How to make soccer more interesting

[Syzygys]

I grew up watching and playing soccer, but now I find it boring as fuck. But no worry, I have ideas that would make it more interesting. By the way, indoor soccer was always more fun, less players, more action.

Anyhow:

1. Make the field at least 40 meters less in length. Then the ball can get to the other's side and a possible goal situation much faster.
2. Put a board around the field, just like in hockey. Faster action, less dead time, more interesting plays (ball bouncing back from it).
3. Measure clean playtime. This is against players who just try to kill time by faking injuries and such...

Oh yes, I also have some ideas how to make tennis more interesting....

P.S.: I am watching (well, it is in the background) Sweden vs. Canada. The blond chicks already scored 2 goals in 15 minutes. I guess scoring more goals also works.

[FTLinmedium]

I was being sincere. Never mind then- clearly you aren't interested in creative solutions.

If you're going to change a classic game as you mentioned, you might as well have an open mind about more creative and technological innovations at the same time rather than just mixing and matching it with other modern sports.

[Syzygys]

[loads of not particulary funny suggestions]

I understand the need to trying to be funny. But I was actually expecting a serious conversation...

[Jeeves]

Why does a game need to be "interesting" to watch? Why not simply play it and enjoy it and get whatever physical and mental benefits it offers? Not every human activity needs to be about marketing to an audience of adrenalin-junkies.

[FTLinmedium]

Why does a game need to be "interesting" to watch? Why not simply play it and enjoy it and get whatever physical and mental benefits it offers? Not every human activity needs to be about marketing to an audience of adrenalin-junkies.

This was a good post; I agree. Soccer has the rules that it has for reasons. If you mess with it, then it's not really soccer anymore.

Although I don't agree with changing the game, I offered suggestions anyway and I just got insulted for offering creative suggestions the OP didn't like, so I think I'll take a pass on this topic.

[Syzygys]

You make a fallacy here, comparing 2 different things:

Why does a game need to be "interesting" to watch? Why not simply play it and enjoy it

See the problem? Probably not. Anyhow as with most activities, the players enjoy it usually. The audience not so much. So playing it is fun, although just to get the ball to the other side is a hassle, but watching it needs to be interesting.

And why any spectator sport needs to be interesting? Because no viewers, no money. No money, no sport...

Also, from the players' view, (specially children) if they get more action, they like the game more. Once I played baseball, the ball came my way maybe twice, I was bored out of my mind...

[Syzygys]

This was a good post; I agree.

No it wasn't. There is a huge difference participating or just watching something. I bet you don't want to listen to my bathroom singing...

Soccer has the rules that it has for reasons. If you mess with it, then it's not really soccer anymore.

That is a stupid argument for 2 reasons:

1. The rules have been changed over time, so we finally came up with the current system.
2. Nothing says that rules can not be changed for whatever reasons.

Actually, evolution in sports is not just needed but healthy...

Oh yes, going back to tennis, I would do away with the double serve (so there would be less aces and more plays) and of course the counting system is atrocious...

[Jeeves]

You make a fallacy here, comparing 2 different things:

See the problem? Probably not..... And why any spectator sport needs to be interesting? Because no viewers, no money. No money, no sport...

I feel the fallacy was not mine. There is no scientifically proven cause-effect link between sport and money. Designating some activity as "spectator" is arbitrary: no contest started out as entertainment for sedentary bystanders, with the possible exception of gladiators. Personally, I find all sports and most games boring to watch. My solution: not watching.

But, okay, you want an audience; i have a suggestion for that, too.
In my first childhood, we played soccer whenever we felt like it, free of financial consideration, adult supervision, arenas and uniforms, with a bare minimum of rules. Whoever had a ball took it to the park and kicked it around. Within minutes, a group of kids, ranging in age from 5 to 11, materialized. The ball-owner and the pushiest other kid would choose up sides, drop four piles of clothing on the ground for goal-posts and the game was on - lasting until the littlest heard his mother call supper and started whining .
Adolescents had similar pick-up games, and on Sunday afternoon, so did the grown men.

It was unscripted, messy and unpredictable: sweet reality-tv fodder.
Send a roving camera crew and a guy - or gal - with a soccer ball out to the park and film what develops. Hold auditions. Change sides, referees, goalies and captains intermittently. Tape ‘candid’ remarks, gossip, accusations and vulgar asides. Let the audience vote a player off every game.