I did something like this a year ago when I challenged the football knowledge of another 442 member who used to behave like he knew all there was to know about all aspects of the game, but admittedly it didn't go down very well in the end.

I'm not opening this thread trying to be a smart-ass or a know-all, but it doesn't hurt to test our football knowledge every now and then, does it?

I won't pose a question unless I know the answer and also unless the answer is generally accepted as being the correct one.

If you have a question like that of your own, you can pose it too. It could be about individual football skills, about laws of the game, about tactics, strategy, fitness, coaching techniques, about anything at all to do with football that perhaps other members might be interested to hear, or learn, or answer, or whatever.

Ok. Here we go. Ten questions for anyone who wants to have a go:

1) In football the term "hole" is used to describe space created in midfield under particular circumstances for the team in possession of the ball. Describe what constitutes a "hole". What does the term mean in football?

2) During the course of a game, possession of the ball changes constantly between teams because of actions like tackles, mistakes etc. More than 70% of the time a team will regain possession of the ball through what means?

3) In fitness, when we judge a player's fitness, we measure how quickly he does what?

4) When we use the term "the first defender" in football and in particular when we're explaining the principles of the game to young players, who do we refer to as being "the first defender?"

5) An attacker is professionally fouled inside the opposition penalty area by the last defender who is the opposing goalkeeper. The attacker falls to the ground and loses control of the ball. But before the referee can blow the whistle, the goalkeeper accidentally knocks the ball into his own net. Apart from awarding the goal what other action must the referee take here and why?

6) A goalkeeper is practicing catching high balls from crosses during the warm-up before a game. Which particular goalkeeping skill is he mainly practicing here?

7) There are mainly 2 types of headers in football. Name them and describe their execution.

8) Whenever you kick a ball, pass a ball or perform a tackle using a particular foot, how should the ankle of that foot be?

9) A striker has just dribbled past an opposing defender and now the road is clear all the way to the opposing goal. What is the next thing he should do?

10) The "one-two" or "wall-pass" was primarily designed and is used for to penetrate a particular defensive formation? Which is it?

See you later. :-k









Edited by ton.of.bricks: 28/7/2009 04:43:09 PM

I like the idea of your quiz, but to suggest that I was arrogant when it was you that thought that nothing associated with NSL could ever be allowed into the game because ethnic sokkah would kill the game. Your quiz could never prove your conspiracy theory.

Its a good quiz btw, I might do it later. I.e, when I wake up.

Hi Nico. Glad to hear from you.

I couldn't have said "anything associated with the NSL would kill the game" because that would mean I had a problem with clubs like Perth Glory, Adelaide United etc, NSL players, NSL officials, traditional supporters and so many other things the NSL had to offer the A-League.

But sure, I do have a problem with single-ethnic-base clubs playing a part in the national league. Not because I hate people of ethnic backgrounds (I'm an ethnic myself) and not because I'm disrespectful to the past, but because in the present day and age I'm convinced and I totally share the conviction of the FFA and Frank Lowy the only way forward for the national club competition is to stay with the concept of giving licences to franchises that have a broad business and community support behind them.

It's an emotive issue and let's not go there again. Good to hear from you anyway.



Edited by ton.of.bricks: 28/7/2009 04:12:17 PM

Short answers because I'm in a rush...

1 - deep forward linking lone striker and midfield (think Paul Scholes at Man Utd when they play 4-5-1)
2 - passing and moving
3 - recovery rate
4 - defending player closest to player in possession - ideally his job is to hold the forward up whilst his teammates take up better positions.
5 - goal
6 - handling
7 - attacking (get on top and head it down), defending (head upwards for distance)
8 - firm/locked (failure to do this can lead to serious tendon trouble - see my medical records for proof)
9 - look up
10 - flat back four / offside trap

I'll predict 6 or 7 out of 10.

You got 3, 4, 7, 8, and 10 right. In 6 you are partly right of course but that's not what I was after. There's a much harder skill for goalkeepers to master when coming off their line to negotiate a high ball, than just handling. Can you think of it?

I have also rephrased question 5. You were right about the goal. What else does the referee do in this situation and why?



