Thread: Trying to understand soccer/football

Some have put forth the idea that soccer is only so popular because it takes so little in the way of equipment. On the other hand, some people say that Americans don't get it because we're action junkies--that we need to see high scores.

So, what are your thoughts? Why is, or isn't, soccer that great?

That's what i was thinking. Americans like aggressive, fast-packed action sports. Football, hockey and basketball come to mind. High scoring, unpredictability, fast, energetic, and entertaining. I never liked soccer and thought it was extremely boring but i have a couple reasons why it may be so popular.

Soccer, or "football" as it is known throughout the world, is the most popular sport and requires a huge amount of skill. It creates fanatical fans, and throws the world's biggest sporting tournament, the FIFA World Cup.

One of the major reasons why it's so popular is the relative simplicity of the World Game. All that is required to play is two teams and a small round ball. This makes it the only sport that can be played in many developing nations. And it is from these nations that some of the best players come. The rules are easy to learn. Just simply kick the ball into the net and do not use your arms. The only rule that is tricky to learn is offsides but you will understand it quickly if you follow the game for a few weeks (or even days).

Soccer takes extreme hand-eye coordination and develops it into pure skill. Huge amounts of money are spent in securing the best players throughout the many clubs, and an individual player can be worth more than 50 million dollars. This gives hope to many young players to make a name for themselves and quickly become a public figure. The same idea applies to the Latin/Hispanic baseball players from South America trying to make it to the MLB. It's their ticket out of poverty.

Those people in the lower class can't pick up a golf club (too expensive - targets the rich). Football is too complex because of the rules and you need to be big, fast and explosive to play this sport. Hockey is a mix of both. Most countries do not have basketball courts or hoops so that's out of the question too. Soccer can be played by anyone, not just the rich, not just the upper class. Anyone can play as long as they have a ball and a goal on both ends which can easily be set up using cones (doesn't always need to be a net).

I always watch the World Cup. South Africa is hosting it this year and it starts in June. It occurs every 4 years (same idea as the Olympics) so it will be huge. I am looking forward to it. The only thing i will never understand is how crazy some of the fans are. I mean, i always hear stories of riots, murders, flag-burning, and so on when it comes to supporting their teams. These fans would cut off an arm and a leg to see their favorite teams win the Cup. Absolutely crazy. You would never see that happen in America.

Interestingly enough, for as much as other countries love soccer and most americans not caring for it, America has the most registered soccer players in the world. No shit. More than any other country in the world!
Go figure. Personally, I don't like it either. Hockey for the win!

Asking why someone enjoys a sport is like asking why they enjoy a song.

Originally Posted by KelJu

Asking why someone enjoys a sport is like asking why they enjoy a song.

And that's how I became interested in BB King.

Originally Posted by DOMS

I watch quite a bit of UK television each week. Doing that, I see several adverts for soccer.

I'm trying to understand why it's so popular.

Let me make one thing clear, I'm looking for an informed discussion on the matter. No asinine statements using stereotypes. In other words: pitman need not apply.

If it's valid, do point out your dislikes of the game, just try to keep your statements relevant.

I'm surrounded by football fans (soccer fans).

Here are some reasons why it's popular, IMO.

1. You don't need equipment and a sports field to play the game.

In the poorest of nations, kids play on a dirt field, even barefoot, with sticks for goal posts.

No equipment, or field needed.

2. Popular because different nations on different continents played the game and became enamored with it: Latin America, Europe, and East Asia.

3. The play is continuous. American NFL is a start-and-stop games, further interrupted by TV ads. TV adds are not allowed to interrupt the games (even though the Americans tried to have TV ads interrupt soccer games for the 1994 World Cup, which was rejected.)

Personally, I cannot get into football/soccer for the following reasons:

1. It's not a come-back sport, IMO. If a team is up by 2 goals, this team will "play on the heals," zone-up and play defense.

In a very big game, both teams play so much defense the score is 0-0 at the end of the game, and ends in a shoot out.

2. The officiatin is sub-bar. Bad calls have cost teams, big games. Recently the Henry hand-ball knocked Ireland out of the world cup trials.

3. It's a slow game (for me). Off-sides rule is a part of this, IMO.

4. The Premier League has not salary cap and is about 3 rich teams winning all of the time. A 4th teams beats these elite teams of Liverpool, Chelsea, Man U. and Arsenal sometimes, and the rest of the 20 team league is cannon fodder.

5. Culture - I grew up with NFL & college football, baseball, and basketball. Not soccer (although I played soccer in my pre-teens.


I watch the World Cup, but that's it.

Same reason Michael Jackson was popular, lots of fancy footwork, simple with a mix of black and white.....

I can only watch World Cup matches.

I can't get into club matches, as I have not affinity to any team. Nor does the outcome seem that important.

To say that soccer isn't fast nor aggresive is completely off base and obviously a statement made by someone who has never played. Yes it is a bit of a chess battle at times, with control of the field.

