Soccer and the Mechanics of Sport on T.V.

[MrSalzr10]

What is the song at the very end of this video?

[kooltomax]

These are some good points, but there are some other issues you will still have with soccer in the US. For instance, we don't like games that end in ties (especially 0-0 ties). The networks keeps hyping up the EPL and ignoring the soccer league we have here, MLS. Soccer players has the stigma of being pussies with the flopping while the fans are rioting and attacking players. Oh, and the whiny Brits who won't stop bitching about us calling it soccer. Face it, we already have our own football.

[JLyons043]

The main reason for me.. I have absolutely NO understanding of the rules and I'm hardy exposed to the game.

[GodsItalianStallion]

I also did an exhausted analysis of why soccer hasn't caught on in America and I came to the conclusion that it's because soccer SUCKS.

[salfred28]

Nice video but he can't be more incorrect. All we need in the US is to get the English broadcast. One of the reasons (not necessarily the primary reason) it's not more popular in America is because of the over-analysis. The way the English call the game is not unlike listening to baseball on the radio in which there are a fair amount of silence and the commentary is mostly adding some color.

[althompsonphoto]

Yahoo sent me here :). I always thought one of the reasons why Soccer isn't huge here in the US is simple. We don't have radio broadcasts/analysis of the game, or at least not in most states. I turn ESPN on and all day they talk about Football, basketball and baseball. I really think it's a political thing more than anything else. And you know everything in the US is POLITICAL.

[assistantsupervisor]

because soccer is HUGE with youth groups, so its not that people aren't exposed to it or not knowledgeable on the game

[assistantsupervisor]

I am going to have to disagree. The reason is that soccer doesn't have much room for advertising. The game is played in 45 min halves with no commercial breaks. Big companies don't wan't that. Its all about the money, and since there are no tv timeouts...how can they make money...

[tre9234]

Great commentary! However, I would like to add one more observation to really hammer this home. In addition to the terrible broadcasting and commentary given to soccer in this country, the real problem is that the US is not producing the best talent or the best league in the world. The US population is used to dominating in sports, and to follow an inferior product loses peoples attention to really learn the sport. The slow rise in the level of MLS development will change this eventually.

[pablitoischillin]

Great video! I do want to say that you forgot to mentioned one thing. Commercials! I hope you know where I'm going with this. Maybe it was mentioned in the thread but Futbol games are 45 minutes per half. TV stations need to get paid. No commercials no money. I DVR most of the stuff that I watch on tv cause I hate commercials. Once the US gets over the need of commercials (which is never going to happen) Futbol will be more appreciated as the great sport that it is.

[GeorgeAndrewGoodrich]

Interesting idea, could work in the US. In England at least we know what's happening, how it was done. We see the off the ball stuff we don't need to be told.

[drmnys]

Just play the football for yourselves. Theres a difference when you play as a toddler and when you play as a older kid or teenager or beyond. You truly begin to appreciate the mechanics and dynamics of the game and will surely understand whats going on TV when viewing a game, without having anyone explain it to you. Only then will you appreciate the beautiful game.

[drmnys]

Who the hell wants the announcer to give a detailed lecture on every little move and play. But I guess thats what Americans like....I just cant stand the constant mindless chatter of American sports announcers when they call their games. Perhaps its just because Americans are arrogant and xenophobic in general and their mindset will prevent them from embracing a sport that they did not create and perceive as foreign.

[drmnys]

Even the American media does not get behind football because it is not conducive to money making as they cannot play ads every 2 minutes. The only coverage football gets is more about the famous players rather than the sport itself which is disrespectful. More American youth need to take soccer seriously and not just play as a pre-occupation for little kids. When you play the game as u get older the more you understand how it works.

[drmnys]

I strongly disagree with this guy, though I applaud his interesting POV. Football (soccer) is too fast & furious with no stops to be bogged down constant analytical drivel by the announcers. It would be impossible to do so live at least. The problem is that Americans like spectacle. Their sports are less sport and more entertainment (for God-sake they need naked women dancing to motivate and them on). Football is not like that.

[Makemyday242]

This video should be named "how to change soccer into an American way of watching tv".you talk about how commentators should talk so that Americans would love it.What about how commentators should talk so that the rest of the world loves it?Soccer is NOT an American only sport.it's an international sport.People internationally don't want 3h games,endless talking,pauses every 10 min,15 min of action and over 30 commercialsand .They want their game fast and beautiful!

[SoLazy100]

great video but little bit of "over analysis" on the French goal imo. :) the early passes maybe had an influence on the game control, but the goal could have happend anyway. I think it was more the mistake of the Americans all moving forward and losing two times in one on one. Anyway, nice stuff!^^

[LionheartMachinima]

Good vid, mate. Honestly good.

Just... I hope when you were talking about analysis, you just meant american broadcasts, cos we get enough (and I mean enough) analisis from mexican narrators. It's not just the long "gool" scream.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@LionheartMachinima I agree that Latin American broadcasts do include a bit more analysis, but not the same way that it is given for the American broadcasts of baseball, football and basketball. It is not nearly as detailed, which still makes it more difficult for people to learn about the sport just by watching on TV. Thanks for the good insight and participating in the conversation!

[LionheartMachinima]

@DreamSoccerJob sure, that I'll agree with. Caught an airing of Sport Science (or I dunno what its called) about american football tackles. It went into great detail. Things like that culd really help, especially since football itself isn't a sport that lends itself to too many replays.