Edited by ton.of.bricks: 28/7/2009 04:47:36 PM

5 - technically the referee should send the keeper off for committing the foul - but it's very rare that a ref would have the nuts to give the goal AND send the keeper off.
6 - judgement is important.

Curious about your answers for 1, 2 and 9.

Ain't it nice to have a nice chat about football for a change?

2. I would say misguided passes.

5. Is a red card as well as the goal.

6. Is judgment, ball handling, jumping and communication.

1) In football the term "hole" is used to describe space created in midfield under particular circumstances for the team in possession of the ball. Describe what constitutes a "hole". What does the term mean in football?

When the play is all in one area, usually out wide, and a large space has been vacated in an area of the pitch. Ie. most player have flooded to the scene of a throw in and no one is holding the middle or the hole.

2) During the course of a game, possession of the ball changes constantly between teams because of actions like tackles, mistakes etc. More than 70% of the time a team will regain possession of the ball through what means?

Intercepted pass.

3) In fitness, when we judge a player's fitness, we measure how quickly he does what?

Recovers.

4) When we use the term "the first defender" in football and in particular when we're explaining the principles of the game to young players, who do we refer to as being "the first defender?"

The defender charged with the responsibility of taking care of the attacker. The first defender in. The first defender on the scene. The attackers direct opponent.

5) An attacker is professionally fouled inside the opposition penalty area by the last defender who is the opposing goalkeeper. The attacker falls to the ground and loses control of the ball. But before the referee can blow the whistle, the goalkeeper accidentally knocks the ball into his own net. Apart from awarding the goal what other action must the referee take here and why?

Caution the goalkeeper for professional foul. No send off as the attacking team were not robbed of a goal-scoring chance, the ball is in the back off the net afterall!

6) A goalkeeper is practicing catching high balls from crosses during the warm-up before a game. Which particular goalkeeping skill is he mainly practicing here?

Positioning.

7) There are mainly 2 types of headers in football. Name them and describe their execution.

Defensive header - large headed clearance, generally up in the air so the attacker takes longer to bring it down if he gets it.
(Boom) Head shot - headed down, aimed at goal

Or you could be asking about flick-ons, headers back to the keeper etc.

8) Whenever you kick a ball, pass a ball or perform a tackle using a particular foot, how should the ankle of that foot be?

Locked.
Depends. To get swerve like Juninho, Ronaldo its sometimes better to not lock the ankle.

9) A striker has just dribbled past an opposing defender and now the road is clear all the way to the opposing goal. What is the next thing he should do?

Cut-in! Head up. Draw the keeper, round the keeper, slot it home. Adebayor!!!!

10) The "one-two" or "wall-pass" was primarily designed and is used for to penetrate a particular defensive formation? Which is it?

Flat back 4?


Edited by mk0825: 28/7/2009 06:00:45 PM

It doesnt matter though. The keeper still denied the attacking team an obvious goal scoring opportunity by commiting the proffesional foul which is still a red card regardless of whether the goal is scored or not.

Very true, very true!



Question 5 is interesting and even referees can get it wrong.

There's a clar-cut rule dealing with the last defender committing a professional foul in a scoring situation.

a) If a striker is denied a scoring opportunity after being fouled in the box by the last defender, the last defender is shown a red card and a penalty is awarded.

b) If a striker is fouled in the box by the last defender but the ball ends in the net, the goal is awarded and the last defender is shown a yellow card. His offence this time is treated like a normal professional foul that carries the punishment of a yellow card because a goal was actually scored despite the foul so the striker is not judged to have been denied a scoring opportunity.

In 6, a very difficult skill to master for goalkeepers is to judge where to position themeselves in relation to a coming high ball so they can jump and catch it at the highest possible point of its trajectory that they can.

Every time a goalkeeper is beaten to the ball in the air by an opponent's head, it's not an accident but bad goalkeeping because he din't pick the right spot from which to jump for the ball so he can meet it fully stretched at the highest point possible. Very difficult skill to master.

In 9, the next thing a striker should do, and 80% of them forget to do it, is to step across with the ball and behind the defender so he can cut off the defender's ground of recovery.

As the striker dribbles past the lone defender, then he steps across and behind the defender, now the only way for the defender to stop him will be to foul him and many penalties and send-offs are won by good strikers this way.

