Why do fouls happen?

[nsa]

Topic raised in another thread.


Discuss.

[Wreave]

Because the referee failed to control the game. DUH!

[campbed]

Because the referee failed to control the game. DUH!

Because the player failed to follow the LOTG. Double Dog DUH!

Having said that, in what context is this question asked? What thread is this spawned from?

[intechpc]

Why do fouls happen? Many reasons. Sloppy play in my opinion is the most common cause. When players' fundamentals break down and they start doing the things they've been taught not to do, it results in a foul. Now the sloppy play can happen due to a number of causes. Fatigue is certainly a cause that is prevalent later in the match. Desperation can also be a cause, either because the player is out matched or the potential for a scoring opportunity is great. Simple laziness/carelessness can also lead to sloppy play and therefore fouls.

Fouls also happen as a result of tactical play. Obviously we've all see this type of foul on the field.

A final reason I can think of is out of sheer frustration. These are the bad ones, the fouls meant to send a message or exact revenge.

(funny if you look at this I went from simple foul, to Cautionable to Send-off, damn I'm good :rolleyes:)

[whipple]

Usually, it is because the referee observes a player do something to an oponent (not handling), decides that a foul has ocurred and then either decides it is trifling and does nothing, signals advantage - play on, or blows his whistle to stop play because the team commiting the foul had either gained and unfair advantage, or the team against whom the foul was committed has been unfairly disadvantaged, and the gods will not sleep until the balance in the universe is restored with a restart for the offended team.

Or at least this is the way it should/could be.

[Rufusabc]

The first two answers are why I brought up the question.

Fouls are PART of the game. They are not the fault of the referee and they are not because the players don't know the LOTG.

Fouls happen because there are 22 players on a field contesting a match over a certain period of time. Think of it in terms of basketball for a second. Imagine saying the same thing about a basketball game. The refs haven't lost control of a game because a player fouls out, and the palyers know what they are doing when they hack someone going to the basket.

Fouls happen because....maybe a defender is a step slow on an attacker and his skill level doesnt match the skill level of his opponent. A foul is inevitable. That's what refjoe was talking about earlier. Look at the game that is presenting itself to you. Look at the quality of the players. Look at the line the defense is playing, look at how aggressive the keepers are. Are they charging out for any ball? Do some players challenge every possible ball? There are going to be fouls in every game. Learning how to recognize them is step one. Learning what causes them is like getting an advanced degree. It's about tone, coaches, players body language, chattering, watching who closes down and who doesn't, speed, ability, etc. It's not just a u16b's match...it's a skill laden team against a bunch of hackers, or it's two skill laden teams who can dribble. You're already probably recognizing these things and you don't know it. But refjoe, who I respect a lot, is trying to get us to realize we need to think abut what is transpiring out there, and know that some things are going to happen.

[DWickham]

Above u-littles, discerning why fouls are happening in this match (by whom, against whom, where and when) provide valuable information to the referee. They give clues where to be to see the small fouls that, left unresolved, become bigger problems. They happen for different reasons and in different contexts.

Many fouls are to gain an advantage:

-Some players/teams/style don't like physical contact and will cease to challenge for the ball; pass the ball back rather than turn; or pause to avoid contact - all to the advantage of the other team. A skillful coach or defender may adopt a more aggressive style of play when this is recognized.

- The players may be trying to send a message (to the opponent; the person who just fouled them; their coach)

- The largest category of fouls may be caused by the infringer's need to overcome superior speed, positioning, or skill. Esse Baharmast said that the reason he knew to look for the controversial PK in World Cup 98 (one not seen by all but one of the cameras that day) was that the same forward had already twice beaten the same defender. He knew the defender couldn't afford to be beaten again by the quicker forward.

Other fouls just happen: someone slipped; the ball deflected and didn't go where anticipated; the challenge was mistimed or misdirected, etc.

[nsa]

Usually, it is because the referee observes a player do something to an opponent ...The referee doesn't have to see it for it to be a foul, although the missed foul may lead to another foul. :)

...
Fouls also happen as a result of tactical play. Obviously we've all see this type of foul on the field. ...Remember Bruce Arena's quote saying that he wanted his team to commit the first foul of the game. That is pure tactics. He is wants to find out what this referee is calling on this day so that he knows what his players can get away with later.

[Hellobob57]

I'll give an example. Last weekend I was playing in a game, and we were beating the other team up 6-0. I was defending near our box, and an opponent had his back to me, receiving the ball. Without thinking twice, I charged into him from behind and absolutly leveled him out. Almost got a caution and was warned by the ref.
That was one of those fouls that if you were just watching, you would problebly wounder, "Why in the world would he do that". Now, I did it because
1) I wanted to let the other team know that even though we were killing them, we were not going to back down and not play physical.
2)An opportunity to foul like that doesn't come around much
3) It was fun:D

Just one example of a particular instance.

[Emmet Kipengwe]

Very manly of you, Bob.
"opponent had his back to me"

What goes around, comes around.

[whipple]

1) I wanted to let the other team know that even though we were killing them, we were not going to back down and not play physical.
2)An opportunity to foul like that doesn't come around much
3) It was fun:D

Just one example of a particular instance.

You answers suggest that you may have issues which go way beyond the game or the authority of the referee to deal with your misconduct. In my eperience, players with this type of attitude aren't around for long, and few people care what happens to them.

[campbed]

If a foul happens in the forest, and no referee calls it, will a player make a noise? :p

[Wahoos1]

I'll give an example. Last weekend I was playing in a game, and we were beating the other team up 6-0. I was defending near our box, and an opponent had his back to me, receiving the ball. Without thinking twice, I charged into him from behind and absolutly leveled him out. Almost got a caution and was warned by the ref.
That was one of those fouls that if you were just watching, you would problebly wounder, "Why in the world would he do that". Now, I did it because
1) I wanted to let the other team know that even though we were killing them, we were not going to back down and not play physical.
2)An opportunity to foul like that doesn't come around much
3) It was fun:D

Just one example of a particular instance.


Sounds like the kind of guy that slide tackles girls in pick up games.