Jerry Richards Fontana, Calif. This is a comment/suggestion: Soccer is not considered a high-scoring game and thus seems to deter people in the U.S. from going to games. My suggestion is to limit the offside law to the penalty area. That way forwards could go to the end lines, forcing defenders to spread out some and opening things up for a score. Additionally, eliminate the offside law when overtime (or sudden death) play begins. Ridge Mahoney: Jerry, this would be extremely complicated and difficult to referee. Are we talking about passes between players within the penalty area, or balls coming from outside the box as well? If a defender is outside the penalty area, is he a factor in determining offside within the penalty area, or are there, in effect, two games taking place at the same time, one inside the area and one outside the area? If the latter was the case, how could anyone keep track? Players move in and outside the penalty area and balls are passed, headed, deflected and crossed. Offside, as has been proven, is an extremely fluid and dynamic condition, and very difficult to officiate as it is. I believe your idea, while intriguing and appealing on paper, is far too complex to implement. The old North American Soccer League implemented an offside rule whereby players could not be offside up to an 18-yard line and later a 35-yard line. This had no noticeable effect on goalscoring. As far as getting rid of offside altogether, that would just as easily create a defensive response as players stay home to mark the cherry-pickers. I can’t see changing the rules for overtime, although adding extra subs per overtime period might have some rationale to mitigate cramping, fatigue and exhaustion. (If you have a question for a Soccer America Magazine editor, click “Q&A with SA Editors” in the left column of the home page under “Interactive.”)