Quote: And, for the record, I am more taking issue with the implications of "reckless" and "plowing," which would imply wilful intent to endanger and incapacitate.
Early on I gave credit to the Fwd for trying to make a play and I do not think I have ever accused her of trying to hurt the keeper intentionally or playing dirty. I know what it is like to have the "focus' in on an objective to the exclusion of all else, even my own safety.
When I say plowing over I am refering to what happened, she did plow er over with physical contact head on, in fact her knee clearly (as best as I can see) hits the keeper on her left (away from the fwd) leg. This means she crossed the keepers body with hers while trying to get a shot I do not see being taken (I only see an attempt to get the ball no real contact). It is always charging players responsibility to aviod excessive contact not the player being charged. If I am going 30 and you are going 65 on the road you can miss me better than I can avoid you!
My real point on reckless has always been and still is that the play in and of itself was reckless (no willful intention implied, lots of people do reckless things everyday with out realizing it). The fwd could have severely hurt herself or the keeper. I say fwd because she is the one movin at full speed at target with the ability to avoid the keeper (yes, I am sure the defenders position played a part in her path). What I am saying is that the ref allowed this type of contact and sets a standard that is ok. If this is not a foul then any player can run itno another at full speed as long as they are trying to make a play, that is what you are in effect saying when you call this ok. Please do not read into my comments that I feel this young lady was at fault for her play. Players should play with all the intensity they can. It is the ref who must pull them back when it becomes unsafe, water on the fire if you will. My own daghter would likely have done the same thing and I hope I would have the intestinal fortitude to say the same thing here! A play like tht is a foul because of what could happen not what did. Did the keeper need to end up with a broken leg to prove it was "dangerous"? If this is safe then I think we are getting close to say end out weighs means. I want my kid and every other kid walking off the field afet every game, this knd of play will eventually not allow that to happen.
If it was a good safe play then lets show it to every team and say this is ok so do it if you have to!