But yeah, best of luck to this idea. Here's hoping it flourishes, I really like it.

[sc0rpoon]

@DreamSoccerJob i wasn't even gonna post a comment here until i saw you were showing the French Natonal FootbaII team. i saw that game between France and the usa. in that game US sucker team were diving so much it was sad no wonder americans hate footbaII ahahaha

[RogrM6]

@LionheartMachinima I also agree, that's why I usually watch Latin broadcasts when I can.

[HameyHam]

I agree but I feel like fox soccer is falling on proving that in every league other than the EPL, and still don't understand why the Spanish league is hardly ever on TV

[wade2bosh]

theres plenty of highlight reel stuff for the attention deficity types. im a machida fan. he brings the technique, dominance, character, and highlights.

[cirerit]

The last thing I want is for soccer to become more like other American broadcasts, bloated with yellow telestrator lines and trivial stats ("That's Onyewu's 16th tackle of the night...").

The reason TV does this for other sports is that it has to; there are breaks in the action. In soccer, this is rarely the case. You literally have to interrupt the action to draw up why something happened.

When breaks do happen, though, soccer broadcasts already talk about tactics and "plays" and whatnot.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@cirerit What's the result of all those stats and analysis? True or false: the average American baseball fan knows more about baseball than the average European soccer fan knows about soccer. At a time when American soccer is thought to be held back by a collective lack of understanding of the sport at the youth coaching levels, why not look for ways to help people learn? Next time you watch a game, pay attention to all the useless jibber jabber you hear...that's better than analysis?

[qcharles1991]

great points. really interesting but i don't think this will ever happen. baseball, football, and basketball generates way much more money and nothing alone on television really competes for amounts of views like these 3 sports do. i think the another reason for this is that a big football hit, killer crossover finished with an alley oop, or an out of the park home run looks more appealing than most spectacular moments in soccer.

[qcharles1991]

@qcharles1991 also all of these sports demonstrates much power and strength that make athletes seem stronger than soccer players. most of us look at strength and power in a game and face it; a blake griffin dunk, troy polamalu hit, or a-rod home run looks tougher than most soccer plays in my opinion. most fanatics in these sports live for that. but that's my opinion. however, i'd love to see soccer more appreciated in the US. not to mention is requires more conditioning than the other 3.

[qcharles1991]

@qcharles1991 this is also why i believe, UFC has become more popular in the US. it shows strength and power in the athletes.

[qcharles1991]

@qcharles1991 oh and good luck with your soccer dream. i hope it comes true for you. just stick to it and eventually it'll happen for you

[Hitmonchan107]

Gridiron and Baseball have very long pauses when not in commercials. This allows the analyzers to point out the flaws and advantages of how it can or it was played in that brief moment. Soccer doesn't have much of that unless some idiot dives or if there's goal scored, which gives it little time to review the play unless the broadcaster decides to split screen it while the game's in motion.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@Hitmonchan107 There's lots of comments about this very thing below...opportunities for added insight can be created without replays, or stoppages. The key is creating a production that works to find these opportunities as often as they are found in the other "big 3" sports.

[Hitmonchan107]

@DreamSoccerJob We also need commentators who knows about the sport, has enthusiasm, and knows how to talk. Sadly only one man has those qualities and that' Ian Darke. The other commentators are kinda... monotonous.

[Hitmonchan107]

@DreamSoccerJob ABC/ESPN, FOX and NBC need to take notes from Univision, Telemundo and ESPN deportes. Sure, it's in spanish but it's not what language they speak, but how they talk about it. The briefing, the plays, how David Villa lobbed the pass to Messi, ect.

[sc0rpoon]

@DreamSoccerJob

also its caIIed FootbaII not''soccer'' ONLY suckers caII it ''soccer'' u suckaa

this is a WORLDWIDE WEB NOT just the usa YOU SUCKAAA, and at least have some RESPECT to FootbaII.. and caII that game you guys caII by''footbaII'' (even though it looks like a HAND sport) in USA by AMERICAN''footbaII'' and i wiII give you another reason why americans don't like footbaII over there is cause you guys caII it''soccer'' and ''soccer'' sounds Iike a name of a STUPlD sport hahaha

[diablosisaminerfan]

damn near perfect explanation why usa is much better than the rest of the world in sport. In the usa its not about why, its about how. We dont go saying an athlete is magical (messi), we go around saying how he (messi) did what he did. We need to establish this in soccer.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@diablosisaminerfan Agreed! You wouldn't happen to have the phone number of the head of NBC's Sports division, would you?

[diablosisaminerfan]

@DreamSoccerJonbcsports.msnbc.­com/id/23071620 didnt find a contact number, only and email contact, maybe other savvy folks can find it.

[Patfan1991]

I want this to happen. Soccer has potential in America. Nothing would be better than a soccer loving US that teaches its viewers that Soccer is more than running 90+ minutes.

[Jazztimuzzz]

Commercials Are Key. Every Football, Baseball, B-Ball Fan Waits For Comercials So They Can Grab A beer, Calm down a bit during a close game, take a piss, try to figure out what the team is or should do.