In 2, the means by which a team regains possession of the ball more often than anything else is through interception.

Applying correctly the 3rd principle in defence (which is BALANCE) and being always ready to win back possession through interception, makes a team look so much faster to the ball as it wins most of the 50-50 ball situations.

For 1 I have to come back.

Didn't even notice there were others here. Sorry. I was so preoccupied with these friggin answers:lol:

I'm just going quickly through your answers and you seem to be spot on in almost all of them =d> The first one is the hardest and I don't think anyone will get it. I'll come back for that one.

TOB, if you want to put down your answers for people to discuss and compare, you can use 'spoiler' tags. These just put a mask on the text so that they can only be seen when highlighted with your cursor.

If you want to do this to avoid repeating yourself, just put [*spoiler] and [/*spoiler] either side of a body of text (like with quoting). Just don't include the astersik. If you're unsure, just click quote above this post and see.

Example:
Question?
[spoiler]Answer.[/spoiler]

Edited by martyB: 28/7/2009 06:29:06 PM

The special last defender rule that makes a professional foul a straight red card offence only applies if a goal is not scored.

A lot of people argue that it's not fair, because if a goal is not scored, the last defender gets send-off and the other team wins a penalty, so it seems like a double punishment to lose a player and also concede a goal through a penalty. But that's the rule.

I'm reading and learning martyB

Answer to question 1.

The space behind and between two opposing players is called the "hole."

Imagine a midfielder in possession of the ball around the halfway line with 2 opponents about 10 yards apart and ahead of him.

The space behind those 2 opponents is a "hole" and if this space is free and a ball can be played there for a teammate to receive, then the entire defensive structure of the oppostition is under threat as players panic and are pulled away from good defensive positions.

Good and mobile midfielders like Frank Lampard always look for ways to receive or play the ball into "holes" which are continually appearing and disappearing as the players constantly change position and direction around the middle 3rd of the field.

See you next time o:)

I should add at this point that I read "retain the ball" rather than "regain the ball" for question 2.

According to the FIFA rule book I have from my reffing days it is still a send off.

Im pretty good. Whats the bet afro comes in and changes up the words to the correct answers and gets 10/10?

He doesn't resort to tactics like that does he?:d

By the way - there's an olive branch. If you want to settle differences. Agree that we disagree on the past but agree on the future, etc.

That one about the professional foul is a very interesting one. I think a goal after a pro foul and a yellow card is fair enough, but TBH I don't think I've seen that.

After a professional foul and goal, I think I have only ever seen two of the three outcomes.

*The ref gives the goal and lets the foul slide OR

*It was a few years ago and I think it was a player from Fulham who attempted to block a goalbound header with his hands, but he only succeeded in pushing it in. The goal was given and so was a red card.

Edited by MidfieldMaestro: 29/7/2009 01:35:45 PM

OK, so attempting the answers without repeating what mk's said so he doesn't accuse me of being an 'echo' ](*,)
I just read mk's quote as I was writing in the quick reply. Here's an idea mk, GO FUCK YOURSELF. I haven't seen your post.


Edited by afromanGT: 30/7/2009 03:19:31 AM

Here are my answers:

1) In football the term "hole" is used to describe space created in midfield under particular circumstances for the team in possession of the ball. Describe what constitutes a "hole". What does the term mean in football?
If a player in possession of the ball in midfield has 2 opponents ahead of him, the free space behind and between those opponents is called the "hole".

2) During the course of a game, possession of the ball changes constantly between teams because of actions like tackles, mistakes etc. More than 70% of the time a team will regain possession of the ball through what means?
Through interception of the ball.

3) In fitness, when we judge a player's fitness, we measure how quickly he does what?
We measure how quickly he recovers after running at full pelt.

4) When we use the term "the first defender" in football and in particular when we're explaining the principles of the game to young players, who do we refer to as being "the first defender?"
The first defender is the player closest to the ball when his team loses possession. (His job, even though it wasn't part of the question, is to delay the opposition moving the ball forward so his teammates can re-organise)

5) An attacker is professionally fouled inside the opposition penalty area by the last defender who is the opposing goalkeeper. The attacker falls to the ground and loses control of the ball. But before the referee can blow the whistle, the goalkeeper accidentally knocks the ball into his own net. Apart from awarding the goal what other action must the referee take here and why?
Show the goalkeeper a yellow card for professional foul. He doesn't send him off because he did not deny the opponent a scoring opportunity since a goal was scored.

