American footballs influence on the world of sports and in particular

So you think
FOOTBALL
WARNING/DISCLAIMER
The following contains components of editorial license and does not necessarily reflect the views interests
or otherwise of the Downunder Football League. Its purpose is to not only inform and educate but to add
an element of mitigation to the repressive ignorance and prejudice that surrounds the sport of American
football. Achieving this “enlightenment “ requires on occasion examples analogies and facts from about or
other sports to assist in the learning process. It does not recriminate or pass judgment on any other sport
its assets or liabilities. It seeks to neither, defame or denigrate any other sport its athlete’s coaches or
administrations. It merely attempts to defend any inaccuracies misconceptions and negative prejudicial
perceptions on or about American football. It endeavors to utilize other sports only as a point of reference
to cultivate an environment of understanding and above all respect for American football.
American football is about many things. It is about amazing speed and skill its brute strength and
power undeniable.
It is a complex sport cerebral in nature exploding with tactics and strategy often characterized as a
sporting metaphor for war complete with bombs and blitzes within its terminology and courage and
self sacrifice on the field.
It is about collision and violence, success and failure, maybe a perfect expression of American life
where the demarcation lines are so clear they are even drawn on the field. If you prepare, work
hard and do well you are rewarded you gain ground. If you do badly or make a mistake you have
to pay often losing the same ground.
It is a game that has impact and action complete with instant reward and punishment.
It’s about tradition and ambition, and, in a real sense, the way the worlds most powerful, richest,
most indulgent society sees itself.
It is, especially at its apex the National Football League (NFL) all about money but also represents
the evolutionary pinnacle of sports that all sports world wide look to for leadership and innovation
in the fields of marketing and entertainment, media production, training techniques,
merchandising, terminology, the list goes on.
Despite its obvious attributes the sport is much maligned outside North America where there
exists a paradox of exemplifying success and excellence whilst earning ridicule and deserving of
little respect.
Downunder American football experiences prejudice from every angle. Its process and philosophy
is not conducive to the mentality and understanding of the Australasian demographic. It is after all
seen as intrinsically and obscurely only American for Americans.
Until recently It represented the last bastion of Americana that the Downunder demographic and
for that matter the globalized world refused to embrace. To accept this sport was to some how
bow to an imperial oppression that aggressively assaults an individual states cultural identity. It
would at the least be an admittance of American influence and indulgence.
As Australasia and the rest of the world adopts much of American culture merely mention
American football and an interesting dynamic often takes place. An aggressive dismissive and
unreceptive cultural fortification is erected followed closely by copious amounts of offensive retorts
that include; “They're all wussies in pads and helmets” or “It takes too long” or “ Its to stop starty”.
Perhaps the greatest restraint on the sports acceptance not to mention most widely ignored and
certainly not addressed due in large part to its insidious nature are those of a cultural and
nationalistic basis. These often transcend sport and encompass a wide range of variables but at
its heart is an underlying tone of anti Americanism or perhaps a camouflaging of Australasia’s own
cultural and nationalistic insecurities especially pertaining the perceived threat to the established
football codes.
The sport is overcoming this attitude born of ignorance and misunderstanding perpetuated by
mistruths and prejudice almost bordering on anti American and is emerging within the
Australasian environment.
Like Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, Softball, Netball, Triathlon, Mountain biking, skateboarding
other X sports and numerous other American sports that are embraced as Australasia’s own
complete with indigenous teams and athletes, American Football is not only entrenching itself
Downunder its exploding and is achieving this despite the enormous political, cultural, economic
and logistical restraints.
Ernest Hemingway once warned his fellow Americans to abandon their own sense of morality
when attending their first bull fight, it seems that reasonable non Americans are exercising the
same open mindedness to the gridiron battles of American cities colleges and high schools,
which, now given the opportunity will be Australasia’s.
To understand American football better it is important to grasp American footballs influence on the
world of sports and in particular Australasian sports which is often overlooked and rarely if ever
recognized. It is the one sport that all sports world wide but in particular Australasian sports turn to
for leadership and innovation in the fields of marketing, merchandising, media production, training
techniques, terminology here too the list goes on.
