Week 4 - Sport Analysis

Soccer is arguably the most popular sport in the world (and the only sport that I have actually played). I was surprised that both Tim Rogers and Bennett Foddy ranked it so highly in terms of game design. Rogers made the point that, “You only need to be watching it for 30 seconds to understand, almost perfectly, how to play” (21:01). The goal of soccer is incredibly simple — get the ball in the net. But, the constraints of soccer make it interesting and provide a challenge to players. Depending on the context, a game of soccer can have varying degrees of difficulty. A professional game of soccer poses a much greater challenge than a playground scrimmage match; However, the challenge in both scenarios serves the same purpose — to achieve a flow state in the player. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of a “flow state” can be described as “a state of high focus and enjoyment” (Macklin and Sharp, ch. 2). Flow state creates a “highly satisfying” experience for players as they are immersed in the action of the game. Both a professional player and recess MVP can enter a flow state in their respective games. The design of soccer is appealing to anyone given its simple rules but also because those rules allow for varying degrees of difficulty depending on the players.

Macklin and Sharp note that, “Emerging from challenge is a quartet of concepts that have a deep connection to one another: skill, strategy, chance, and uncertainty” (ch. 2). The challenge of soccer, both the physical constraints and other players, are simple to understand, but they create the potential for skill, strategy, and uncertainty. It’s no secret that professional soccer players have to practice for hundreds of hours to hone their skills at the game. Part of that practice includes learning the strategy of soccer: how to get around another player; how to play as a defender, attacker, or mid-fielder; what formation the team will take; and so on. Both skill and strategy are used to mitigate the effects of uncertainty in soccer. A skillful player may not make every pass, but they will perform more consistently. “No matter how much one practices, there is uncertainty that can lead to unpredictable events in a game” (Macklin and Sharp, ch. 2). Skill and strategy give the game more nuance — suddenly this game about kicking a ball into a net just got much more complicated. Because of this, soccer provides a challenge to players at any skill level.

Soccer’s simplistic rules show an incredible degree of thought on the designers’ part. Soccer is a very accessible game, but the technical aspects provide a continual challenge for players. No matter the skill level of the player, there is a game of soccer that will provide a fun experience. The design of soccer allows for varying levels of play without compromising the potential for flow status to occur. The simple rules and goals of the game make it easy to understand and play at a beginner level. But, if a player wants more of a challenge, then competitive soccer introduces more technical aspects of the game. The skill, strategy, and uncertainty of soccer complement the simplistic rules to create an enjoyable game for anyone.