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

To say that soccer isn't fast nor aggresive is completely off base and obviously a statement made by someone who has never played. Yes it is a bit of a chess battle at times, with control of the field.

I did play soccer, when I was younger.

Yes, it is fast, when you're playing, IMO.

I agree with the chess game comarison.

And soccer is agressive and competitive. Women's soccer is also very competitive.

I played soccer from the time I was 5 until I was 10 or so, then I started playing tackle football. Call me crazy, but smashing the shit out of someone seemed so much more appealing than running around after a ball in shiny pastel colored short-shorts.

I can't get into it myself. I've tried to give it a chance, but I just don't find it all that interesting. As others have pointed out, the play is slow and the games are low scoring. One thing I find particularly annoying is all the diving, flopping, acting, and referee hounding the players do to get calls. I mean, the NBA is pretty bad, but the flopping by soccer players is friggin rediculous and unbearable. It seems like if one player goes near another, one of them flails their arms and jumps on the ground, then gets up asking the ref where the call is. Just play the damn game! One thing I love about the NFL is that if you try to take a dive to get a call, the players on the other team will give you a beatdown.

That said, I'll watch the World Cup games. How can you not? Biggest and most important sports tournament on the planet.

Originally Posted by DOMS

And that's how I became interested in

No you're talkin'!

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

I I can only watch World Cup matches.

I can't get into club matches, as I have not affinity to any team. Nor does the outcome seem that important. I agree
To say that soccer isn't fast nor aggresive is completely off base and obviously a statement made by someone who has never played. Yes it is a bit of a chess battle at times, with control of the field.

To say that soccer isn't fast nor aggresive is completely off base and obviously a statement made by someone who has never played against DaMayor during his soccer career.

For the most part, Americans (at least those I played against) addressed the game in a much more aggressive fashion, simply because most grew aup playing (American) football. But, with an excellent coach, who actually made us play Chess, and watch endless World Cup tapes, and run through all sorts of unconventional routines to develop skills, (he even had us using ballet positions to stretch out...it worked, but it wasn't cool) we learned how to play a more European style...a thinking game. I spent as much time reading about the game as I did running and playing the game....Of course, if you were a cocky, cheating ass I'd gladly take a red card to take you out.

Edison Arantes do Nascimento.....I ran many a mile to become like him.

Originally Posted by shiznit2169

That's what i was thinking. Americans like aggressive, fast-packed action sports. Football, hockey and basketball come to mind. High scoring, unpredictability, fast, energetic, and entertaining. I never liked soccer and thought it was extremely boring but i have a couple reasons why it may be so popular.

The more I thought about this, the more that I don't believe it's the complete answer.

Originally Posted by shiznit2169

Soccer takes extreme hand-eye coordination and develops it into pure skill.

Originally Posted by shiznit2169

Those people in the lower class can't pick up a golf club (too expensive - targets the rich). Football is too complex because of the rules and you need to be big, fast and explosive to play this sport. Hockey is a mix of both. Most countries do not have basketball courts or hoops so that's out of the question too. Soccer can be played by anyone, not just the rich, not just the upper class. Anyone can play as long as they have a ball and a goal on both ends which can easily be set up using cones (doesn't always need to be a net).

I believe this is the prime reason why it is such a popular sport. I hadn't realized it until I read your post; every popular sport in the US requires quite a bit of equipment.

Originally Posted by shiznit2169

The only thing i will never understand is how crazy some of the fans are. I mean, i always hear stories of riots, murders, flag-burning, and so on when it comes to supporting their teams. These fans would cut off an arm and a leg to see their favorite teams win the Cup. Absolutely crazy. You would never see that happen in America.

This is what prompted me to give soccer a try: the level of fan dedication. It's also why I chose Manchester United as my team to follow. They're know around the world as a group of fans that you don't want to screw with.

NSFW (language)

Originally Posted by FMJ

Interestingly enough, for as much as other countries love soccer and most americans not caring for it, America has the most registered soccer players in the world. No shit. More than any other country in the world!
Go figure. Personally, I don't like it either. Hockey for the win!

I did not know that.

As for hockey, that reminds me of a quote I heard years ago, back before (I guess) that cleaned up the violence. "I went a fight once, and a hockey game broke out."

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

To say that soccer isn't fast nor aggresive is completely off base and obviously a statement made by someone who has never played. Yes it is a bit of a chess battle at times, with control of the field.

I'll give it to you that the players do run fast quit a lot, but that's not the same thing as being in the crunch and having tension.

But then again, maybe if I understood the rules (or dynamics?) better, I'd find it more exciting. Do you have a clip (from YouTube) that you could post and walk us through?

On a related note, I have to give it to soccer players for being in shape. They have to run constantly, and often having to sprint hard; all for 45 minutes at a time. Their conditioning is insane.

I've always preferred rugby over soccer for a lot of the reasons that have already been mentioned:

0-0 draws are far too common.