Its influence preempting emulation by other sports is frequently achieved in a subtle and
inconspicuous almost subversive manner. This influence is often embraced by the general
populace who will unwittingly accept the delivery of many facets and innovations burrowed from
American football when they reside within the confines of other established sports, but have been
quick to dismiss the sport of American football from which the original ideas were nurtured.
There is no better illustration of this fact than to examine Australasia’s other football codes.
Australian Rules, Rugby Union, Soccer, and in particular Rugby league have on numerous
occasions molded ideas and concepts from American football adjusted them to fit within their own
sports parameters often accepting the accolades for such innovative ideas from administrators,
players, fans, other sports and in particular the media
Refer to Warning / Disclaimer
Australian Rules for example commonly refer to themselves as All Australians (a variation of All
American terminology borrowed from American college football). It has introduced a Draft and
practices video and statistical analysis not to mention playing the game in quarters and stopping
the clock for out of bounds. American footballs influence has even extended to one club the
Sydney Swans using the Notre Dame (a major US college football team) fight song as their own
club theme. Australian Rules is not alone however.
Rugby Union introduced the concept of conferences and a conference of franchises (Super 12, 14
15) based on the US College footballs own Big 10, Big 12 and Pac 12 and the structure of the
NFL, this after the prompting from the “Boston Report”, (yes that would be Boston as in
Massachusetts USA) a report providing submissions and ideas based on the American football
example to Rugby administrations at the advent of the professional era to improve and advance
the game.
It has introduced video officials and mic’d up referees and increased the value of a try and
conversion to 7 points (the same incidentally as a Touchdown and PAT (conversion) in American
football) embellished the sport with intricate stat keeping and with mascots cheerleader and
dance squads.
Even the humble American football-kicking tee once ridiculed by the rugby fraternity is now an
integral part of rugby law.
The Spiral punt was first introduced to Rugby Union via the legendary All Black George Nepia who
learned the skill from American footballers.
Large player squads and positional coaches or defensive techniques (such as the Rush defense)
are concepts derived from American football introduced to rugby thanks to Sir Clive Woodward the
England national rugby coach who prior to winning the World Rugby Cup embraced the help of a
New Zealander who happened to be coaching major College American football who understood
what American football could offer Rugby Union.
Super 14 Rugby coach Colin
Cooper is just one of a long line of
Rugby coaches that have turned
to American football.
American football has even
influenced the way Rugby is
played and officiated just ask All
Black Joe Rokokoko or the IRB
But there is one sport which best exemplifies the influence of American football, a sport that is
familiar to both Australia and New Zealand
Rugby league the sport its coaches and administrators have successfully delivered to an
increasingly sophisticated sporting public American football without playing American football.
Using every facet of the American game and making it its own. From team names like Broncos,
Steelers, Raiders, Titans and Cowboys to the introduction of a tackle or downs count to a grid
system on the playing field
The North Queensland Cowboys name may have
some relevance to the region. But the logo
complete with star and cowboys font is remarkably
similar to the original logo of the Dallas Cowboys
This is a Rugby League field prior to the
1990s
Since then Rugby league has introduced a
grid system complete with hash marks and
numbers
From player interchange and substitution (for years dismissed when within the realms of
American football but readily accepted now as an integral part of Rugby League)
to gang tackling to believe it or not currently experimenting with eleven players and a forward pass
on sixth tackle.
The National Football League or NFL the American professional football competition has
influenced even the way the Rugby League has been named and marketed from the old New
South Wales Rugby League to the current National Rugby League or NRL
National Rugby League CEO
David Gallop leaves no doubt as
to his feelings towards American
football and the influence the
sport has had on the game of
Rugby League
Rugby league coaches like Jack Gibson the father of modern day rugby league had from the
beginning subscribed to the coaching philosophy of Vince Lombardi (American football coach) and
American football training and playing techniques.
Wayne Bennett and the Brisbane Broncos widely regarded as the benchmark franchise of the
NRL have from their inception taken much including their name from the Denver Broncos of the
National Football League and continue to affiliate themselves with the American football franchise.
Former New Zealand League coaches Graham Lowe and Daniel Anderson have long used the
philosophies of the great San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh to develop their teams and often
show American football films as an educational and motivational resource.