And Soccer Fans Have To Wait 45 min. for just ONE BREAK! if im thirsty or Gotta Hit The Can, Give Me The Controll Im Putting the Volume On This Sucker To 1 hundred AND! im running.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@Jazztimuzzz You just have to get creative, like when stuck in traffic....after a while that empty Guinness can starts to look pretty inviting!

[darrylbrenzel]

Excellent. Just heard your TSRC interview. I'm a fan already but could learn to much from better commentating. I played high school soccer in the '70s which is more or less the stoneages. We didn't have midfielders and defenders, we had halfbacks and fullbacks!!! It was kick and run and that's what a lot of people still think soccer is. Thanks for a great video. Hope you make an impact.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@darrylbrenzel Thanks for the kind words. For what its worth, we have come a long way with Soccer in America. Yet with so much more to go, I'm hoping to jumpstart a move forward instead of just waiting for progress coming from another generational turnover.

[zava55]

NBC should hire you. ESPN and Fox are already established and I don't see them flexiable to change sinec they make more money selling European soccer to a more educated audience. NBC has the deal with MLS, our American league. Most Americans don't like watching things not American so if you can sell MLS to them, everything else should open up to them.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@zava55 Thanks Zava...I sincerely hope this video finds its way onto the computer of somebody important enough to make his happen. I agree that NBC has a fantastic opportunity to re-invent how we enjoy soccer on TV, but if I had to bet I would guess that it will be the same inadequate coverage/analysis, just with more audio and visual effects.

[angelo1405]

Give this guy a job in fifa and send this video please

[BYLRPhil]

Wow, amazing. So true.

[Hitmonchan107]

Knowing our relentless hatred towards the English, how about annual friendlies against England on the weekend before the 4th of July?

[noelbrian55]

Great video! There is another factor that has plagued our beloved sport in this country, commercials!  Since soccer has historically never been able to have commercial break advertising opportunities for networks, they've been reluctant to show the sport. All top American sports have ample ad time to sell, not soccer. Therefore, figuring out how more product placement and other creative ad campaigns could be marketed by the sport could accelerate increased airtime on networks even more.

Kee

[DreamSoccerJob]

@noelbrian55 THANKS! Yes, I watch a lot of soccer from Costa Rica where they treat the player's uniforms like Stock Cars. Again, this is something that comes down to creativity, just like with how to find opportunities to provide creater insight and analysis. Well, if any country is capable of performing magic with a TV, its ours!

[ImaRageQuitter]

Good vid you should be a commentator

[DreamSoccerJob]

@ImaRageQuitter NO WAY!!! I see all the awful things people write/say about commentators....hell I made a video about how much they are hated. My dream would be to work on the production and help others that want to be commentators to redefine their role in educating people about soccer and do their job more effectively.

[Justice1Beaver]

as an englishman i think this is a brilliant video for the us viewers, you explain the mechanics with great insight, in europe we know these mechanics as we are born into a football culture, one thing tho, you say no other team in history passes the ball like the superb barca side of now, i suggest you find some footage of brazil 70, santos of the 60s, liverpool 77-84, man u 99 all passed teams into submission, thru history the premier team of the era has used the passing game to great effect

[DreamSoccerJob]

@Justice1Beaver HA! You see, that's the sorta thing us Yanks never learn because we are such noobs to the sport. Okay, I will check out some clips of how those teams play, because the proper use of a strong passing game is one of the elements of soccer I find most interesting. Thanks for the heads up, and the great insight!

[Justice1Beaver]

@DreamSoccerJob thanks for replyin, i actually forgot to mention the flamengo team of zico, tita and junior who played with a flair unmatched before or since

theres a documentary sky (uk broadcaster) did about ronaldo(cr7) and the mechanics of what makes him so good, i think it'd be right up your street

its called 'Ronaldo Tested to the Limit' theres one about rooney aswell but i dont recall its name

[dnuzum11]

I've learned nothing new, but it has made me aware that the broadcasting is rather bland in comparison. They saturate their broadcasts in diagrams, explanations, etc. Mind you, there are less breaks in football so they have less time to create and squeeze in stuff on the fly, but even starting to include them would help. I know many of my American friends say they love to go to matches for the atmosphere, but have no idea what is going on and, therefore, do not watch from home.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@dnuzum11 Very true, soccer is a very hard sport to learn given the current broadcast infrastructure. In other countries more people play, and people are plopped down in front of a TV showing soccer since birth. They learn HOW to learn about the sport using a TV, which we don't do leaving us trying to do it once we're older, which is boring and hard, making new fan generation much more difficult than it needs to be. I hope one day that things change. Thanks for the insight!

[dnuzum11]

@DreamSoccerJob Nailed it. Other countries are raised on it. America is far from that. Hopefully with the upcoming MLS on NBC becoming mainstream they will start to change that. Massive fixtures on FOX as well. This is only the beginning of soccer in America. It's far too slow, but the revolution has begun. Good luck and hopefully someone hires you. You deserve it 100% for insight of this level. Quality stuff all around!

[pipme2014fx]

subscribed :)

[Ktulusnightmare]

@DreamSoccerJob do you plan on making more insightful videos? Please do! Lots of people on the soccer boards are linking this video and are talking about how good it is. I for one count myself as a follower if you continue this. Thanks for igniting more parts of my brain. Great Job!

[gahjr2000]

I second what one commenter before me said, I learned more about football in 13 minutes than I have the past few years. Good stuff.

