Soccer terminology in stories

"Bookings" doesn't come up often. I will, however, use "sent off" if someone is...well...sent off.

 

The trouble we have with this is that I know in high school soccer here, and elsewhere, someone can be sent off for two yellow cards, and yet be replaced on the field so his team doesn't have to play down a man.

One of the many stupid, stupid rules put in place by the NFHS.

 

True. They're still sent off though...it's just that someone else can come back on

I didn't realize they could do that until last week...most players here get their one customary yellow for the game then settle down, so it's usually not a factor.

 

We got a guy that's the same way. Chances are, however, that the only people reading a high school soccer gamer are the few people who actually care about soccer in the first place.

 

I was at a high school soccer match the other day and I felt sorry for the officials. There was just so much bitching and cheap shots from both teams, they all deserved to be given red cards.

 

Still, you write for the people who don't.

 

Normally I'd agree with you, but I got an e-mail from an upset referee assignor yesterday ... so I know at least someone is reading.

 

For soccer refs? Anyway, I wish the guy would dumb it down, but in his head, everyone in the fucking country loves soccer. When editing his stuff, I'd dumb it down myself, but I know little when it comes to soccer.

 

Yes. Soccer referee assignor.

 

I generally don't mention yellow cards at all in prep games, unless a player gets two of them, then I'd say so-and-so was ejected after receiving a second yellow card for whatever the infraction might have been. In the case of a red card, I'd say he or she was automatically ejected after being given a red card for said infraction. I'd avoid the term sent off, because it doesn't necessarily convey to me, the reader, that the player can't come back into the game.

 

Don't dumb down your stories for the cretins, whether it be soccer, football, synchronized pocket pool or whatever. Don't go out of your way to write over people's heads, but if they can't keep up with the basics of the game then that's their problem.

I'm a firm believer in writing for the readers, but I'm also a firm believer in not bastardizing the sport for slow learners. I was covering a soccer match the other day and listening in on a conversation between to parents. The guy that was "in the know" was telling another guy something that was completely 180 degrees off from the truth. I just shook my head.

 

I've covered more prep soccer than any other sport save football and basketball. I've never used the word "booked" in any story. Is there anything wrong with just saying, "Podunk Southwest was issued four yellow cards and a red card."