GO Indoor

p o nt i One-Point System more understandable. Not that I think all changes are bad. In a coed game, for example, a goal scored by a female player is worth two points in our leagues. This encourages more women's play. A goal made by a male player is worth one point. There is a limit on the number of goals scored by a male player to prevent him from controlling the game. and the men as a group may score six. The teams complained about the rule when we first changed it, but they now realize they're playing a totally different game that involves men and women. We believe our current system works. The players understand the rules and the penalties, which makes the game run smoothly for them and for the officials. it. We don't need to add anything. The three-point system would complicate a game that is already challenging to referees. The simpler the game, the fewer mistakes possible for a referee to make, which puts he multiple-point system, including the onus back on the players to penetrate a three-point arch, is not part of the defense, thereby creating high quality indoor soccer. The game is perfectoffensive opportunities. I don't think the ly fine the way it is. A player does not score three-point system is necessary because it three points when he shoots would add confusion to the from a further distance in the game. I'm a traditionalist. Just as in outdoor soccer, a goal is worth I realize that the same might outdoor game and he shouldn't in indoor, either. I'm a tradi- what a goal is worth. Particularly at the amateur level, a three- not be true for every sport. For tionalist. In football, if you point shot would unnecessarily complicate the game for players, example, the introduction of the throw a pass 80 yards for a 3-point shot and the shot clock touchdown, you do not score for referees, and for spectators. in basketball changed it dramatmore points than if you throw it ically and has succeeded in makfor two yards. Just as if you run 100 yards The North Texas Soccer Association area I think the three-point scoring system, ing it much more exciting and competitive. on a kick-off, you do not score more points had a "hot rule," which stated that a female with the 45 foot arch is an issue because the Neither would work for indoor soccer, howthan if you run one yard. A goal is worth player had to touch the ball before a male professional indoor game is not as exciting ever. We could add a shot clock to soccer so what a goal is worth. player could score. Rather than encourage as the advocates for the multiple-point sys- that once a player crossed the red line she We can change the game to make it dif- more women's play, however, the hot rule tem would like it to be and they're looking had a certain number of seconds to shoot, ferent, but not necessarily to make it better. made them targets, as the men would for something to stimulate the fans' inter- which would make the game more exciting, When American Indoor broke away from attempt to deflect their shots off of them. ests. but would also make it more complicated. North Texas State Soccer Association, we We changed the rule to allow men and I don't think the idea for a three-point It would not make it more competitive. We changed some of the rules in coed and men's women to simply play the game. Now one system came from the amateur game. The don't need to add a shot clock just as we play to simplify them and to make them male player may score three goals in a game, amateur game isn't broken, so why try to fix don't need to add a multiple-point system. Ralph Shirley, President, American Indoor, Carrollton, TX T Got an opinion? E-mail USIndoor at info@usindoor.com. 10 • Dec.-Jan. 2002 • G O A L Ind o o r

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