6) A goalkeeper is practicing catching high balls from crosses during the warm-up before a game. Which particular goalkeeping skill is he mainly practicing here?
He's practicing mainly moving to the right position from which he can jump as high as he can and catch the ball at the highest point possible with arms and hands fully extended.

7) There are mainly 2 types of headers in football. Name them and describe their execution.
There are 2 headers, the attacking and the defensive. In both cases the neck muscles are locked, eyes are open and mouth is shut. The power comes from arching the back and then heading ball with a big forward follow-through. In the attacking header the player tries to get over the top of the ball and head it down towards the ground. In the defensive header the player heads the ball as high and as long as he can (heading the ball back in the direction it came from helps gain maximum distance).

8) Whenever you kick a ball, pass a ball or perform a tackle using a particular foot, how should the ankle of that foot be?
The ankle joint is locked.

9) A striker has just dribbled past an opposing defender and now the road is clear all the way to the opposing goal. What is the next thing he should do?
He should step behind the defender as he runs towards the goal, so he can cut off the defender's ground of recovery.

10) The "one-two" or "wall-pass" was primarily designed and is used for to penetrate a particular defensive formation? Which is it?
The wall-pass is used to get behind a square defence.


Maybe we can do some more in the future. FFT has very knowledgeable members for sure.:lol:

Let's move on. As a first step, let's just try to show a little more respect towards each other and see how we go. I never enjoy making enemies. There's a big fundamental difference between our beliefs about what's right and what's not for the future of australian football, but we can always agree to disagree in a more civilised and less provocative manner, right? Let's see how we go in the future.

I assume 'recovery' means their pulse returns to their resting heart rate?

The way I understand it, in this sense "recovery" means a player has recovered enough to be able to repeat that run at full speed.

Just saw that you said 'judge' not 'measure'. What you said makes more sense then.

To measure the recovery rate of an athlete, one must take his pulse immediately after a consistent period of exercise (the beep test or 5 minutes of steps for example), then allow him to sit for 5 minutes and take his pulse again.

The difference between the two measurements is then entered into a calculation along with the athlete's height and weight to gain his rating/score.

Unfortunately, I've no idea what the actual formula is.

I can tell you that mine was 43.8 when I was 21 - I was 182cm and 72kg at the time if that helps anyone to calculate anything! The other guys tested at the same time as me scored in the high 30s. 45 was the mandatory pass mark to gain entry to the fire brigade (and that's why I'm not a fireman!)

I've never gone much into the science of it.

I learned in a senior fitness course the importance of teaching the body how to use oxygen for energy efficiently by using interval training and I applied those basic principles in a simple and practical sense and it always worked.

The idea was to start early in the season with a ratio of 1 to 3 of interval training and slowly progress to 1 to 2, if possible.

I know that you know, but I'll mention it anyway. The ratio 1 to 3 means, 1 part of hard work at maximum effort and 3 equal parts of rest.

A simple example to show how this could work in an exercise with the ball for young players is a 3v1 passing game in a 10x10 yard square. The 3 players spread out and pass the ball to each other and the single player is in the middle of the grid and tries to intercept the ball. The defender here must work at full pace and run in all directions as hard as he can chasing the ball for a set period, let's say 30 seconds. Then he changes places with another player and so on until everyone has had a go at being the hard working chaser in the middle. In this way every player had one part of hard work in the middle chasing the ball and 3 parts of rest or very easy work on the ourtside passing the ball. In 10 minutes of doing this exercise the players have had plenty of interval training for fitness and practiced their passing skills as well.

What I'm trying to say is, you don't have to do just sprints at the end of a session for interval training reasons. You can make interval fitness training part of a normal practice game with the ball.

The reason I try to explain this at length (and I might be boring you) is that I still drive past training grounds during the week and see coaches running young players into the ground trying to get them fit. If they only knew the damage a prolonged and endless hard run without rest periods does to a young player's fitness, they wouldn't be doing it I suppose.

Edited by ton.of.bricks: 3/8/2009 12:24:24 PM