Soccer is a physical sport. There is a great possibility of injury and therefore the rules of the game have been modified over the years to help prevent players from getting injured as much as possible. The basic rules of the game and the basic concept of the game have not changed since it was invented, but modern technology, as well as the drive to prevent injuries, has changed some of the rules for the better in recent years.
A big push recently has been to block helmet-to-helmet hits when a defender is going to throw a punch at an offensive player wearing this helmet. This action has resulted in 15-yard personal foul penalties and many times resulted in fines for the player being imposed by the NFL commissioner. There has also been a big push recently to protect the quarterback because he is often seen as a defenseless player and there have been many controversial rules in recent years that do not allow defensive players to hit quarterbacks over the head, or hit them once they have thrown the ball to a receiver or running back. This rule change has sparked a huge outcry from defensive players across the league who feel their style of play has been hampered by the new rules. They have gone largely neglected because there are now even stricter rules protecting quarterbacks or other unprotected players from injury.
Another great advance in soccer rules has been the invention and implementation of instant replay. Media networks have long used instant replay to show live audiences the play over and over again, and have been able to dissect a play and see exactly what the correct callout should be. However, umpires on the field don’t have this luxury and were therefore prone to making incorrect calls because they simply couldn’t see the play from the correct angle. Instant replay has changed all that and now referees can review a play if they feel the need to and even coaches can challenge the call on the field if they feel the call was made in error. Many people see this as a good game advancement because it allows referees to make the game more accurate and allows coaches to get the right decisions for their players. It is unfortunate when a referee’s call has to decide the outcome of the game, but the best thing for the game is that it is officiated correctly. These technological advances have made the game of soccer more fun and safer for everyone.