Why American's Love NFL Football and dislike Soccer.

Germany and England play some tough games but the problem for some American's is that the game basically has the same thing going on for 90 minutes plus and as I admit I enjoy playing soccer I also admit I LOATHE watching it.

I also admit that I jump on the World Cup band wagon when the U.S. Women win or the U.S. Men are playing and the U.S. Men make the world cup every 4 years regularly now.

But I have watched games that end 0-0 and it even frustrates me.

AboveAlpha

 

Exactly.

 

Borrrriiiinnnnng. Tried to watch a few world cup games last time they were held. My max attention span was about 5 minutes. Guys go 20 yards west, other guys go 30 yards east, then the first group of guys go 35 yards west. Repeat with lots of people on the other side of the field standing around.

 

Saw some old farts lawn bowling at a retirement community a couple of weeks ago. Breathtaking action compared to soccer.

 

All out brawls are not sport but are thuggery and cast a bad light on that "sport".

 

It's a game of quick tactical decisions made by the players which are very hard to catch for the casual observer.
But in the end it's a matter of taste.

 

How good is Jarryd Hayne going...

 

Sports at this level are entertainment, period. I can understand how watching a video clip of actual intensity during a sport is foreign to a soccer fan, as you didn't see 120 lb men falling to the ground pretending to be in agonizing pain when they were touched. If you're looking for a sport with with no contact, hugs and kisses, and tea and crumpets after the game, I can understand why you enjoy soccer.

 

How about the fact that soccer is just plain boring. While there's a lot of action on the field it rarely results in scoring.

Of course watching the fans riot is more exciting but that's not assured so why watch?

 

It is all a matter of conditioning as to why Americans like their version of football. They are brought-up that way and the commercial interests that underpin it will not have it any other way.

 

no scoring is a bad thing?


then why do American baseball fans love no hitters??

 

I am going to go ahead and say I much prefer to watch college football to NFL football. For example going to see the Army and Navy game is one of the most rewarding and grand experiences one can have. It will give you so much hope for the future of this proud country.

 

There are too many pauses in American Football. I tried and follow it, but I haven't got all that patience ...

Watching at an American Football match it happens I get bored and I stop watching.

Soccer means also the tense of the wait ... wait for ... a goal!

 

American Football translates well to television. You've got plenty of replays to show between downs to make it appear there is more action than there actually is. It's timed, unlike baseball which can last for hours.

Even as a former baseball player, American football is the best sport from a spectator's perspective. Baseball has it's moments.... 2 out, bases loaded, full count on the batter, bottom of the 9th..down by 2 runs. However at 162 regular season MLB games, each individual game is somewhat meaningless. With only 16 regular season games, the individual game in the NFL matters more.

I don't follow international soccer at all other than during the World Cup. The U.S. has a professional soccer league but I don't follow that either unless my city gets a team. Maybe I'll pay more attention to it at that time.

For now football is King in America...college and the pros.

 

There is Strategy and Tactics in Soccer but it is on a much smaller and much more difficult to control level than Football.

In a Soccer game since players are basically running and kicking a ball there is a much higher level of mistake as far as where you are trying to get the ball and what players you are trying to get the ball to and where the ball will actually travel.

Because of this soccer's tactics are more controlled by the individual compared to overall Team Tactics.

In Football every play is a specific tactic which is part of an overall strategy.

It is all about executing plays and doing this in an extremely precise manner.

Plus there is one other major aspect going on in a Football Game that really is not going on in a Soccer Game and that in Football.....once a guy is HIT.....their ability to continue playing and executing depends upon the Physical Condition as a person's skills begin to deteriorate at an accelerated level after continually being hit by men who have the speed of track stars....the strength of weight lifters....weighing in at over 300 lbs of pure muscle and over 400 lbs if lineman....and STILL have to retain memory of hundreds upon hundreds of plays and understand situational football.

One Team that does this better than any Team I have ever seen is the New England Patriots who have a HUGE following in England and in Germany.

The Patriots will spend hours practicing what they will do if a single specific event happens during a game and they have assignments for all players in the event any number of events or situations might occur during the game and what they will due depends not only on the event and situation but as well what time during the game it occurs and depending upon the environment.

AboveAlpha

 

I have played Football as a Quarterback and I can tell you and other Non-American's WHY the game stops after each play as many European's who are used to the continuous play of a soccer game always tend to get confused when a play ends during a football game and the players on each side must line up again.

One reason is because that is part of the game but another reason is that there does not exist a Human ALIVE that can play Football continuously as to do so would take impossible strength and endurance.

Oh...I have heard the whole....RUGBY argument as Rugby players continue to play but Rugby does not take anywhere NEAR the amount of physical exertion as Football.

On any given down and in Football you have 4 Downs or 4 opportunities to either run with or pass the ball and more it at a minimum or 10 yards which if done will reset the Downs back to a 1st Down....on any given down Football Players are exerting their bodies at 100% CAPACITY and not only that but they have to FIGHT against another player while doing it!!!