More recently Russell Crow academy award winning actor and the owner of the South Sydney
Rabbitohs attributes that teams recent revival to the training concepts and ideology of American
football, utilizing coaches like Lloyd Carr head coach of the University of Michigan football team.
Refer to Warning / Disclaimer
Rugby League routinely accepts American football terminology as its own. “Field Goal” for
example used to be known as a drop goal. Trainers were once physios the “Starting lineup” never
existed, as there was never substitution.
The same applied to the coach or manager which has become “Head coach” as there only ever
used to be one (coach).
What ever happened to touch judges? Its now referee assistants.
What ever happened to Stand off or First five? Its now “First receiver”.
What ever happened to “Hit up”? Its now a “carry”.
Throw in Goal line defense, (pronounced deeee-fense) Turnover, Red zone, Hail Mary, Ball
control, Game plan, Offense, Defense, Line of Scrimmage, MVP, Completion rates, Playoffs, In
the pocket, Playmaker, Punt and Kick return, Fumble, Defensive rush, Rushing the kicker, Broken
field runner, Field position, Wildcard, Stripping, Carries, Off the bench, Hail Mary and Coaches
box to name some of the American football terminology to infiltrate not only Rugby league but
Australasian sporting vernacular.
Rugby League has embraced the concepts of Gang tackling, Training camps, Player interchange,
A tackle or downs count, “Gridiron” markings, Overtime, Salary cap, Revenue sharing, Monday
Night Football, Playbooks, Film and statistical analysis, a Play clock, Try (Touchdown)
celebrations, Large jersey numbers Positional coaches. Spiking the football and Gatorade
showers (the sports drink was developed for the University of Florida “Gators” football team) all of
which originated from American football.
Rugby league has been an unwitting catalyst to the introduction of American football not so much
in the Australasia’s acceptance of the sport but its appreciation of the nuances, idiosyncrasies and
overall concepts that it has introduced (and taken credit for) to the Australasian demographic
many of which did not exist 20 years ago.
Case in point is Rugby league and its Tag football program. While Rugby League berates Rugby
Union for its obvious duplication of Tag football (see newspaper clipping below) it fails to
acknowledge that Rugby League itself borrowed the concept from American Flag football.
So what does this all mean in terms of understanding American football?
Firstly it may not be entirely constructive to provide these examples of sporting plagiarism in the
overall context of this demographics perspective or understanding of American football but it is a
severe case of not seeing the forest for the trees or maybe biting the hand that feeds them. It has
in the past been ok to be derogatory towards American football (especially in the current geo
political climate) without the knowledge that every aspect of the game they love and respect in this
case Rugby League has entrusted its success to everything it has learned from American football.
Once we establish a framework of respect for the sport of American football we can now build an
educational foundation to assist in understanding why this sport has endeared itself as by far and
away the number one sport in the worlds richest most powerful and influential nation on the
planet.
While there are numerous sources of educational material that explain the generic ins and outs of
American football that will explain the meaning of 1st and 10 or the ramifications of a holding
penalty and of the flag that proclaims it.
This correspondence recognizes that much of the Downunder demographic has no
comprehension of the process and philosophy of American football or an understanding of the
sports infrastructure both on and off the field.
It recognizes that for many their only perception or conceptual interpretation is based on
comparisons or experiences to or from other more familiar and established sports especially other
football codes in which it is believed transfers to American football, unfortunately this ignorance
also extends to the media.
To counter these obstructions to the learning process we will avoid the generic education and
concentrate more on addressing the concepts, philosophy, idiosyncrasies and nuances of
American football and how this pertains to the Downunder demographic.
Such an education of the many facets of American football both intrinsically and extrinsically in
areas that you wont find in any rule book will enable the Australasian public to decipher through
points of reference thus overcoming some of the restraints that currently impede the sports
understanding and to a certain extent a wider acceptance.
For example
Australasia’s approach to American football is based on a
completely different set of parameters to that of their American
counterparts and these are literally poles apart.
The best analogy would be to imagine the picture on the right is a
representation of American football. An American sees two faces
but someone from Australasia sees a chalice or wine cup. This
perspective or interpretation of what appears to be similar can
also be illustrated when comparisons are made with other football
codes.