Goals don't "just happen"!

[DreamSoccerJob]

@gahjr2000 Thanks for the kind words. The more we can learn about soccer, the more we like it and the faster it improves in America. But we need TV to get us there, and the TV experience is LAGGING! Here's hoping it improves.

[Ad7Afroman]

-continuation- if we were able to LEARN the sport and have insight and therefore were able to analyze soccer people would have more fun watching it, as apposed to watching a defence pass the ball and "oh, they arent even trying to shoot the ball" be a response (as you illustrated with France v. USA)

im a relative noob to the sport, Barca v. Man United in Rome a couple years ago was my first full match. your vid just shed exponential light on the sport for me and i hope you get the dream job!!

[DreamSoccerJob]

@Ad7Afroman THANKS SO MUCH for the kind words. Yes, I think its hard for the soccer people in this country because they ALREADY know the sport, and are unaware of just how hard it is to gain that knowledge base. I played a lot growing up, but only got serious about watching a few years ago, so I understand how difficult it is to learn things while watching, because the TV experience does nothing useful to help that learning along. Interesting about UFC, you're totally right!

[Ad7Afroman]

extremely well done friend! you hit the nail on the head.just to give quick oversight on why your theory is so accurate im going to bring MMA into the picture, the UFC specifically.

The booming that the sport had wasnt necessarily because the athletes miraculously got better, its because the sport got educated. the announcers had time to become familiar with the "foreign sport" and with that were able to have insight and actual analysis of what took/is taking place in the fights.-contining...

[r1benjamin]

I completely agree. Keep pumping the message.

Big 3 broadcasts empower the viewer to know more about the game and each player. Fantasy sports work in part because participants enjoy knowing more about what they are watching.

The old gol tv cam that quickly replayed close ups of sweet touches and technique is a must.

Why don't broadcasts tell viewers how many intl caps and for who, the players have?

More downtime is not needed to point out deft traps, runs to create space, etc

[DreamSoccerJob]

@r1benjamin Thanks for the comment, you clearly understand where the possibilities lie to create a more enriching TV experience.

[pdxFF]

I've been watching soccer for 4 years, and have just learned more about watching the sport in the last 13 minutes than I have in the last 1300+ days.

Thank you.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@pdxFF Thanks for the kind words....means a lot!

[seksfibreglass]

agree with some points but not on many others.

you avoid one big difference with your 'big 3 explain it better', those games have PLENTY of time to do it.

NFL game: 3.5hrs has 12-15mins of action. all you really do is talk, commercials and closeups of coaches.

MLB: 2.5-3hrs not sure but you can talk FOREVER between innings, at bats, pitches.

NBA (my fave): 48mins of game time streched to 3hrs. last 2mins last 6hrs.

Those sports have built in dead time. Lots of it.

PS: You NEED a better mic.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@seksfibreglass Yeah, my audio sucked I'll admit. Next time you watch a soccer game, pay attention to the things you hear. There are so many idle comments about soccer current events and gossip, some of which could easily be replaced by a deeper analysis. You don't need replays, or even stops in play to do this, even though there's more than enough of these in a soccer game that could be used. Finding the opportunities within game flow is easy, understanding the importance isn't.

[bropitt]

great analysis Christopher, I have found that Christopher Sullivan on FSC does try to break down formations and how they will effect play on the field, often stressing the things happening off the ball. Oddly most people seem to prefer someone who screams "goooooooooooolll!" for a whole minute or throws in silly sayings about Messi and potato smashing. I would mind a little of both worlds.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@bropitt I agree....I think a little of both worlds is needed. If viewers were bashed over the head with tactics for 2 hours they wouldn't find that enjoyable either. But really its simpler than that, it is about finding opportunities to take things one level deeper, into the "how" and "why" of the things we see on a soccer field in a game...thanks for the comment!

[intoodeep7106]

Perhaps in your next video, you can critique the coverage of soccer on the various channels, from Univision to Fox Soccer. Also, I'm having trouble figuring out how the coverage of soccer on TV is the causation of the anti-soccer sentiment. Perhaps it contributes to the phenomenon but this thing is deeply cultural and any relation with media coverage may be slightly connected, IMO. Soccerhatin' is just a way of life here. Convince me I'm wrong.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@intoodeep7106 GREAT question....okay I'll do my best, may need 2 parts.

Soccerhatin' wasn't always a way of life in the US. Before the 94 world cup, soccer basically wasn't a part of the mainstream in the US, sort of like how a sport like rugby isn't on anybody's radar in the US today. We hadn't even had a league for over 10 years. I would imagine that you didn't hear much anti-soccer sentiment for laughs back then, just like you don't hear many anti-rugby rants now.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@intoodeep7106 Yet over the last 15 or so years, haters have concluded that soccer is boring and simple, and point this out constantly. While I don't believe this to be the case at all, how did they draw this conclusion? Why are the big 3 sports thought to be more exciting and sophisticated? I believe that an inferior television experience is to blame for these feelings, and not the sport itself.

How did I do?

[intoodeep7106]

@DreamSoccerJob Sports are a reflection of a society's values. Why is rugby big in New Zealand? Why cricket is big in India? The point is people would adopt a sport and reject others as a way of expressing their identity. Association football is one sport where the body responsible for rulemaking is based in a foreign country. It has been practiced in the USA at various local levels for more than 100 yrs. and, yet, only now do we have a working professional league, and barely at that.