As a Quarterback I can tell European Members that I have taken hits during and after plays that would KILL an un-padded Soccer Player!!!

And I was just playing at a High School Level and with other Guy's locally when I was older.

At the NFL Level a person would be going against some of the strongest, fastest and largest Human Beings on Planet Earth!!!

I am a Patriots Fan and an example of such power is apparent in New England Patriots #87 Rob Gronkowski.

GRONK as he is known is almost 6 foot 7 inches tall and weighs 265 lbs.

Gronk has extremely long arms at 34 1/4 inches long and an additional 10 3/4 inches of hand and this works well for Gronk as he plays the Offensive Position of Tight End which makes Gronk both a receiver and blocker.

Gronk is a Player capable of bench pressing over 400 lbs....can run at lightning speed.....and has incredible endurance and always wants to be on the field.

Rob is capable of running the 40 Yard Dash in 5.13 seconds!!!

And there are many players in the NFL capable of running the 40 Yard Dash in under 4.8 seconds.

But my point is a NFL Football Player unlike a FIFA Soccer Player is not pacing himself.

The NFL Player is running, pushing, tackling, throwing...etc...and exerting 100% of his bodies energy on every single play and those who do not quickly find themselves without a job!!!

And if the physicality was not enough an NFL Player must commit to memory Hundreds upon Hundreds of Plays and memorize Situational Plays as well be cognizant of NFL Rules which apply to everything from a Defensive Back having to first turn and look for the ball before he can in any way interfere with a receiver to whom the football is being thrown all the way to a Player having to KNOW and absolutely COMMIT TO MEMORY which offensive player in any one of hundreds of possible offensive lineups can be in motion or not or eligible to receive the ball or not and also make sure they don't jump offsides if a Quarterback gives what is known as a HARD COUNT which is yelling something loud before the ball is hiked which could draw the defense offsides.

Here is one particular play that the New England Patriots did that will explain and detail just how much THINKING is involved as far as Coach and Players during JUST ONE PLAY in an NFL GAME.

The Patriots were playing the Denver Bronco's in Denver at Mile High Stadium and this means there is not anywhere near as much Oxygen at such an elevation so Players not acclimated to such altitude tend to struggle getting O2.

There was about 2 Minutes and 40 Seconds left in the game.

The Denver Bronco's were winning and ahead by only 4 points.

The Patriots with Tom Brady at Quarterback had been called for a few penalties and this had pushed the Patriots back to their own 4 yard line and it was 3rd Down and 27 yards to go.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick called in a Play and to the surprise of many people the Football was hiked high into the air and well over the head of Quarterback Tom Brady and into the crowd at the back of the Patriots sided Endzone.

When this happens or if an Offensive Player is tackled and brought down in the Endzone it is called a SAFETY and the Defensive Team in this case being the Bronco's get 2 points and the Offensive Team...in this case being the Patriots have to PUNT the ball to the Bronco's.

After the Belichick PURPOSELY CALLED IN PLAY for the Patriots to give 2 points on a SAFETY to the Denver Bronco's not only were the Patriots now down 6 points instead of only 4 points but the Bronco's were going to get the Ball when the Patriots punted so WHY did Patriots coach Bill Belichick call this play??????

This answer will give European Members a GRASP of just how in depth and how complex and detailed tactics and strategy are in Football.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick understood that he still had all 3 Timeouts given to a Team per half which when called will STOP THE CLOCK and along with the 2 MINUTE WARNING....the Patriots could give up 2 points and be down by 6 instead of 4....thus allowing the Patriots the chance to win the game with a Touchdown if they got the ball back after they Punted the ball after allowing and giving up the 2 Point Safety to the Denver Bronco's.

Coach Belichick knew that the chances of getting 27 yards on a single play when backed up in their own endzone against a very good and swarming Bronco Defense was unlikely and even though the Patriots would have 2 chances to get 27 yards realistically if they failed to get 27 yards upon 3rd down the Patriots would PUNT on 4th Down rather than run a play and risk giving the football back to the Bronco's so close to the Patriots endzone which could allow an easy Touchdown and 7 points.

As well even if the Patriots were able to get the 27 yards on 3rd down they would still be close to 70 yards away from the Denver endzone and as the Patriots were down by 4 points a Field Goal kicked would only give them 3 points so that was no good and by giving up the 2 Point Safety the Patriots were just down by 6 points and the safety allowed the Patriots to Punt well outside their own endzone thus evading the possibility of having a Punt BLOCKED if they had to Punt on the 6 yard line.

So the Patriots gave up 2 points...were down by 6 points....and they got a GREAT PUNT out of their Punter and this Punt went 67 yards and with the return the Patriots had moved the line of scrimmage all the way down to the 34 yard line on the other side of the field.

