I'm sure many of you would like to see a better box score in those local/national papers. Here is one of our (SoccerLoop.com) contributer's perspective on the subject. http://www.soccerloop.com/headliners.php#011403
Yeah--we'd all like to see an increase in space in the box scores in the sports section. I don't think that will happen anytime soon. But the idea in the article was similar to an idea I had a while ago and posted on the Fire board, where it promptly slid off the front page into oblivion. I was watching the British version of Antiques Roadshow one night, and they had an Arsenal (I think?) season match book from the turn of the century, with all of the stats filled in by hand by a fan for the entire season. The book looked like it was published, merely with blanks in it to be filled out by viewers of the games, similar to baseball. MLS should do this, and hand these books out to kids at the beginning of each season. Each book can have a page for every game played. It can include the basic info like teams, date, score, etc. But it can also have a relatively large space to fill in the starters and the formations, as well as times of goals, subs, etc. Fans can use this to keep track of an entire season, and it could be kind of fun... But MLS could also institute an incentive policy associated with each book--in that every page can have a space for a stamp, or something similar, that a kid can only get by attending that particular game. At the end of the season, the kid can turn in the book (and get it back, of course) for prizes. For example, for 1-5 stamps, he or she can get tickets for food for next season. If a kid fills in every game, then maybe he or she gets an autographed soccer ball, or jersey or something similar. Actually, on second thought, I suppose thay he or she could just paste in their ticket in an appropriate space on the page... Call me a dork, but I actually keep a soccer scrapbook (it helps to have a wife that is really really into scrapbooking, so we do it together (collective "Awwwe")). I think this year I will actually print up pages to put in my scrapbook for each game. It would be fun to go back and reminisce about the games that I've seen.
The Dispatch has a pretty comprehensive box score for Crew matches. They list the beat writer's man of the match, the goal scorers with assists, the line-ups (and substitutions) with each "section" - defense, midfield, etc. - separated by a semicolon and a caution summary. I think there is additional information, but this is all I can remember right now.
Somehow I always thought the scrapbooking soccer mom was more of a WUSA demo. Still, if it took off imagine the possibilities... how about an MLS Scrapbook hour on QVC?
Actually--the cost of printing "season books" could certainly be covered by some advertising they could print up in between pages. And I hope that if the league picked this up, it wouldn't be considered "scrapbooking"--that would never fly. They'd have to market it as a way to keep track of games that is very similar to keeping stats in baseball... One thing baseball has over this is that you can mark down every batter up. Well, in this case, lines can be provided where significant happenings on the field can be documented, such as: 84th min.--DMB receives a perfect ball from Mapp about 20 yards out on the right side, jukes Bo out of his shorts and runs in alone for a shot on goal; diving save by Hartman.
Etienne, Thats a great idea. Have you sent your idea to the MLS brass? If not you should truly consider it. Also if scrapbooking is your thing, more power to you! I think it is great that you and your wife work on it together.
how about stats for the 'D" I'd be very happy to be able to compare defenders performances by having every game stats box include: Defensive : BLOCKS - A field player makes a SAVE - player receives 2 points, equal to 'scorong' a goal Defensive: ASSISTS - A field player wins, or runs off the ball an opposing attacking player who would have scored had the 'assist' player not intervened. 1 point, equal to an offensive assist Defensive: CLEARANCES - a clearance off of one of the two previous situations 0 points, as this is not a completed pass to a teammate Defensive: COMPLETED PASS CLEARANCES - a defender who 'wins' the ball off of a threatening scorer, clears it by completeing a pass to a more forward teammate - 1 point equal to an attacking 'assist', as this kind of play automatically starts an attack DEFENSIVE 'TURNOVER" Additionally, there should be punishment for every 'out of bounds' clearance, like the opponent automatically gets the ball at the spot where the ball was kicked out of bounds. This will enable us to make factual performance comparisons of defensive players. Watch guys like Jim Curtin, Eddie Pope, Duade Kante, Bonsue and other strong defenders - they will look sensatinal if they were awarded the sale type of stats that playmakers like Ralston or forwards like Twellman reeceive. Are you with us MLS Marketing?
Re: how about stats for the 'D" Hey, they already added the secondary assist, so maybe they'll go for your defensive point scheme as well... I can't wait for the arguments about whether or not a defensive assist is even possible for stealing the ball from Chris Albright.
Stats for the 'D' Joe Beck As a New York area resident I've seen PETKE and JOLLEY play 'At-The-Swamp' at least 30 times, and I've seen them on TV at least another 30 - and as a fan I try to follow their 'development'. Petke had a couple of sensational years, and a couple of noticably marginal ones. I've also seen him make spectacular plays, noteworthy, v. Diallo and Graziani. Jolley, on the other hand is a very quiethard worker, who has improved every year and has played steadily better each year. I've seen him make some spectacular plays too. As a retired youth player and coach, I'm still a bit competitive,and would like to have a STATISTICAL comparisonbetween the two, both of whom I've always liked, give or take a t-shirt message or two, but to only have stats like games started or minutes played, and very occasional assists or goals doesn't really do it for me. I'd very much like a head to head PETKE/JOLLEY real performance comparison with respect to BLOCKS, SAVES, ASSISTS, and other RESOURCEFUL plays, that would keep me posted as to their skills and development on the actual team contribution they make, and as potential national team players. More importantly, I'd like to see the stats of POPE, and the new guys on D for the Nats, the U23's and the U20's, and how they stack up against EDDIE, and what their value is to MLS Use you influence with MLS for me on this if you can Thaks
SLJOHN You got me there. Had I given this more thought I'd have said everbody but Chris Albright, but not wanting to give the Galaxy any additional motivator when they come to play us at the swamp, I thought it'd be better if I didn't mention it.
Kwik Goal has such a book for recording soccer games. There is also a software program for Palms. www.gotsoccer.com has the software and the books.
Here's the problem: There has become less and less a need to "score your own" now that the internet has made information much more readily available. The idea of leisurely filling in a baseball scorecard at home (or at the park) while you're listening to or watching a a game has, I feel, gone the way of the dodo. I wonder how many oldtimers still do it, and I would be skeptical if kids have the attention span or feel the need to do it themselves since if they're really interested, they can call up all the stats on ESPN.com. I just don't think in our society today, that kids or anyone will take the time to go to or listen to all the games and meticulously fill in a book when they can find most of the information themselves online. Not that it's not an interesting idea, but I'd love to see stats on the sale of scorecards and pencils at baseball games over the years. I'd wager it's gone way down. I think MLS' new alliance with the Elias Sports Bureau will result in us having more and more meaningful stats that we can use to compare players.
MSNBC puts up good MLS box scores...for example, the 4/19 Columbus - New England game... http://www.scoreboard.msnbc.com/msnbc/main.asp?frames=0&sport=mls&cat=BS&gamenum=2003041909
Wow. That's an even better game summary than what MLS provides. For example, the details on each shot provides more of a sense on how the game played out. I noticed a little disclaimer at the end of the MLS game summaries that says, "All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial." That makes me wonder, if you can't get official game stats from the MLS game summary, then where can you get them??