[BEASTOFNEWYORK]

@intoodeep7106 What do you mean, MLS is selling 18,890 plus seats a game and is number 10 in the world in attendance. MLS just signed a new deal with NBC and is getting better and better each year. MLS is selling players to the EPL and is dev. better talent.I say MLS is doing great and will only go up.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@BEASTOFNEWYORK I TOTALLY AGREE with ALL of your points. We can watch soccer get bigger and bigger in the US on almost a yearly basis. But personally, its not enough for me. I think if we properly dedicated our media resources we could be competitive on an international level in less than a decade. As a marketing professional, I can't let an opportunities go wasted when I see them. Either way, thanks for the solid perspective, much-needed!

[BEASTOFNEWYORK]

@DreamSoccerJob Yeah I want soccer to move faster to but its hard when fox soccer only shows EPL games. Fox soccer doesn't get that Americans dont care about European soccer we wont our league to do well. Look what ESPN did a couple of days ago they showed a USMNT on ESPN 3. ESPN and Fox has made more harm then good. I think the NBC deal will and hope they do things different. Someone should give this guy a job he understands what the new fan needs to understand soccer.

[intoodeep7106]

@DreamSoccerJob Even before the old NASL, a World Cup game could only be seen via closed circuit TV, usually at one of the few musty, old movie theaters showing the games. People who attended were usually called "foreign freaks" because they were most likely ex-pats from countries where the sport is already dominant. I saw a movie one time called "Once in a Lifetime", about the old NASL Cosmos. Check out the scene where they talked about how the soccer scene was before they formed.

[intoodeep7106]

@DreamSoccerJob So of course we didn't hear a peep from soccerhaters then because there wasn't as much soccer to hate in those days. Then again, boxing and horse racing were bigger then, so things can change. However, American sports are viewed by their fans as being an expression of independence from what they consider "foreign sports" like soccer. Conversely, a Mexican soccer fan living in the States could express himself as being independent from American sports. It's cultural!

[DreamSoccerJob]

@intoodeep7106 All good points, you obviously know a lot more about the history of Soccer in the U.S. than I do. And while I don't claim to have the cure-all, I am simply pointing out one way where it could be better. There already are lots of people who watch soccer on TV, but their attention is limited to world cups, USMNT, or foreign leagues. How do we get them engaged in the MLS? How do we get them watching more? I think better TV production could do much to help.

[beotchbocaputo]

Came from goal.com..great video very interesting.

[sebremit]

Another difference: how an observer visually categorizes each player's physique and how they subconsciously assign that player's role in their mind. In soccer, most of the players share the same build and muscle tone. Unlike most other sports, any given field player has the potential to make a pass, receive a pass, score a goal, make a game-saving tackle, etc. I guess you could call it creative parity ie Rarely do you see any player in football make a pass other than the quarterback.

[sebremit]

Continuing my idea: In basketball, you can figure out quickly who the center is, who the point guard is. In football, the giant guys are lineman, the slimmer guys are receivers, etc. In baseball, players are designated spots on the field, so you can find out their role pretty quickly.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@sebremit That's totally right! I was actually thinking about that, how in other sports players rely on different skill sets and physical characteristics in order to perform their set of tasks on the field, while in soccer each player runs, passes, kicks, etc. For this reason, the "big 3" don't rely on viewers having playing experience, because even if they do, they didn't play all the positions so there's still much the need help understanding. Thanks for the fantastic insight!

[robmoney]

I'm not sure if this has been tried by any of the braodcasters but they should try it, WWE still replays. have the live action in the corner of the screen while doing a replay. I'm tired of missing something after a goal has been scored, like the Swansea City Arsenal game today. also this would help with some of the things this guy is talking about.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@robmoney Great insight! Truth is, there's literally thousands of ways that the analysis of game mechanics could be injected into a game via replays, live-action commentary, or even picture-in-picture like you suggest here. The key isn't how it can be done, but the recognition that doing it would create a superior viewing experience capable of creating fans of the sport.

[dannjonnes]

At first I was skeptical of this video, mainly due to its horrible audio, but I was pleasantly surprised. Americans love stats too .. all the big 3 sports have an amazing amount of stats and I think Americans love to follow these stats. But good job on the video.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@dannjonnes Yeah, audio was sort of out of my control given my lame laptop I used for making the video, but thanks for sticking it out anyway. Better not to get me started on what stats mean to a viewer and how they could be used to enhance the soccer viewing experience, I could make another video entirely out of that!

[ImtheHitcher]

Some nice points, but unlike those other sports football (soccer) doesn't have as many stoppages to get the sam ekin dof analysis as those other sports- not to mention pundits/commentators make assumptions that you know what they mean when they say things like; cutting across the ball, or slicing it (is in your example he mis-kicks the ball)

AND i disagree with your analysis on Dempsey's turn; the defender was far too tight to begin with and a better player would of rolled in behind him.

[ceezmad1]

Great video. 

[AnotherJetsFan]

You need to be a soccer analyst/broadcaster bro! Your video is awesome. Ive played soccer my whole life and have only began to recently watch it and i agree the anlayzing of techniques is not in depth enough! You need to get employeed by NBC or something! Send this vid to them now!!!

