Took a Backwards Tumble

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by stir22

other than increasing your risk of falling, is there any other reason not to backtrack?

I've been warned about possible Achilles damage. Something tells me this fall will be a big motivator for me than that.

Having said that, in soccer, we're expected to backtrack some, especially toward a touchline as the ball approaches us. Come to think of it, backtracking is part of our physical test (shuffle test: 25 yards straight ahead, then to the left, then backwards, then to the right).

So riddle me this: Why is backtracking expected in one sport, but verboten in another?