Soccer ABCs Help Needed

[Lizzie Bee]

Hey everyone. A while back, the front office asked us to compile a soccer ABCs. I offered to play the part of editor and desktop publisher for the project, but I need your help!

Most importantly, my understanding of the game is rather minimal, so I'm depending on other people to give me the raw information to be included. Anybody who could give suggestions for what type of information needs to be included, that would be great. I'm assuming we'll need two basic things:

(1) A list of soccer terms and what they mean. I have a good start for this from blitzzfan.
(2) An explanation of how the game works, what the rules and penalties are, etc.

Also, we really should have some graphic illustration help to assist the explanations. Anybody have good graphics experience?

Any ideas are appreciated. Let's get this project done right so the FO can see we're really trying to make this relationship beneficial for both parties!

[Lizzie Bee]

Also, blitzzfan and dysko: If you have any more specifics of what we need for the project, let me know. Does the FO want something fully laid out w/ graphics that is ready to print essentially? Or do they want the rough data edited together, so they can format it themselves?

[Etienne_72772]

Hey everyone. A while back, the front office asked us to compile a soccer ABCs. I offered to play the part of editor and desktop publisher for the project, but I need your help!

Most importantly, my understanding of the game is rather minimal, so I'm depending on other people to give me the raw information to be included. Anybody who could give suggestions for what type of information needs to be included, that would be great. I'm assuming we'll need two basic things:

(1) A list of soccer terms and what they mean. I have a good start for this from blitzzfan.
(2) An explanation of how the game works, what the rules and penalties are, etc.

Also, we really should have some graphic illustration help to assist the explanations. Anybody have good graphics experience?

Any ideas are appreciated. Let's get this project done right so the FO can see we're really trying to make this relationship beneficial for both parties!

I would say that if you were going to use graphics to explain any rule, it would have to the offside rule. Growing up playing the sport, offside is as natural to me eating, but having to explain it to some else is something of a bear. Graphics would help alot.

[Lizzie Bee]

I would say that if you were going to use graphics to explain any rule, it would have to the offside rule. Growing up playing the sport, offside is as natural to me eating, but having to explain it to some else is something of a bear. Graphics would help alot.

That's the main thing I had in mind! I feel like I understand the rule pretty well, but whenever I try to explain it to someone else, I get pretty tongue-tied.

[stucknutah]

That's the main thing I had in mind! I feel like I understand the rule pretty well, but whenever I try to explain it to someone else, I get pretty tongue-tied.
Find a ref, or better yet, a referee instructor, who should have some of these materials readily available.

[Blitzz Boy]

I will look for my ref manual tonight.

It has some really good graphics.

Once in a while, over on MLS News & Analysis or US Men News & Analysis, someone will post these graphics as part of a Flame War as to whether a player was in an offside position or not.

[Liverpool_SC]

I will look for my ref manual tonight.

It has some really good graphics.

Once in a while, over on MLS News & Analysis or US Men News & Analysis, someone will post these graphics as part of a Flame War as to whether a player was in an offside position or not.

The FIFA Laws of the Game (available from their website in .pdf format) has some rather comical, yet useful, graphics to illustrate some of the laws, including offsides.

[Detective40oz]

I think it would be kind of cool if you put a brief history of the league in there too. With the new fans that might not have been paying attention the first 9 years it might be helpful to catch them up to speed.

[Liverpool_SC]

I think it would be kind of cool if you put a brief history of the league in there too. With the new fans that might not have been paying attention the first 9 years it might be helpful to catch them up to speed.

This is a great idea . . .

And don't forget to explain those three beautiful stars that reside just above the badge on the classy DC United jerseys.

[Lizzie Bee]

This is a great idea . . .

And don't forget to explain those three beautiful stars that reside just above the badge on the classy DC United jerseys.

You're alluding to something I'm unfamiliar with. Can someone explain? :)

As far as the graphics that already exist, I'm sure there are plenty of things already done. We're not setting out to do something unique here--we're setting out to do something that's been done, but without any copyright limitations. In other words, we can't steal other people's graphics, but we can use them as a basis for our own!