[DreamSoccerJob]

@AnotherJetsFan Commentators are usually media types and/or ex-players, not Sunday league posers like me! What I WOULD love to do is be a part of the production team that helps to put this idea into motion....who knows we'll see what happens!

[TheJquintero123]

THANK YOU you made some very good points you should really send this video to NBC this could REALLY help they're broadcasting and probably not make soccer broadcasts that boring here in the USA i love the MLS good thing NBC picked up Arlo White he makes the game exciting but if you send them this video this could probably end up boosting up ratings and possibly more opportunities for MLS.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@TheJquintero123 Thanks for the comment man. I hope that this video gets some attention from somebody who can make a difference.....I really see a big opportunity here, and from the comments it appears I'm not the only one!

[Comoesa]

I believe some commentators try to do it...there used to be espn clips of wynalda showing how t take a free kick.

But like you said most commentators fall back into the euro style of not really saying anything,

[DreamSoccerJob]

@Comoesa True, the trick is finding that balance between Soccer 101 and what it is I'm talking about. Its not about learning basics, its about understanding the elements of the game in order to make sense of the game on an advanced level.

[xpshawn]

I think like a lot of sports, Soccer really is a sport that you must not only play, but understand on a deeper level in order to fully appreciate everything that is going on while watching.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@xpshawn As-is you are absolutely right....which is what I would seek to change...American football is played by a surprisingly small percentage of our population, and what's more it is hopelessly complicated.....yet it is beloved. I've heard incredibly insightful analyses of A. football games from people who have never touched a pigskin, which is made possible by the learning they do while watching...why can't this be the case in soccer?

[xpshawn]

@DreamSoccerJob good point and I think that's the one main one your trying to address in the video. Another big reason is that many people perceive American football as more manly compared to the misunderstood "diving, flopping soccer players" in many peoples eyes, thus putting more pride and time into it.

How do we start? A team of analysts around the commentators? I think Match of the Day does a really good job at breaking down plays, but that is many hours later.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@xpshawn Great question...I believe that the way to get started is to redefine the roles of the TV production and commentary to include a better learning experience. There's thousands of opportunities per game to delve into a deeper aspect of the game that go missed, if just a few of these are captured every game it would make a world of difference. But in order for that to happen the production must be made awares of their importance, and start to look for them!

[xpshawn]

Great points all around. Yes there is the argument that there isn't enough downtime but I really think it has a lot to do with the sub-par quality of the broadcasters. Many of them (not all) don't have the actual in depth technical knowledge of the game, nor the speed to put together well thought out analysis on the fly. I would love to broadcast myself but would need several minutes to put together the analysis desired with so many players on the pitch and so much going on at all times.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@xpshawn LOL I needed 3 weeks! I think much of what I am reading about how people feel in terms of the quality of commentary is all based around their preferences for the commentator's personality, and not the content....Yes, I have liked and disliked commentators for many reasons, but in terms of giving me what I want on an analytical level they have let me down the world over!

[91hammo]

I agree with a lot of what you had to say but when it comes to football (soccer) you don't have the time between plays that you have in NFL for the analysis on individual player technique and graphics of formations. ( just a view from an irishman the rest of it i would agree with)

[DreamSoccerJob]

@91hammo True, the Mechanics of Sport can't be applied quite as often in-game as other sports due to time and flow limitations, but that doesn't mean they should be ignored either.....especially when the payoff of viewers actually learning something while watching is so great! Next time you watch a game, ask yourself how much down time you see where an analysis could be tossed in....I'd say easily 4-5 per half....not to mention what could possibly be said during gameplay...

[robmoney]

Commentators for the MLS do suck. Well mostly the ones that work for ESPN. Good thing that one guy isn't working anymore

[jkickass]

All those things you are saying are important, but they don't need to be hammered into people's heads. When watching soccer on tv, I don't need or want commentators!! I want to hear the crowds and the players, not two guys talking about technique and tactics. However, all those things would be great in post-game analysis. The main problem with the live broadcast is the lack of a wide camera angle so you can follow one player the whole game and the constant cutting to closeups of players' faces.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@jkickass Yes, I agree that a balance is good, and sometimes the "Big 3" go a little over-the-top....but as it is now the commentators dont sit back and let viewers watch to the melody of the crowd.....they yammer on and on about whose transferring where, which coach is going to get fired, what model is so-and-so dating, etc....I would rather learn while watching about something more than pop culture personally.....but yes a balance is always best. Thanks for your unique insight!

[lk2311]

A lot of people are saying that there's not a lot of downtime in soccer but such type of analysis can be done pregame, at halftime and post-game analysis. Most analysis in soccer involve formation and tactics.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@lk2311 Agreed 100%....not to mention analysis can be given while the game is being played....not just through replays. I used replays to prove a point but a professional could make those same points in a fraction of the time....Thanks for having my back!!!

[LittleMuckyMe]

(continued)

One thing I am not sure about though is how Americans new to the sport would react to being informed about technique when they are looking at the bigger (simple) picture - they already have a good foreknowledge of the big sports in the US so it works well for these.

I expect you have a better idea about that than I since you know doubt have friends you have introduced to soccer.

Anyway great video and good luck.

ps

How about if not NBC something such as video series for MLS website?

