THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407030171
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
The U.S. Interregional Soccer League is acting as a laboratory rat for the U.S. Soccer Federation this season, testing experimental rules in its various divisions.
Thus, the USISL's all-star game, to be played Wednesday at the Center for Effective Learning, might appear on the surface to be a Frankenstein version of soccer.
While each of the eight divisions are experimenting with their own rules changes, the USISL all-star game will employ every experimental rule being used this season.
The USISL is even going to the lengths to transport larger goals to the game site. The Southwest Division has been playing with goals that are 28 feet wide and 8 feet, 6 inches high. That's 4 feet wider and 6 inches higher than regulation goals.
Obviously, a bigger target might make for more scoring, but the rule Hampton Roads Hurricanes coach Sonny Travis is most enamored with concerns the short corner kick, being used by the South Central and Pacific divisions.
``I'd think short corner kicks can create a big impact and easy scoring plays,'' Travis said.
Among the other rules to be used Wednesday:
35-yard shootouts granted for encroachment fouls where the guilty player is sent off the field.
Players who don't allow 10 yards on free kicks must then allow 15 yards.
Five player fouls and you're out, plus opposing team earns a 35-yard shootout; and seven team fouls in a half earns opposing team a 35-yard shootout.
Players have option of kicking ball into play or throwing ball into play on out-of-bounds plays.
A 60-minute game with the clock stopping on dead balls.
If the game is tied after two 10-minute overtimes, it is decided by a five-player-per-side shootout. by CNB