Perhaps someone can correct me, but I'm under the impression that "set" aerial shots on goal or clears are illegal?

Isn't the goalkeeper directional kick in real soccer pretty much a high aerial to his attacking teammates?

I know that if a hard shot along the surface is blocked, causing the ball to hop up and into the goal, it counts.  This ruling has got to be the stupidest ruling!  If the shooter sets for an aerial kick like the pullkick or pushkick to the wall to a hop, without hitting an opposing player, it's illegal?  I've seen many a goalkeeper power shot or bank hop along inadvertently and still count!  As long as the 15 second rule is not broken, a goalkeeper should have all options to clear or pass or shoot!

You'd think that aerials would mimic real soccer more closely with aerial clears, passes and shots allowed!  It would certainly make the game more exciting with the inherent skill and practice required for set aerials.  And there is no unfair advantage, because the opposing players can certainly be swung up to defend as well, and definitely more workable when they see the goalkeeper set up for the aerial.

I was under the impression that it isn't an attempt to outlaw a cool shot, rather an attempt to keep the game flowing because of the number of mis-executed aerial shots that end up leaving the playfield.

Tom Yore would be a good person to talk to if you can catch him at a tournament. 

claaark13:

I was under the impression that it isn't an attempt to outlaw a cool shot, rather an attempt to keep the game flowing because of the number of mis-executed aerial shots that end up leaving the playfield.

Tom Yore would be a good person to talk to if you can catch him at a tournament. 

That is correct.

Now that makes a lot of sense.

Maybe they'll make a sort of plastic shield (similar to what motorcycles have) on either end to minimize the "balls off the table".  Or just penalize a two possessions for every three shots off the table.

And yeah, I can call Tom at home, but he's been in Germany with our UberNetfooser, Mark Winker, at the TecBall championships.  That's the Lehmacher-designed table made in China (mucho cheaper) used by the ITSF-sanctioned GTSF, but not the Lehmacher-made P4P used in their DTFB Bundesliga national tournaments.

I have heard of them putting up a system of nets behind the goals similar to what are used at soccer facilities. 

Even though it seems you are being a bit facetious, I will ask a reliable official this weekend at Kentucky.

I've read that there is some bias against the Aerial-shot because for all practical purposes it eliminates the defensive presence/impact of the opposing Forward...

I think it's a neat shot, but if pressed, I'd agree with the opinion voiced against it, as exampled above. 

Of course, if "The Vote that should have been, but never was.", would have taken place...

I would have voted to outlaw/ban the Roll-over/Snake shot. Although I shoot it now; it's kind of like the A-bomb. They got one, I need one. I guess I'm Old Skool, when push comes to shove. I wish the Set-shots still held sway. I'd shoot Pull-kicks till my arm fell off. (Which probably wouldn't take long!)

They're called HAND-les, not WRIST-les... 

And...even though the Roll-over might make it possible for the more mature player (Read that as "old geezers") like myself to play, I'd still say that there is nothing beautiful about the shot...and my own enjoyment of playing is diminished by having to shoot it in an attempt to increase my chances for victory.

Sorry if I hijacked the thread... 

No wait. I'm not.  LOL!

Take Care y'all!  Good Luck In Kentucky!

***************************** 

claaark13:

I have heard of them putting up a system of nets behind the goals similar to what are used at soccer facilities. 

Even though it seems you are being a bit facetious, I will ask a reliable official this weekend at Kentucky.

Thanks Claaark13..

I finally got to ask Mark Winker and a couple of our new soon-to-be recertified IFP refs SweetDD and Paul, why the moratorium on aerials.

Their opinion was that if too many people tried it, it would slow up the game at best, or be another way to cheat, at the worst.  I guess if a lot of wannabe aerialists keep setting up and shooting the shot, but keep missing the ball off the table (yeah that would happen), this would start a chain effect of too many stoppages to go and find the ball, much less retrieve it.

So I guess until they come up with a bubble like they do with bubble-hockey and certain Leonhards and Jupiters I've seen down here, they will keep all these pumped up aerialists from doing their "next-door" version of a Colorado Clear.  Even with giving up posession, it could still afford a stressed or reeling team a free timeout with a shot purposely sent way yonder.  Plus a way for a goalkeeper to keep the ball away from a deadly forward that can "stuff" or "roof" the ball very well.

Oh well, guess we need the detachable/attachable bubble top foosball table.  But I do wish they would explain this more clearly in ITSF, USTSA, or IFP rules.