I have always enjoyed playing soccer. I would try and round up a group of friends and have games going before I would practice for my other sports, and after I would still find some time to play a quick skirmish with a few teammates. I brought a soccer ball to school many times, and would stand in a circle with others and just practice juggling all my free time in high school.

My passion grew with each time I played, and all the games I would attend for my school team. Finally, I left home for a short period of time, and went to live in Mexico.

I was immediately immersed and awed by the how much the culture adored soccer. I quickly grew to love it even more, and dedicated all my extra time when I wasn’t working to playing what they called futbol in the streets.  The young children seemed to play better than I could! I became a fanatic at learning how to do all the tricks that they could do, and trying to play as well as them.

AVID Player 2011 Presented by Pele-Sports

Through time, I participated in a small adult league with other fellow coworkers. We were not nearly as good as some of the other teams, but we dedicated our energy and passion to help us be driven and have success. We found spare time to play quick games when there wasn’t work, and we would always stop to learn something new from all the barefooted children that ran around the streets in Mexico.

One weekend, we decided to give back to the small community that had given us so much of their soccer knowledge. Putting together all our time and talents, we organized, funded, and participated in a small cup that we made up for all the children around the town. We had quite a bi turn out, and were able to put together quite an event. We reffed the games, and watched all the young kids play hard, with the adults cheering them all on.

After, adults gave us all a jersey with the first letter of our titles, and our last names printed on the back. We graciously accepted, and everyone told us they were forever indebted for the games that we had shared. We knew that they had given so much to us, and we could only pay back a small amount of the energy and passion they had shown us for the game.

Always after, I participated in the neighborhood games, but there are no cheering crowds, no referees screaming fouls, or trophies for the winning team. There is only you, a small group of friends, a field, and a shared passion that drives you to do something together, and unites you out on the field of soccer. Always will we be driven by our passion to play our next greatest game, wherever we are.

So, the “Foot Fairies” have a proposal for all of those American Football players and fans that think Soccer is for wimps.  First, for the fans it is simple.  Start with two stopwatches.  One watch will time how long the ball is actually in play, while the other will measure the total time your favorite player spends on the field.  The ball is actually in play for about 40 minutes over three hours.  Still think that takes a tough, conditioned athlete?  How much time does your favorite player spend on the field, and what percentage of that time was the ball actually in play?

For the players, we suggest a few changes to the rules:

1. The game is now two 30 minute halves, no quarters.  Halftime will be 15 minutes less injury time.  We know you couldn’t play a full 90, so we will go easy on you.
2. No more helmet radios or huddles.  The players on the field have to actually make decisions and play the game.
3. No time-outs, no TV time-outs, no injury time-outs.  The 45 second clock starts from the whistle stoppage.  Any stoppage will be added in at the end of the half.
4. No replay, no challenges.  The referee calls the game.
5. Fouls are spotted at the point of the infraction.  The defense must line up at least 10 yards from the ball.  Offensive fouls result in a change of possession.
6. Flagrant personal fouls will result in a yellow card.  Two in a game will result in a red card, ejection and loss of a player.
7. Any time a player carries the ball out of bounds, it is a loss of possession.  The opposing team must throw the ball in from the sideline at that point.
8. Fouls inside the 10 yard line result in a penalty – One player from each team, ball starts on 12 yard line with the defender on the goal line.  All other players must be outside 20.  When the player picks up the ball, the game is live and everyone is free to play.
9. Each team is allowed to name 18 players to the roster for a given game, 11 starters and 3 substitutions.  That includes the kicker.  Once a player is substituted for any reason, he is out of the game.  No offense/defense swaps.
10. You can keep your pads and helmet.  We wouldn’t want you to get hurt.  Besides, even Petr Cech wears a head protection.

Any football teams willing to play by our adjusted rules, assuming they can still stand afterwards, are welcome to complain about soccer afterwards…

Disagree with us?  Think there are other rules that belong here?  Let us know.