Why do soccer aka football players flop?

[LuvOrlando]

How do the refs not laugh? Are the players covering their faces to hold in a laugh? Everytime I try to watch I end up cracking up, seems like it takes a ton of acrobatic training to fake this well, especially the ongoing rolling. Why & what is happening??? Also, thank you for doing it, but still, why?

https://www.google.com/search?q=bes...#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6a645342,vid:aX71nSSBLe8

 

[Praying Colonel]

The same reason basketball players flop: because they get rewarded for it enough, and not punished for it enough, to make it worth trying.

Soccer officials can give a card for flopping, and basketball refs can give technicals. Neither do it enough, IMHO. I hate flopping.

 

[1420Elexismc]

As a soccer player, it is one of the most obnoxious aspects of the game in my opinion…drives me batty.

 

[HopperFan]

Burn the clock, stall the game, trying to pull a foul.

ABSOLUTELY HATE IT! Even our own team (Atlanta United) when we've gotten a player that use it as their method of play (Barco) I just get so mad. GET UP AND PLAY, stop being a baby looking for a lollipop. Play, play with your feet - not your hands, not your mouth, not your baby flopping ... if you are good, show us your footwork.

 

[GoingSince1990]

You never see anyone recover so quickly from writhing in agony to being absolutely fine as a soccer player whose appeal to the ref is denied.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I do wish they'd do a better job of punishing the floppers, whether it's soccer or NBA, or even NFL. But I guess it's just another judgement item for officials to work through. At least in the NHL, they've try to curb it a bit by penalizing players for diving/flopping. But it's annoying and shouldn't be part of the games.

 

[Disneefun]

I love the ones that fall and then roll like six times across the ground. Funny, every time I've fallen and been injured (or just fallen), I don't recall having the energy or desire to roll across the ground over and over. If it hurts that bad, I'm hitting the floor and staying there. I'm not going to roll around and risk making it worse. Only roll if you're heading downhill, which on a soccer pitch is 0% of the time.

 

[JaxDad]

I love the ones that fall and then roll like six times across the ground. Funny, every time I've fallen and been injured (or just fallen), I don't recall having the energy or desire to roll across the ground over and over. If it hurts that bad, I'm hitting the floor and staying there. I'm not going to roll around and risk making it worse. Only roll if you're heading downhill, which on a soccer pitch is 0% of the time.

And they always grab their shins, the one part of their body with protective gear, no matter where the contact was supposedly made.

 

[HopperFan]

And they always grab their shins, the one part of their body with protective gear, no matter where the contact was supposedly made.

SO TRUE!

 

[Buzz Rules]

Short answer, to gain sympathy or an advantage from a referee. Long answer is that it stems from European soccer culture, which was then copied by Central and South Americans. If you watch MLS (please give it a chance ), it happens a lot less due to the physical nature of the league and that American/Canadian soccer sports culture despise it. Some do it to get a couple minutes of a break and to stop the flow of play, however.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

 

[sam_gordon]

I agree with @Buzz Rules. They're trying to "game" the referee into calling a foul. You actually see it in every sport (not the rolling on the ground, but trying to game the ref).

As far as the shin guards... A) they don't cover the entire shin, probably not even 1/2 and B) they're not a lot of protection.

 

[BamaGuy44]

The same reason basketball players flop: because they get rewarded for it enough, and not punished for it enough, to make it worth trying.

Soccer officials can give a card for flopping, and basketball refs can give technicals. Neither do it enough, IMHO. I hate flopping.

Pretty much this. The reward for a flop in soccer can be huge, and there's really no reason not to give it a shot since the refs refuse to enforce the rule against "simulation". Very annoying aspect of the game, especially the ridiculous over the top pretending to be hurt.

 

[cvjw]

Because they can be rewarded with a free kick. Which can easily turn into a goal when it is just between one player and the goalie. That goal scored can win a game - lots of soccer games end in very low points totals. There is a lot to be gained by flopping.

I hate this about soccer, and I love watching soccer. As my soccer loving son says - it is mainly the South American players who do most of the flopping. I wish they would throw out any player caught flopping.

 

[Buzz Rules]

How do the refs not laugh? Are the players covering their faces to hold in a laugh? Everytime I try to watch I end up cracking up, seems like it takes a ton of acrobatic training to fake this well, especially the ongoing rolling. Why & what is happening??? Also, thank you for doing it, but still, why?

https://www.google.com/search?q=bes...#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6a645342,vid:aX71nSSBLe8

What leagues do you and your family watch? Also, have you attended a professional match in person? *Buzz Rules is shocked to see a soccer thread not started by himself*

 

[BamaGuy44]

What leagues do you and your family watch? Also, have you attended a professional match in person? *Buzz Rules is shocked to see a soccer thread not started by himself*

There are a few of us around

Not OP, but we mostly watch English Premeire League even though we're American. (Manchester United fans). Also UEFA Champions League and International (Go Team USA!)

Love the game! Grew up playing, coaching and refereeing

 

[CGB]

I actually prefer to watch the offender dramatically explain or argue their innocence.



Our kids played soccer (their favorite sport) when they were younger and love the game. We are really excited with our new team in St Louis (son has already been to a couple of home games.)

 

[RedAngie]

Soccer floppers make the WWE shenanigans look like amateurs.

 

[1420Elexismc]

I agree with @Buzz Rules. They're trying to "game" the referee into calling a foul. You actually see it in every sport (not the rolling on the ground, but trying to game the ref).

As far as the shin guards... A) they don't cover the entire shin, probably not even 1/2 and B) they're not a lot of protection.

I have a sweet scar on my shin that proves how little help they are if someone kicks you hard enough

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

It's certainly not rugby, where you are trained to trample your opponents' eyeballs out. Now THAT is a contact sport.