In our effort to raise awareness around the diving problem we summarize effective ways to identify dives. Wikipedia enumerates 4 recognisable traits listed on a 2009 study by Paul H. Morris & David Lewis from University of Portsmouth, UK: “Tackling Diving: The Perception of Deceptive Intentions in Association Football (Soccer)“.

1. Temporal Contiguity
2. Ballistic Continuity
3. Contact Consistency
4. Archer’s Bow Pose

We add a fifth one which we’ll call Extension, very well explained by Arsène Wenger in this quote:

“In many cases now, the guy goes and if the goalkeeper has their hands off, the striker leaves a leg as long as he can to make sure that the goalkeeper touches him. But that’s not really a penalty.”

Here are all the details on the 5 traits and a bonus at the end:

1) Temporal Contiguity

A separation in time between the impact and the simulation.

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2) Ballistic Continuity

Lack of ballistic continuity. The player moves farther than would be expected from the momentum of the tackle or in a direction different than the tackle would produce.

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3) Contact Consistency

Lack of contact consistency. The player nurses a body part other than where the impact occurred, such as contact to the chest causing the player to fly to the ground, holding their face.

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4) Archer’s Bow Pose

The “Archer’s bow” pose, where the head is tilted back, chest thrust forward, arms raised and both legs bent at the knee to lift both feet off the ground to the rear, is recognised as a characteristic sign of simulation, as the action is counter to normal reflex mechanisms to protect the body in a fall.

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5) Over Extension

Exaggerated extension where both legs are fully extended before the tackle, looking to increase the chance of contact with the opponent. Counter the athletic running body movement in which the person is always flexing one knee to bring the leg forward to take the next step.

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6) Bonus: No contact

Self explanatory.

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Header photo by shauking from Pixabay