I went to the library this morning and got two soccer books that looked like they explained things in simple terms. I thought I could use them as an example of what our explanations might look like. However, editing a 100-page book down to one or two pages is going to be... interesting..

[Detective40oz]

You're alluding to something I'm unfamiliar with. Can someone explain? :)

As far as the graphics that already exist, I'm sure there are plenty of things already done. We're not setting out to do something unique here--we're setting out to do something that's been done, but without any copyright limitations. In other words, we can't steal other people's graphics, but we can use them as a basis for our own!

I went to the library this morning and got two soccer books that looked like they explained things in simple terms. I thought I could use them as an example of what our explanations might look like. However, editing a 100-page book down to one or two pages is going to be... interesting..

Basically a brief write up explaining the history of the league...who was in the finals...which teams won MLS Cups...Chicago entering the league in 98, San Jose winning the championship last year...COlumbus Crew Stadium being the first Soccer Specific Stadium in the country. I just think its a good idea to introduce the people to the history of the league.

As far as he was talking about the 3 stars above the DC United badge...that represents the 3 MLS Cups they have won. Teams will put a star above their logo after winning a championship.

[kopiteinkc]

As far as he was talking about the 3 stars above the DC United badge...that represents the 3 MLS Cups they have won. Teams will put a star above their logo after winning a championship.

You might want also explain that if such a fan where to visit Bigsoccer.com they need to turn their sarcasm meter on :D

[SoccerPrime]

Jules, try this website for graphics
http://www.nscaa.com/tips/index.html

[the cup]

This Saturday I'll bring a book I have called "Soccer, Skills and Tactics."

It mostly talks about how to develop skills for the game but its last chapter is entitled "The Laws of the Game." Its pretty good at explaining everything in basic terms.

I'll bring it and you can take a look and see if it will help at all.

[mls2atl]

for a history on mls just go to mlsnet.com and at the bottom of the main page click on about mls, it has the entire history of mls by each year and it has the future outlook and such. so you can do a summary of each year along with who went to mls cup and who became the champions.

[Rockey J Squirrel]

Go to the AYSO site the published great stuff for years that mortals can understand. Check on the training/coaching books, they may be oriented at youth coaches but the principals are the same and the pro make exactly the same errors (maybe not as often). The Blitzz program as a good ABC.

[tabramos10]

And don't forget to explain those three beautiful stars that reside just above the badge on the classy DC United jerseys.
Ya, that's pretty cool, but I think they messed that whole thing up. It looks great, and I get the idea, but they shouldn't have done that yet. It's supposed to be after you win 10 championships you get a star. I know that the league's only been around for that long, but we're all counting on it sticking around right? Eventually, someone will have their 10th championship, (DC? Chicago? LA?) and then they will get to be the only team with a star. And then maybe someone else will get their 10th, and they can have a star. But you can't just go putting stars on every time you win a single championship. Is DC gonna have 8 stars on their jersey when they win their 8th championship?

I don't know why I get so worked up about this, but I just can't stand that they try to pretend like there's some great history of the team (when there isn't) and then steal an old tradition and divide it by 10! You know what I mean?

[ThreeApples]

I don't know why I get so worked up about this, but I just can't stand that they try to pretend like there's some great history of the team (when there isn't) and then steal an old tradition and divide it by 10! You know what I mean?

You are taking an Italian tradition and assuming it is a worldwide standard. Many teams around the world use a star for every championship.

One example:

http://200.76.177.21/home/clubgdl/media/chivasn.jpg

[tabramos10]

You are taking an Italian tradition and assuming it is a worldwide standard. Many teams around the world use a star for every championship.

One example:

http://200.76.177.21/home/clubgdl/media/chivasn.jpg
Sure, but still, look, there's 10 stars. They probably just added that to their logo after they got number 10. Do you think they have had stars for each championship ever since they had three? Two? One? Six? When can you start putting stars on your logo? I think three is too early. If everyone did that, once several teams got to three it wouldn't even be cool any more. I think after 10 championships it's cool.

[Red Star]

You are taking an Italian tradition and assuming it is a worldwide standard. Many teams around the world use a star for every championship.

One example:

http://200.76.177.21/home/clubgdl/media/chivasn.jpg


Isn't there supposed to be a goat on that logo?