Buckle yourselves in for another protracted soccer rant�

Tonight we had a particularly intense battle against the team that has become our rivals. We ended up losing 7-6, mainly because we played almost the entire game with NO subs (which, in indoor soccer, with its hockey-like subbing, is essentially playing short-handed) until another guy finally showed with about 8 minutes left.

Aside from the sting of a bitter loss, I have decided I have a philosophical objection to the way this team plays. Tonight wasn�t the first time we have played where things have gotten chippy. In fact, I can remember this happening Every time we�ve played them going back to January. We are consistently two of the top three or four teams in the �B� division (this arena has men�s A, B, and C) not just this season but going back the last few seasons, but I feel like they play too much of a physical style.

I�m risking exposing myself as a hypocrite here, because I have always played a hard-nosed, scrappy style of soccer. There is a fine line between �aggressive� and �physical,� and �physical� and �dirty,� and I have often tiptoed, played around, and crossed over those lines to a point where I feel like I have an intimate knowledge of them. However, I also feel like indoor soccer is a game that does, and should, emphasize a more skillful style. That is why I like playing indoors, and have embraced it so warmly as the bulk of my playing repertoire (aside from the fact the weather is always decent, and the Fieldturf playing surface always in good shape). The rules also have a strict no sliding/no leaving your feet to win or play the ball provision, which further decreases the physical play.

I�m not advocating the whole �play nice� philosophy. I think that�s bunk. You can play clean without playing �nice,� which is something I strive for. Of course, I am also a Hothead, and I am Known for my temper, and I will be the first to admit I am hardly an angel. Tonight, even, I fouled a guy intentionally at one point, because I wanted to stop play, but got him a bit too hard and earned myself a 2-minute penalty.

But, on the other hand, it has become More than obvious, to myself and my teammates, that this team we played is too physical. That is their style, and they execute it well. They try to get under your skin, and get you off your game.

And it is a strategy that works, by and large, at All levels of the game. Not just in soccer, either, but it has always been a widely supported, and even admired, strategy in hockey and basketball. In football, too, defensive players are often lauded for being �dirty,� because in many cases it is their job.

But this is essentially recreational soccer. Sure, it�s a relatively high level of recreational, but we aren�t professionals, or even semi-pros or college players, we�re a bunch of guys who have to be at work tomorrow (speaking generally here), have kids, various responsibilities, and play because we Like to. And given all that, I just don�t think it is appropriate for a team to come out and play like they do. I think it goes against the spirit of the competition.

And granted, this is purely a philosophical objection, and I stand on the thin ice of potential hypocrisy with my statements. But there are tangible examples of what I am talking about, and they really only apply to a couple of players on that team. Most notably is their willingness to �charge� opposing players. Again, this is something that isn�t necessarily illegal, in the strictest sense, but is an example of what I believe is an �overly-physical� mentality. While running after a loose ball, they will make no attempt to pull up or otherwise avoid an impending collision with an opposing player if either they or the opponent has played the ball. This has happened numerous times, often a few times each game, and I am always left with the distinct impression that they have �followed through� in an attempt to embellish the collision as much as possible, often lowering a shoulder.

In the strictest interpretation, they can easily defend themselves as �playing the ball� and be perfectly right, but at the same time, I have an objection to their willingness to seemingly try to inflict injury on their opponents.

Of course, this is just one example. I have often been left with the impression that some of their players are a little �out of control,� which I think is inappropriate for this level of play. This is to say they tend to flail arms, elbows, and generally make up for lack of ball skill by �throwing their weight around.�

I couldn�t help but notice something else that happened tonight. The first half was well played, and most of the second as well. It wasn�t until late, the last 7 or so minutes, when fatigue had become a real factor, that things turned too physical and got ugly fast. This is perfectly logical, seeing as how a tired player is far more likely to rely on physicality over skill.

As a whole, my complaint isn�t about the refereeing, or any specific calls that were or were not made. Instead, as I�ve said, I have objections, on a largely philosophical level, to the spirit in which this team plays. And to be honest, I�m not sure what there is to Do about it.