[DreamSoccerJob]

@LittleMuckyMe I would argue that strangers to the game NEED to learn about the technique just to understand how hard soccer is. People here who don't know it often mistake it for being simple and easy, and trivialize the nuances that can enrich the viewing experience. By helping the viewer to understand these nuances CLEARLY and using examples, they can respect the athletic excellence they are watching. Most American Football fans never played, but develop respect by watching...

[LittleMuckyMe]

@DreamSoccerJob

Yes, I understand your premise and agree it is a good idea. My concern was whether US sports fans accidentally tuning into a soccer game would want to be educated about it. Then there is the problem of those fans who know the game feeling patronised. I know a lot US soccer fans feel that way about coverage over there, especially for World cup coverage though admittedly that does not involve proper analysis of the game but rather trying to make ridiculous comparisons with NFL.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@LittleMuckyMe This is truly the crux of the issue. My analysis is based on what the human mind looks for when it is being entertained. Do you think American Idol would be so famous if it didn't have the judging? When we hear the judges speak, we learn what they look for, and apply that knowledge when we hear people sing. My wife and I sit there and judge the people as well...hence we are INTERACTING with our TV at that time, which is the compelling element of those shows. THANKS!

[LittleMuckyMe]

@DreamSoccerJob

That analogy is a bit of stretch for me I have to say. As I say I like your idea but I just think it would work better as a stand alone segment. A series of pregame or postgame or halftime shorts or maybe as a videos series on a website such as the MLS site.

A commentators main role is to capture the excitement of the event IMO rather than giving detailed analysis though I absolutely agree there is room for more analysis than what is currently given.

Good luck

[LittleMuckyMe]

Hi from across the pond. Interesting video and good analysis in the main though I think your idea of how the French goal was able to come about from a US goal kick was quite a stretch. It was more about knowing they could keep a high line (pace at the back and good ability in the air) rather than possession football (which you rightly say is about game control)

Your idea are good, perhaps you should make a soccer specific video entitled the science of soccer and send that to NBC?

continued...

[MenaceFan]

Nice quick shot of Tebow for poor technique

[DreamSoccerJob]

@MenaceFan LOL wicked of me I know....I couldn't help myself but in all seriousness....the announcers will talk more about one of his misplayed passes than another player's perfect pass....and what's more it ISNT BORING! Well its boring to hear about him non-stop, but they understand that as long as the viewer is learning, they are engaged...

[dwreck1971]

One last thing: loved the show, but what happened to the sound? I had to turn it up to 10 of 10 just to hear you!

[DreamSoccerJob]

@dwreck1971 Sincere apologies....I made this video using the webcam on my laptop and no mic.....I'm obviously no pro....I've never even made a youTube video before! Well, thanks anyway for blowing out your speakers on my behalf!

[dwreck1971]

Good stuff. There may be a lot of truth to what you say. There isn't much detail shared by announcers (especially American ones) and "detail" does seem to be what Americans like. They do like to know "how"--as we can all see the "what."

[DreamSoccerJob]

@dwreck1971 Yes, as Americans we respect what we understand, (and often times hate and fear what we don't).....and in sports we are no different. I understand how Americans are entertained with a TV because....well I am one. What I would be more curious to know is if a more technical production of a soccer game would provide an added value for foreign viewers, or if they would prefer the status quo...

[scap777]

Interesting hypothesis. I know I've been looking for information on formations and their effects on the flow of play and it's very hard to find.

[dwreck1971]

@scap777

Try "The Straight Red Card" soccer show. They go deep into tactical play and formations. They're on bigsoccer as well.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@scap777 Tell me about it. Other sports do a great job of putting the viewer in the "driver's seat", and help us to understand how players make decisions based on what they see in the moment. It would be easier to make sense of positioning if we were helped to understand how that applies to the decisions each player makes, not just how the little figurines look on the graphic they show at the beginning of every game.

[andu00]

Out of the three points being made in this video, I'll fully support the third one. Having tactical play being explained (both verbally and visually, by graphic enhancement of replays for example) would help the American audience "feel" the game better and not regard moments when nothing spectacular is happening as dead time (because, indeed, they're not that). Personally I find the biomechanics and game dynamics (the first two points made) to be self-evident, but that may well be because [...]

[andu00]

[...] I'm a soccer fan, I grew up with it and I was in-formed by it. That's probably why I also never felt the need to notice and understand tactical play, as the game gave me so much in other aspects. But I'll have to say that since live or post-match commentary has vastly improved in the last decade to include analysis, and I've became aware of the tactical aspects of the game and started reading game analysis myself, these have all contributed positively to the overall experience.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@andu00 Great insight Andu....I think many soccer players and fans like us do tend to take the things we learn from playing for granted....and the broadcast does as well....but the broadcasts for the other big three sports do not....they present as much enriching content as possible, creating added value for players, posers, has-beens and wannabes alike!

[kurumako]

Very insightful and I feel that should you find work in this field you will be very successful. My only question is this. In the big 3 American sports there is an awful lot of downtime, time outs, stoppages, etc. How do you think this type of analysis could be achieved within a gametime broadcast? Or do you see it as a stand alone product?

[kurumako]

@kurumako Within a gametime soccer broadcast that is.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@kurumako Even though the clock never stops running, there's plenty of downtime in a soccer game. This time can be used to explain a few things to look for or elements the viewer can anticipate. The great thing about the analysis of mechanics is that it generates a knowledge base we use again and again when watching, so even if we are helped to understand a play we saw 15 minutes before, the lesson we'll take with us for every game and ever player we'll watch in the future. Thanks!

