The points in soccer
In football, why six points for a touchdown, three points for a field goal, one point for “converting” a touchdown and two points for a safety touchdown? Where do these numbers come from? What is its origin ?
Yves Fortier
Response from Simon-Olivier Lorange
Our research on the information highway all converges on the same version of the story. At the end of the 19the century, an ultra-complex counting of points, largely inspired by rugby, was in place. Walter Camp, considered one of the fathers of American football, then developed a new point system, in which it was the field goals that were the most valued. You could still feel the legacy of rugby and soccer. It wasn’t until 1897 that a system similar to today’s appeared in which touchdowns became the highest-paying action – five points, at the time. The six points, with an additional point on conversion, appeared in 1912. The field goals, over the years, went from 5 to 4, then to 3 points in 1909.
Get rid of the ball
What is the rule when a quarterback gets rid of the ball either by throwing it off the field or at a place where there is no receiver? I have always believed that in either case this gesture should be punished.
Andre Gosselin
Response from Richard Labbe
This is a move that is illegal, indeed. According to the NFL rulebook, a quarterback is not allowed to get rid of the ball, for example by throwing it to the ground or to a player who is not eligible, such as a lineman at the attack. The quarterback can throw the ball out of bounds only if it is outside the protective pocket – the designated area between the blocker on the left and the blocker on the right – and only if the ball crosses the goal line. melee. It’s an often controversial rule, though, as umpires sometimes give a lot of leeway to league stars. Tom Brady, for example, is rarely given this type of penalty.
Left or right ?
Why are the results of soccer games in Europe announced differently from most North American sports (hockey, baseball, basketball, football)? In Europe, the home club is named first, and the visitor second. For North American sports, it’s the opposite, which makes more sense to me: Dallas Stars vs. Montreal Canadian. Your insights into this nomenclature – and the policy of The Press – would be appreciated.
Pierre-Bergeron
Response from Alexander Pratt
You are right, North Americans and Europeans do not present the results in the same way. The most likely explanation comes from baseball. There is logic in putting the visiting club – which strikes first – ahead of the home club, which has the last turn at bat.
That said, this was not always the case. In 1900, in The Press, there are reverse summaries, where the home team is displayed first. The receiving club is then recognized by the “byline”, the city from which the text or the summary of the agency comes.
PHOTO FROM THE PRESS
Image taken from The Press
Since at least World War II, The Press puts the visiting club first, and the home second. As in the Stars visit the Canadian. In Europe, it seems rather that the Canadian receives the Stars.
The FIFA Ranking
PHOTO PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW, REUTERS ARCHIVES
FIFA World Cup match in Qatar between Croatia and Belgium on 1er December 2022
How does the FIFA Ranking work? Is it a bit like tennis, where some tournaments pay more than others? Do exhibition games count too?
Serge
Response from Alexander Pratt
Yes, the ranking takes into account the importance of the parts. World Cup matches have an index of 50. From the quarter-finals, the index (I) is 60. On the other hand, a friendly game played during the international break has only a small index of 10.
Three other factors are taken into account: the result of the game (R), its anticipated result (RA), as well as the sum of the points already accumulated (Pprec). In case of victory, the R is 1. If it is a draw, the R is 0.5. One loss is zero. Finally, we put all these data in the following formula: P = Pprec + I x (R-RA).
I agree, it’s a bit complicated.