The actual game isn't very varied even in full swing. At least not varied enough for my tastes. In rugby you have scrums and line outs, it can be a running game, a kicking game, it can be very physical or there will be some dodging and weaving. Theres also two ways to score - drop goals or tries. In football aside from throw ins and corners (which are essentially the same but in different parts of the field) its always gonna be just passing and the occasional run. Penalties are pretty tense, but they don't happen all the time.

I just don't find it exciting. In rugby when the team is making an attempt for the try line its riveting stuff, when a footballer breaks away and runs up the field i couldn't care less.

I also hate all the shit when soccer players fall over and feign injury after a particularly harsh gust of wind. Having no respect for the ref and getting up in his face is also an all too frequent occurrence. I hate all that shit.

Its one of those sports thats more fun to play than it is to watch. I love playing tennis but i find watching wimbledon akin to a few days of paint drying. I get the same feeling watching soccer.

Originally Posted by MCx2

I played soccer from the time I was 5 until I was 10 or so, then I started playing tackle football. Call me crazy, but smashing the shit out of someone seemed so much more appealing than running around after a ball in shiny pastel colored short-shorts.

That's the funny thing, a lot of people, US and not, try to compare soccer with football. But they games are so fundamentally different. Football is brief moments of high intensity with breaks in between. While soccer is a long game of low intensity with rare moments of high intensity.

Originally Posted by I Are Baboon

I can't get into it myself. I've tried to give it a chance, but I just don't find it all that interesting. As others have pointed out, the play is slow and the games are low scoring. One thing I find particularly annoying is all the diving, flopping, acting, and referee hounding the players do to get calls. I mean, the NBA is pretty bad, but the flopping by soccer players is friggin rediculous and unbearable. It seems like if one player goes near another, one of them flails their arms and jumps on the ground, then gets up asking the ref where the call is. Just play the damn game! One thing I love about the NFL is that if you try to take a dive to get a call, the players on the other team will give you a beatdown.

This is my biggest gripe with soccer and why I'm having trouble seeing it as a man's sport. I was watching a match were a guy was run into with the same ferocity that I've been run into by someone at the market, and he drops to the ground, grabs his shoulder, and starts flopping around. The ref comes over, shows a yellow card, and he gets up, fine as dandy, and goes back to playing. The fact that he didn't even try to pretend that he was recuperating show a tacit, if not outright, approval on the part of the refs and the fans for that sort of behaviour.

It's hard to view the game as manly when they act like six year old girls.

Originally Posted by Gazhole

I've always preferred rugby over soccer for a lot of the reasons that have already been mentioned:

0-0 draws are far too common.

Actually, I don't believe that anyone has mentioned that.

In football, there have only been 17 ties since 1974 (when the rules were revamped). In baseball, ties only happen in pre-season games; you play until someone wins or too many players die and you can't field a team.

I can understand why they allow ties in soccer, the game is so demanding on the body that they'd run the risk of dying or they'd have to keep a team so deep that it might not be economically feasible. Still, having a game were ties, especially 0-0 games, takes a bit out of the excitement. It's one thing to win and be happy, or lose and be angry; but what do you do when neither wins? Where's the emotion?

Originally Posted by Gazhole

I just don't find it exciting. In rugby when the team is making an attempt for the try line its riveting stuff, when a footballer breaks away and runs up the field i couldn't care less.

I've only watched rugby one, years ago. What I remember will stay with me. A guy breaks another guy's jaw and gets a few minutes in the penalty box. You can't call that a sissy game.

I ran across this while researching soccer:

Originally Posted by DOMS

Actually, I don't believe that anyone has mentioned that.

I ran across this while researching soccer:

Drama does have a purpose in soccer. With 45 minute halves of constant running, and no time outs, some choose to milk that "injury" moment to give the other guys a breather. And yes, in present day soccer there are quite a few babies.

Hahahaha, that commercial is awesome

And now, some rugby tackles:

Originally Posted by Gazhole

Hahahaha, that commercial is awesome

And now, some rugby tackles:

What?!? That makes american football look like a girlscout jamboree!

Originally Posted by DOMS

That's the funny thing, a lot of people, US and not, try to compare soccer with football. But they games are so fundamentally different. Football is brief moments of high intensity with breaks in between. While soccer is a long game of low intensity with rare moments of high intensity.

In no way, shape or form was I comparing the 2 sports. Having played both of them for most of my childhood, I'm well aware of the differences. What I was getting at however is that in my experience as a young male growing up playing sports, both me a lot of my friends started out playing soccer (being it's good exercise and it's non-contact) and at a certain age found it mundane and borderline ghey to be honest; then made the jump to something that required a little more toughness and physicality. Most of the kids on the soccer team for a lack of a better term, were pussies. I'd venture to say this is a common thought process amongst young American males.

As with most sports I love to play soccer but I can't stand to watch it... I think baseball and golf are the only 2 I can't stand to play nor watch.... American football was always my favorite not too many sissy no touch rules, basketball and soccer you can't make contact or you get penalized I alway hated that part....

The Football is for girls video was great!!!