For European Members an NFL Field is 100 Yards long and is numbered with the 50 yard line dead center and it goes down numbered the same every 10 yards in both directions from 50 yards to 40, 30, 20, 10 and with the Endzone of 10 yards on both ends.

Now with approx. 2 minutes and 17 seconds Denver had the ball and the Patriots had 3 Time Outs and the automatic Time Out at the 2 Minute Warning to stop the clock after each play if they could stop Denver from getting 10 Yards in 4 Try's.

The Patriots stopped the Denver run on 1st down and called a time out which stopped the clock at 2 minutes 2 seconds.

On 2nd down Denver ran again and the 2 minute warning stopped the clock and Denver after 2 downs had only gotten 4 yards so with 2 minuted left it was 3rd Down and 6 yards to go.

On 3rd Down Denver ran the ball again and the Patriots stopped the clock as now it was 4th Down and 1 Yard to go.

Denver....feeling it's Defense could stop the Patriots Offense Punted the Ball with 1 minute and 43 seconds left and it was a good Punt and the Patriots ran the ball back to the Patriots side 34 yard line.

Now with 1 minute and 26 seconds left the Patriots had 66 yards to go to score a Touch Down.

Tom Brady was red hot and the Patriots scored a Touchdown and then kicking the extra point going ahead by 1 POINT with only 13 seconds left on the clock.

The Patriots kicked off to Denver and the Bronco's had time for one HAIL MARY PASS which Failed and the New England Patriots WON THE GAME!!!

Now this win would NEVER have happened given the time left and the field position the Patriots had being on their own 6 yard line after being penalized and it being 3rd down and 27 yards to go to get a 1st down.

Not many coaches in Sports have the Tactical and Strategic Capability to PURPOSELY GIVE UP POINTS in order to obtain FIELD POSITION....TIME....AND OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!!

You will NEVER see something like this happen during a SOCCER GAME!!!

AboveAlpha

 

I do not doubt there are many American/Canadian fans who share your opinion. What disappoints me is that so many American boys who loved to play soccer while in elementary and middle school but because American Football has such a commercial and cultural stranglehold in the USA, there is nowhere for these kids to go. There must have been some brilliant future soccer stars who were lost to the beautiful game.


They all want to be soccer players when they grow up.

 

We have Major League Soccer and my region has the New England Revolution as a Team as they are owned by the Kraft Family.....the same family that owns the New England Patriots so the Revolution has a state of the art stadium and practice facilities and they get a really good crowd.

Still....even kids that played soccer when they were younger and this includes me.....well NFL Football is a vastly superior game in just about every aspect.

It's more exciting to watch and it showcases the fastest, strongest and most aggressive talent on the Planet.

Plus we have Baseball, Hockey and Basket Ball as well.

NASCAR is massive.

Even things like Moto-Cross and X-Game type events...and even BEACH VOLLEYBALL which actually holds a huge audience will tend to do better than soccer.

AboveAlpha

 

Just to add both American Men and Women absolutely LOVE to get involved with the tactics and strategies and even one on one match-ups and whether another team should double team another teams player because he is so good...etc.

Even Fantasy Football is huge and entire networks dedicate multiple TV shows just for the purpose of detailing out Fantasy Leagues.

The best comparison I could give you is if you imagine a very large nation of 320 Million people and it's like each state and region has their own LIVING CHESS PLAYERS.

And once a week these people root for their Chess Players and how one Team has a better ROOK or Knight...etc.

But people also root for the strategies and tactics.

It's very different than soccer and it's addictive as HELL!! LOL!!

AboveAlpha

 

Soccer didn't come to our schools until the late 80's as a non-contact sport so that the frail white kids could have a chance at getting a letter to put on their college apps. Football had been around forever. Once you have 3 generations of a family playing soccer, it will grow in popularity I suppose. I have played soccer, football, rugby, and run track formally and have played most every other sport except wrestling in intramurals (we did not have that in wrestling BTW). Of all of them, I found rugby to be the most challenging and dynamic and we had a solid loyal fanbase for that. Not a TV sport in the US really, but I think it could challenge football in a few generations.

 

Rugby is fun to play and I enjoy watching it now and then but I highly doubt that it will ever challenge NFL Football.

It just does not have the same dynamics as Football and play is sometimes haphazard in it's nature and nowhere near as structured and methodical as Football.

I love all sports even Bocce.

I am one HELL of a Tennis player as well.

But in my opinion and in the opinions of the vast majority of American's there is no currently existing game that can rival NFL Football.

AboveAlpha

 

I think football works very well on televison... Plenty of time for replays, close ups, slow motion and commercials. There is more melodrama, more scoring
Soccer, not so much
Not saying anything bad about soccer... But football is more than a sport

 

Give us a break.

 

LOL!!!

I KNEW you would reply to this!! LOL!!!

AboveAlpha

 

Your are correct in saying too many pauses in gridiron football. The NFL acknowledges that there are on average only 10 minutes of action in a game. To me, that is awful. The game rules need to be changed so that there is continuous action as in the old days.