Rugby Union and League for example have similar fundamental scoring objectives to American
football move the ball over the opposing team goal line. However the method in which this is
achieved is fundamentally different.
In the case of Rugby and League the premise is to move the ball laterally to probe defensive
weakness thus gaining forward progression with teammates standing beside or behind the ball
carrier waiting for the (lateral) pass.
American football differs in its philosophy move the ball forward with teammates not waiting for the
lateral pass but moving ahead of the ball carrier to block and create interference or to receive a
forward pass.
Two opposable perspectives on achieving the same objective.
Why such deviations occur can be readily seen in the widths of the respective playing fields. As
the illustration below reveals an American football field (dark green) fits easily within the confines
of a Rugby or League field (light green)
It is the difference in field width that is one of the major contributors to the evolution of the different
offensive philosophies
It can now be understood why one of the reasons passing or lateralling as it is referred to in
America is not a major component of the American game.
The difference in the field dimensions meant that the wider Rugby field was always more
conducive to such a philosophy.
As for the Australasian demographic when watching American football on TV without any point of
reference in terms of field dimension the immediate perception is that the sports are played on the
same sized field thus the inevitable comparisons to the established more familiar football codes
begins.
It has been the inability to decipher or to adequately educate through points of reference that has
been a major inhibitor to American footballs acceptance in the Australasian region. In order to
mitigate this problem here are…
10 TIPS TO HELP
#1
FOOTBALL
KNOW ITS NOT GRIDIRON
While it may be in terms of gaining a little understanding for the sport of American football
somewhat pedantic it must be understood the sport is not called Gridiron. A “Gridiron”(a noun) is
the name given to the field on which they play American football. The name originated from the
old gridiron stoves and grilling plates of the late 19th and early 20th century which resemble the
lines and markings of an American football field. As pedantic as it may seem Australasia doesn’t
call Tennis “Court”, Softball ”Diamond” or Cricket “Wicket” or “Pitch” so it seems only fair that
American football isn’t called “Gridiron”.
#2
KNOW THE 3 HOUR PACKAGE
One of the most common responses from the Australasian demographic regarding American
football is that the 3 hour games take too long to play. The same demographic however has no
problem with a yacht race taking 3 hours, a golf round taking 4 hours a 5 set tennis match taking 5
hours or a one day cricket game taking 8 hours to play. Then of course there is a test cricket
match taking 5 days to play and in which there may be no result.
Perhaps the greatest irony lies in the accolades thrust in the direction of Twenty/20 cricket for its
innovative brilliantly conceived sharply marketed compact 3 hour game package yet American
football also an innovative brilliantly conceived and sharply marketed compact 3 hour package is
brutally dismissed as taking too long. Go figure.
The problem of course is one of perception because it is a football code it must fall within the
parameters of what the Downunder demographic perceives as a time limit for a football game.
Rugby, League and Soccer are 80 or 90 minutes of so called “continuous” action yet Australian
rules routinely hits 2.5 hours
In the case of Rugby for example compete with its setting and resetting of scrums and lineouts
shots at goal penalties etc this can be misleading as a recent statistical and analytical breakdown
of 6 Nations rugby revealed that the average length of game was 91 minutes with the ball in play
35:28 or 44% of the time. In Tri Nations the average length of game was 94:01 and 39% ball in
play. Extrapolation of these statistics reveals that to actually accrue 80 minutes of playing time the
game would be around…wait for it three hours. To counter this Rugby has introduced the ELVs or
Experimental Law Variations to enhance actual playing time.
Although the concept of stopping the clock for out of bounds, incomplete passes, penalties,
measurements and replay analysis in American football adds to the length of the game it also
increases the actual play and accuracy
There was a time where this was a foreign concept to the Australasian public but Rugby, League
and Australian Rules are moving closer in that direction every year (does the terminology of “time
off” and “time on” sound familiar) in fact the average length of a rugby game has increased by
close to 2 minutes a year since the advent of the professional era (as of when this
correspondence was written).
But the greatest influence on the length of the game aside from the intricate time keeping is the
power of television and to understand American football one must understand that this game is
literally made for television.
