally being finished.

If you have to have a winner, just have a penalty shoot-out.

quote: Now, one team gets the ball at the opposing twenty.

Twenty yard line? Is that something you guys invented?

I think I know what you mean though, and I personnaly would like to see a one-on-one shoot-out scenario - where you are given the ball from 25yrds out and have 10 seconds to put it past the keeper. It would be better than the current penalty shoot-out situations.