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Post by matello on Sept 12, 2022 9:31:47 GMT -6
Don Markham came over to Europe for a few years in the late 80's / early 90's. First saw the DW when his Finnish team (think it was the Helsinki Roosters but don't quote me on that) played the Italian champions in London. Italians spent more time running into each other than tackling the Finns. Even when they made the tackle at the LoS, they'd make 3 yards at least on contact. A couple of years after that, Don Markham turned up in Northampton which is a British backwater that has next to nothing going for it and took them two within 2 points of the National title. I was a player back then but this is what I took away from his teams coaching-wise... (1) Do a few things well rather than a load of things badly (2) Know who you are and don't try to be something you are not (3) get the ball into your athletes hands (and when you're RB is called Johnny Atlas, you kind of know that he's not going to be afraid of contact!).
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Post by matello on Apr 15, 2019 7:20:47 GMT -6
9 man football is pretty common in Europe and it's how we've played U19 game in the UK for the last few years (based in clubs rather than schools). We've found that pass pro can be tough with a true drop back passer as edge rusher is coming in hard from that much closer. That said, that is one of the few defensive advantages. We play on a full side field too and all your defensive players need to be good open field tacklers. Coverages tend to be C3, C1 and C0. Don't see a great deal of C2/4. When it comes to the kicking game, I would say that the main difference is you see teams using the pooch kick to minimise the chance of returns as there is a whole lot of open space to cover with two fewer players.
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Post by matello on Mar 5, 2016 11:14:19 GMT -6
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Post by matello on Mar 3, 2016 13:20:33 GMT -6
I'm based in the UK, have played lot of soccer and also coached at youth level. Even 10 years ago, was pretty aware that teaching the young kids to head the ball was fraught with problems. In games it couldn't be avoided (wasn't banned even at under 8s and don't think this has changed ) but used to teach them with a foam ball. I know that some pros from the 1950s have had similar problems such as memory issues & suspected CTE but that was back when the ball would suck up moisture and was like heading a rock. When I played in my teens (soccer in the winter, football in the summer in the UK) the balls were much lighter but still heavier than today but if you played a team that played "route1" and just played it long all the time you could find yourself heading the ball 20 or 30 times in a game. Some positions will go games without heading the ball but centre forwards and centre backs will always be involved in an ariel battle at some point.
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Post by matello on Jun 2, 2015 6:58:19 GMT -6
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Post by matello on Jun 2, 2015 6:53:50 GMT -6
Was having the very same conversation (rugby v football v soccer) in the pub last night. One friend (ex-rugby player, massive Wales fan) makes the claim that rugby is alone in camaraderie you get between opponents after the game. In the UK it is a very social game but still think there can be respect between opponents in football & soccer post-game (just maybe not involving sinking gallons of beer). Personally, always preferred football (American Football if you are in the UK) as in 15 man rugby I found all the rucking, mauling & scrums a lottery based on dark arts / dirty tricks / the whim of the officials. Never had that frustration in either football or soccer. Rugby 7's is totally different and seems to me to be a great game although only played a few times. As for the health aspect / concussion, rugby has more than its fair share of issues but is making great strides to reduce the risk and raise awareness. However, I think several prominent professionals have retired in their mid-20s due to persistent concussions (equally applies to Rugby League - the 13 man version that is mainly played in Northern England & Australia). Also, the collapsing scrum in rugby still occurs resulting in massive strains on the neck of the forward and even broken necks & people left paraplegic.
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Post by matello on Apr 2, 2015 15:30:55 GMT -6
It has really taken off in the UK over the last year. Nothing like the Lingerie League and in the space of around 18 months it has gone from nothing to a national flag league, followed by a national 5v5 contact league which concludes this Sunday. Later on this year it moves into 11-a-side and there is already a British National team.
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