6 ms·

I'm from a country that has zero football and soccer is the king of everything. Some time ago I started watching football and really enjoyed both the physical t

by sanoli 13y ago

I'm from a country that has zero football and soccer is the king of everything. Some time ago I started watching football and really enjoyed both the physical tactical aspects of it. Been very busy though (had kids!), and never got to really study and learn more about the game (read a for dummies book and that was it - still have last year's superbowl game on media player to be watched). What would be a good, practical way (book/video/documentary) to learn about the game? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

TillE 13y ago
Unless you have sentimental value attached to places or teams, rugby union is similar and much more watchable.
- sanoli 13y ago
  Could you elaborate on why is it more watchable?
  - eru 13y ago
    Real men don't wear padding.
  - lowkeykiwi 13y ago
    One aspect may be that they link plays together in rugby so one rugby play may contain the equivalent of many football plays. This makes the game more fluid and there aren't as many breaks.
  - lancewiggs 13y ago
    The play stops a lot less often and for a lot less time, and there are no ad breaks aside from at half-time. So you get a whole lot more action per hour. The 15 players stay on the field for the whole game, although 5 (about) can be subbed out (and can't come back). There are four ways to restart: kick-off, Scrum (big men push), line out (thrown in from the side), penalty, (kick for goal, kick for touch or chase or tap and go), and free kick (same as penalty but no shot for goal). The players run a lot - it's an aerobic and power game combined, which also means there is a role for players of all shapes and sizes. The cost of playing is a ball - no pads required. It's also a lot safer as there are a lot less head injuries, as the protective gear in American Football just makes players feel safe, while increasing the impacts to the head.. The coach does not dictate plays - the players decide what to do when on the ground. It's a lot more fluid. You can see the players' faces and bodies as they play, rather than just the coach. It's played between countries at the top level. We have a world cup that's a genuine world cup. It's now an Olympic sport at the 7s level. and so on
    - patrickk 13y ago
      Agree with most of what you said. > It's also a lot safer as there are a lot less head injuries... There's a bit of debate about that point, there isn't enough data on concussions in rugby as the professional era of massive rugby players isn't as established as the NFL. Great article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24765650 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24765650 Tongue in cheek article on why rugby is better than American football: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/589351-seven-reasons-why-rugby-is-a-better-game-than-american-football http://bleacherreport.com/articles/589351-seven-reasons-why-... ---- Where to begin as a rugby newbie? ---- For newcomers interested in rugby union, there's a fantastic subreddit of dedicated fans, really friendly to newcomers too: http://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion http://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion Check out the sidebar in that subreddit, it's excellent. Rugby to Watch Highlights of the Rugby Championship between South africa v All Blacks (one of the best games in recent memory - it's got power, speed, skill and massive hits in abundance) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2B0EviQDB0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2B0EviQDB0 At the moment there's friendlies between top Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams. Fixtures - http://www.ultimaterugby.com/november-internationals-2013 http://www.ultimaterugby.com/november-internationals-2013 6 Nations (Top european nations duke it out). Fixtures - http://www.ultimaterugby.com/6-nation-2014 http://www.ultimaterugby.com/6-nation-2014 The above competitions are national teams, that doesn't even cover club sides, but that's enough to start with! Watch rugby online - http://www.viponlinesports.eu/sports/rugby.html http://www.viponlinesports.eu/sports/rugby.html
- cycrutchfield 13y ago
  Not even at all close in terms of strategy and tactics.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- kasey_junk 13y ago
  I really like rugby union but saying it is similar to football is really not true. Many of the things that are bemoaned about gridiron football are what most of us have come to love. The play stoppage, the start/stop nature, specialization of players etc. are what make gridiron football the most strategic of ball games. Continuous play games like rugby and soccer are much more tactical less strategic. Neither is better or worse, but I enjoy the strategy of gridiron & enjoy the tactics of rugby (& aussie rules for that matter). Getting rid of those elements of gridiron football would be a bit like letting football (soccer) players use their hands. Sure it might make for an interesting new game, but it would destroy what we love about the old. Except the commercials. God the NFL has to get a handle on that.
  - woobar 13y ago
    > Except the commercials. DVR. Start watching one hour after the game starts. If you want a 'no-huddle' mode, start two hours behind.
harlanlewis 13y ago
Keep reading Grantland. They have great weekly columns, particularly for the NFL and NBA, that have broadened my understanding for and appreciation of the sports I thought I knew. Honestly, they're the best. You could also try fantasy sports, but they don't teach you much about the game - they just encourage the sort of singleminded obsession that makes learning any subject easier.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
geoka9 13y ago
I was in a similar position - couldn't even watch football games on TV (there were none where I lived). However I learned the rules by playing a video game (Madden, if I remember correctly). Became a big Green Bay Packers fan, too, just by playing the game :)
look_lookatme 13y ago
Definitely playing video games and fantasy (both already mentioned). Games will teach you about the language and forms of the offensive and defensive schemes as well as the basic rules (why a penalty is awarded and what its repercussions are) and fantasy will keep you up to date with the the current players, which is nice because players rise, peak and fall very quickly in the NFL (for very sad reasons, but while it's here and on TV, I'll be watching it).
kasey_junk 13y ago
I recommend that everyone, not just new fans, read 2 books: Keep Your Eyes Off the Ball by Pat Kirwan & The Essential Smart Football by Chris Brown. Both changed the way I watch the sport for the better.

