As we know, institute of MLS cannot change rules without FIFA approval. It was quite a hot topic about water breaks, so it caused some logical changes of rules for MLS. As soon as the cause of a new rule is protecting players’ health and works for the game, make changes with no hesitations. As for consequences – you will worry about that a bit later.
It is obligatory for rules adjusting to have priority for players’ protection, especially when we say about injuries of head or concussions. All we mean is that the best way for dealing with crisis of soccer concussion is MLS.
Now we clearly see that renewed FIFA is more transparent governing body for soccer. MLS is a champion in getting correct calls on immediate replays, and it has definite relations with FIFA – no other leagues have that.
What is the worst aesthetic performance for viewers? It’s a punt of a goalkeeper when the soccer ball is dropping either with hands or without a fast bounce. It is really scathing to watch. It damages the game flow, and looks out of order in comparison with the remaining part of the game. Soccer is considered to be the most beautiful game in the world, but such non-artistic character and sheer force do not comply with other skills that beautify this game. Punting gives even more to the players than just head concussion, but considerably, though subconsciously, changes all the strategy of the game.
Such punts have place when the goalkeeper takes ball with hands after an opponent player was in contact with the ball, when he was pushing it to the goal that is defended by shot-stopper. Anyway, the goalkeeper has a chance to punt the soccer ball and try to give their team an advantage. After taking the ball, a goalkeeper runs to the penalty box line edge, if they want. As a rule, in such case they wave their team mates, then drop the ball and punt it with much strength in the leg.
The only players who are allowed by rules to take the ball with hands are goalkeepers. And this has always been a characteristic feature of soccer. Only the keepers are to use their hands, but not players. And that should be kept this way, shouldn’t it? After gathering the ball, goalkeepers are forced not to punt, but throw the ball.
Interesting fact: as well as the rule of water break, the rule which takes away punting option from keepers will help the game to become more practical, and give possibility to make more scores. So, the change of this rule will reward the more skilled team.