[dhny44]

@DreamSoccerJob there's not nearly enough down time in soccer to get as in depth as you're suggesting. generally, the down time is caused by something that is worth covering on it's own that you wouldn't be able to just cut away from. a goal, an injury, a foul resulting in a card, all which merit comments on their own. the idea is good, but there's just not enough time in soccer to do what you're suggesting, they can barely even get replays in. unless you're willing to sacrifice live action

[DreamSoccerJob]

@dhny44 I disagree completely. You don't even need the use of replay to be able to point how how players and teams do things worth understanding, which itself creates a more compelling viewing experience. Secondly, there are a great number of things besides goals and near-goals that are replayed in a game; fouls, offsides, missed shots....many of those end up being repetitive and add little to the viewer experience. And when they do replay goals, there's a need for deeper analysis.

[jasonant24]

@kurumako I've argued the same exact thing. My dad and I have always tried to explain as much as possible to those around us when we watch, because like the video says, you enjoy more when you understand more. The problem is in football especially, you have 15 to 20 seconds between each play to analyze the problems or successes involved in the previous play.

[jasonant24]

@jasonant24 meant American football

[SayQueso17]

Very, very well done. I would say, having had the opportunity to live in a few soccer loving countries, that the horrible and downright embarrassing analysis we see on American TV, especially ESPN, is mostly a consequence of a complete lack of familiarity with the beautiful game. However, your knowledge and your entertaining way of sharing it was outstanding and superior to most.

Good luck finding work in the field of sports analysis. FSC could desperately use your help.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@SayQueso17 Hola Queso....I've watched a lot of soccer while living abroad as well. For what it's worth, I would say that while the personalities that do the commentary can obviously differ from one country to another (Don Manuel "Pilo" Obando in Costa Rica is my all-time fave) I would argue that the depth of analysis is relatively similar from one country to the next. I think that in order to get better, the U.S. needs to break away from how soccer is presented worldwide.

[rominda98]

got here from your link on ESPN, dude your insight is incredible. I may never be satisfied from soccer commentators again!

[DreamSoccerJob]

@rominda98 LOL thanks Rominda.....I actually didn't want to bash on the commentators too much, because as I see it they are just following a recipe for soccer production that is used (with great success) all over the world. For me, that recipe for production is what needs to be revisited.....here's hoping that this video is a step towards that!

[greenlitpilott]

As a British import to the States, I found this video fascinating - your grasp of the game is pretty much second to none as far as I can see. I don't necessarily agree that a more in-depth analysis would get more people to watch, but as a football addict I would definitely watch a show with your insights!

[DreamSoccerJob]

@greenlitpilott Hey Green I would love to make a study of HOW people choose soccer as a sport in the U.S. vs. the U.K. I can say that in Costa Rica the #1 sport is basketball. Soccer isn't #1 because religions don't count as a sport! The combination of a lack of options, coupled with an intense indoctrination that begins at birth gives rise to a country that is single-minded in their passion for soccer. Here is different, and I would love to see soccer competing on a new level.

[megotvtec]

i'm sorry but a better commentator is not going to help me like Soccer. I still find NBA just as entertaining on mute. I don't need help from Reggie, or Charles to appreciate the play.

[ProstheticScissor]

@megotvtec His point is that you've been conditioned to look at the game in an analytical way based on how it has been presented throughout the years. For a while basketball fans mostly cared about dunks and 3s and that was it, but now there is more focus on the moving parts of the team.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@megotvtec I understand your point of view. I mean, I could know everything there is about...say Archery, and probably still think its boring to watch. I believe that the problem lies not so much in which sport you prefer, but the TV experience that viewers receive and use to make that determination in the first place. Either way, thanks for taking part in the discussion!

[TheGollyLlama]

If I had a few million dollars and some ESPN airtime, I'd totally give you a job. Very cool analysis.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@TheGollyLlama Thanks dude, I'm glad you found it enjoyable.

[TheGollyLlama]

@DreamSoccerJob

Dudette.  No prob!

[DreamSoccerJob]

@TheGollyLlama My bad...SORRY!

[ProstheticScissor]

Are you a 49ers fan? I caught the 49ers vs Eagles clip and the Andy Lee picture. Go Niners! I really enjoyed the video and agree with your criticisms on the presentation of the game on American TV. I also think that the false sense of anticipation created by "the big 3", the result of constant timeouts and commercial breaks, is obviously absent from soccer due to the two 45 minute chunks of uninterrupted action. People have a tendency to tune out when the stimulus goes on for a longer time.

[DreamSoccerJob]

@ProstheticScissor Hey Scissor yes I'm a Bay Area sports fan, so I used footage from my teams whenever I had the chance (49ers and Giants, sadly there haven't been any Warriors highlights for about 20 years).

Thanks for your feedback, and it brings up a point I perhaps should have addressed in the video. I don't think that a deeper analysis is only possible with constant stoppages. Commentators can point things out and inform people what to look out for even during live play.

[Logwyn33]

Awesome!!!



[DreamSoccerJob]

@Logwyn33 Thanks for the feedback! I love soccer, and I'm hoping that my ideas could ultimately help it get even bigger in the U.S.

[erikmedina09]

Nice video.

[nildo2]

interesting video.