by sanoli 13y ago

TillE 13y ago

Unless you have sentimental value attached to places or teams, rugby union is similar and much more watchable.

sanoli 13y ago
Could you elaborate on why is it more watchable?
- eru 13y ago
  Real men don't wear padding.
- lowkeykiwi 13y ago
  One aspect may be that they link plays together in rugby so one rugby play may contain the equivalent of many football plays. This makes the game more fluid and there aren't as many breaks.
- lancewiggs 13y ago
  The play stops a lot less often and for a lot less time, and there are no ad breaks aside from at half-time. So you get a whole lot more action per hour. The 15 players stay on the field for the whole game, although 5 (about) can be subbed out (and can't come back). There are four ways to restart: kick-off, Scrum (big men push), line out (thrown in from the side), penalty, (kick for goal, kick for touch or chase or tap and go), and free kick (same as penalty but no shot for goal). The players run a lot - it's an aerobic and power game combined, which also means there is a role for players of all shapes and sizes. The cost of playing is a ball - no pads required. It's also a lot safer as there are a lot less head injuries, as the protective gear in American Football just makes players feel safe, while increasing the impacts to the head.. The coach does not dictate plays - the players decide what to do when on the ground. It's a lot more fluid. You can see the players' faces and bodies as they play, rather than just the coach. It's played between countries at the top level. We have a world cup that's a genuine world cup. It's now an Olympic sport at the 7s level. and so on
  - patrickk 13y ago
    Agree with most of what you said. > It's also a lot safer as there are a lot less head injuries... There's a bit of debate about that point, there isn't enough data on concussions in rugby as the professional era of massive rugby players isn't as established as the NFL. Great article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24765650 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24765650 Tongue in cheek article on why rugby is better than American football: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/589351-seven-reasons-why-rugby-is-a-better-game-than-american-football http://bleacherreport.com/articles/589351-seven-reasons-why-... ---- Where to begin as a rugby newbie? ---- For newcomers interested in rugby union, there's a fantastic subreddit of dedicated fans, really friendly to newcomers too: http://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion http://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion Check out the sidebar in that subreddit, it's excellent. Rugby to Watch Highlights of the Rugby Championship between South africa v All Blacks (one of the best games in recent memory - it's got power, speed, skill and massive hits in abundance) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2B0EviQDB0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2B0EviQDB0 At the moment there's friendlies between top Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams. Fixtures - http://www.ultimaterugby.com/november-internationals-2013 http://www.ultimaterugby.com/november-internationals-2013 6 Nations (Top european nations duke it out). Fixtures - http://www.ultimaterugby.com/6-nation-2014 http://www.ultimaterugby.com/6-nation-2014 The above competitions are national teams, that doesn't even cover club sides, but that's enough to start with! Watch rugby online - http://www.viponlinesports.eu/sports/rugby.html http://www.viponlinesports.eu/sports/rugby.html
cycrutchfield 13y ago
Not even at all close in terms of strategy and tactics.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
kasey_junk 13y ago
I really like rugby union but saying it is similar to football is really not true. Many of the things that are bemoaned about gridiron football are what most of us have come to love. The play stoppage, the start/stop nature, specialization of players etc. are what make gridiron football the most strategic of ball games. Continuous play games like rugby and soccer are much more tactical less strategic. Neither is better or worse, but I enjoy the strategy of gridiron & enjoy the tactics of rugby (& aussie rules for that matter). Getting rid of those elements of gridiron football would be a bit like letting football (soccer) players use their hands. Sure it might make for an interesting new game, but it would destroy what we love about the old. Except the commercials. God the NFL has to get a handle on that.
- woobar 13y ago
  > Except the commercials. DVR. Start watching one hour after the game starts. If you want a 'no-huddle' mode, start two hours behind.

harlanlewis 13y ago

Keep reading Grantland. They have great weekly columns, particularly for the NFL and NBA, that have broadened my understanding for and appreciation of the sports I thought I knew. Honestly, they're the best. You could also try fantasy sports, but they don't teach you much about the game - they just encourage the sort of singleminded obsession that makes learning any subject easier.

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

geoka9 13y ago

I was in a similar position - couldn't even watch football games on TV (there were none where I lived). However I learned the rules by playing a video game (Madden, if I remember correctly). Became a big Green Bay Packers fan, too, just by playing the game :)

look_lookatme 13y ago

Definitely playing video games and fantasy (both already mentioned). Games will teach you about the language and forms of the offensive and defensive schemes as well as the basic rules (why a penalty is awarded and what its repercussions are) and fantasy will keep you up to date with the the current players, which is nice because players rise, peak and fall very quickly in the NFL (for very sad reasons, but while it's here and on TV, I'll be watching it).

kasey_junk 13y ago

I recommend that everyone, not just new fans, read 2 books: Keep Your Eyes Off the Ball by Pat Kirwan & The Essential Smart Football by Chris Brown. Both changed the way I watch the sport for the better.