Alright, let me tell ya ’bout this arm thing in soccer, the 90-degree rule or whatever they call it. It’s kinda confusing, but I’ll try to make sense of it like I understand it.
So, in soccer, you ain’t supposed to be usin’ your hands, right? That’s the main thing. But sometimes, the ball hits your arm, and then it gets tricky. They say your arm gotta be in a “natural” position. Now, what in the tarnation is a “natural” position, you ask? Well, it’s like when you’re walkin’ or runnin’, your arms kinda swing by your side, see?
What’s this 90-degree stuff all about? Well, if your arm is stuck straight out, like makin’ a corner of a box, that’s 90 degrees, right? If the ball hits your arm like that, it’s usually a foul. They figure you’re makin’ yourself bigger, blockin’ the ball on purpose.
- Arms up high? Big no-no. If you’re jumpin’ or somethin’ and your arm is way up over your head, and the ball hits it, that’s almost always a foul. They say you’re makin’ your body bigger, like a scarecrow or somethin’.
- Arms by your side? Usually okay. If your arm is tucked in, close to your body, and the ball hits it, sometimes they let it go. It’s like, “Well, it just hit him, he couldn’t help it.”
- Arms stickin’ out? That’s where it gets tricky. If your arm is stickin’ out to the side, not quite 90 degrees, but not tucked in neither, then it’s up to the referee. He’s gotta decide if you meant to do it or not. Sometimes they call it, sometimes they don’t. It’s a real head-scratcher, I tell ya.
Now, they changed the rules a bit lately, makin’ it even more confusin’. They talk about “deliberately” touchin’ the ball with your arm. Well, how’s the referee gonna know if you did it on purpose or not? He ain’t a mind reader, is he? But I guess they look at how your arm was movin’, if you were tryin’ to get outta the way of the ball or if you were movin’ your arm towards it.
And what about fallin’? If you’re fallin’ and you put your arm out to catch yourself, and the ball hits your arm, sometimes they call it, sometimes they don’t. It depends on how you fell, if your arm was already out before you fell, or if you stuck it out just to block the ball. It’s a whole lotta judgement calls, if you ask me.
I seen some games where they call a foul for the littlest thing, and other games where they let ’em get away with murder, practically. It ain’t consistent, that’s for sure. And don’t even get me started on when they’re runnin’ with the ball, tryin’ to get past the other fellas. If they stick their arm out and push someone, that’s a foul for sure. They gotta keep their arms tucked in, or at least not be usin’ them to shove other people around.
So, what’s a player to do? Well, I reckon the best thing is to keep your arms tucked in as much as you can. Don’t be flailin’ ’em around like a windmill. And if the ball’s comin’ at ya, try to get outta the way, don’t be tryin’ to block it with your arm. That’s what they tell ya, anyway.
It’s a tough rule, this arm thing. Even the referees don’t always get it right. But that’s soccer for ya, full of rules and judgements and folks yellin’ at each other. It’s a crazy game, but we love it, don’t we? Even if we don’t always understand what’s goin’ on.
Anyways, that’s the gist of it. Keep your arms down, don’t go makin’ yourself big like a barn door, and hope the referee ain’t havin’ a bad day. That’s the best you can do, I reckon. And if you do get called for a foul, well, just shrug it off and keep playin’. Ain’t nothin’ else you can do.
Remember, it ain’t just about where your arm is, but also how you’re movin’ it. If you’re swingin’ your arms around like you’re tryin’ to swat flies, you’re askin’ for trouble. Keep it natural, keep it close, and you’ll be alright… most of the time, anyway.
Tags: [Soccer Rules, Handball, 90 Degree Rule, Arm Position, Fouls, Referee Decisions, Soccer Regulations, Game Officiating, FIFA Rules, Player Conduct]
