Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 6, 1995 TAG: 9505090008
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Some soccer fans may be left scratching their heads when the new Roanoke RiverDawgs make their home debut tonight against the Columbia (S.C.) Heat.
The Dawgs play in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues, which is using some experimental rules this season in an attempt to make the game more offensive and, hence, more exciting for fans.
FIFA, soccer's international governing body, is ``looking at ways to include a little more attacking and make the game not so defensive,'' said Phil Benne, a part owner of the RiverDawgs. ``Basically, they want to make it more palatable to the average fan who doesn't know a lot about soccer.''
USISL games are played in two 30-minute halves with the clock stopping for goals, injuries or when the ball goes out of bounds. International games are 90 minutes with a running clock.
``In the World Cup games [during the summer of 1994], you could see there were a lot of delays for injuries and stuff like that and the clock would just run,'' said Benne, the women's soccer and men's tennis coach at Roanoke College. ``So they've developed the `stop clock,' which will actually allow for more playing time.''
Another difference is the USISL's kick-in rule, which allows teams to put the ball back in play either by the traditional throw-in or by a kick-in from 35 yards after the ball goes out of bounds. Benne said this option will create more accurate passes and produce more scoring opportunities.
The league also uses a live shootout after a team commits seven fouls in each half - they aren't carried over - and again after the next seven fouls and so on.
The live shootout is taken from the top of the center circle with all players, except the shooter and opposing goalkeeper, lined up at the midfield line or behind. At the whistle, play is live for all players with no restrictions.
``So if you're a good player and people have to foul you to stop you, it doesn't really work to their advantage anymore,'' said Dustin Fonder, a Roanoke native and midfielder for the Dawgs who played last season with the Canton (Ohio) Invaders of the indoor National Professional Soccer League.
Another USISL rule parallels the foul situation in basketball. A player who commits five fouls must leave the game. In the first instance, the team may substitute for that player. However, after any subsequent players foul out, the team must play a man down. If a player receives a red-card ejection, his team also must play short-handed.
Ties in the USISL are broken by a shootout, with shooters going one on one with the opposing goalkeeper from the 35-yard mark.
Fonder described the experimental rules as ``Americanized.''
``They're more offensive-minded and allow for higher scoring,'' he said. ``They're more like basketball, so the fans are able to understand the game better. I think it's more appealing to the American mind-set.''
by CNB