American television executives understood long ago that there was an optimum package time for
televised sports which was 3 hours (hence the length of a Twenty/20 cricket game) and it is no
coincidence that a football game fits nicely into those time constraints and that includes the pre
game halftime and change of quarters. Every time there is a timeout or a change of possession or
a touchdown scored gives ample opportunity to increase the advertising revenue. This is why the
National Football League (NFL) is the richest sports league on the planet and why it can charge 4
times the advertising dollar above that of even the Olympics and World cup soccer It is why the
worlds largest, richest and most successful businesses, companies and advertising and marketing
icons spend millions on one 30 second slot during the Superbowl.
So when you watch American football understand the complete package and remember its no
more a strain on your leisure viewing than Yachting, Golf, Tennis or Cricket which brings us to
number 3
#3
KNOW THE CRICKET ANALOGY
As outrageous as this sounds it is Cricket and not the other more familiar football codes, which
offers the best opportunity for Australasia to understand American football. From the length of
game to its similar philosophy and process Cricket is the most analogous sport and the similarities
are striking.
Cricket is made up of a series of plays (deliveries) short in duration with down time in between that
in conjunction comprises the game, as does American football
Cricket has benchmark offensive statistics such as a 100 runs American football has 100 yards.
300 to 500 runs is a good offensive day in Cricket, 300 to 500 yards is a good offensive day in
American football.
Cricket stops the singles by bringing in (or up) the field and the boundaries by dropping them back
American football stops the run by bringing up the defense and the pass by dropping them back
Cricket has eleven players, as does American football.
Cricket has specialist players for specific positions, as does American football.
Cricket has even been described as a game that takes too long is too stop starty and its
participants wear pads and helmets but alas so has American football.
The comparisons are numerous and the point is made obviously there is no oval ball, passing,
tackling or kicking in Cricket but in the overall context of the sports structure philosophy and
ideology it is closer to American football than any of the other football codes.
Is running a play in football for a few seconds of action then stopping for 25 seconds while setting
up to do it again any different to watching a fast bowler sending a delivery down for a second of
action and then stopping for 25 seconds as he strolls back to his run up position to do it over.
Is a football team continuing to run the football with short seemingly pointless 1 and 2 yard
plunges in order to gain a first down or run time off the clock to protect the lead any different to a
batsman continually offering no shot and leaving the new ball or the seemingly pointless exercise
of continually blocking to save his wicket and to run time off the clock to reach stumps.
Australasians will argue but there is more happening than just the bowler walking back. It’s the
captain changing the field placements does he want a man in short or a man deep or does he add
a slip. The bowler has just bowled 3 out swingers does he now York the batsman or cut one in.
What is the run rate required? Can we allow a single here to get the weaker batsman on strike?
How many runs off how many balls? Give up the singles but not the boundaries. There is more
than meets the eye.
Is that any different to American football where there is more happening than just huddling up.
There is the changing of personnel and the formations 3 Wide receivers 1 Back or maybe 2
Tightends and no Back. The team has thrown for 3 pass plays does it now run the ball or try a
trick play. What is the down and distance? How much time is on the clock? Is the defense going to
play man or zone? Will it blitz? Give up a field goal but not the touchdown. More than meets the
eye.
When a Cricket match comes down to its final stages with all its permutations scenarios and
calculations such as how many runs are needed? How many balls remain? How many wickets in
hand? What is the run rate required? Field placements adjusted. Calculations reconfigured.
Strategy changing after every delivery. Anticipation and pressure increasing. Often victory or
defeat rests on the outcome of the final ball (play) of the game
Is that any different to the final stages of a football game with its own permutations scenarios and
calculations? How many yards to go? How many (downs) tackles left? How much time is left on
the clock? How many timeouts? Defensive adjustments calculations reconfigured. Strategy
changing after every play, anticipation and pressure increasing. Often victory or defeat rests on
the outcome of the final play of the game.
It is the series of calculations the scenarios and adjustments the battles with in the war constantly
changing philosophies tactics and structure that make American football and Cricket very similar
So think of American football as contact Cricket and it will become a lot easier to decipher
#4
KNOW AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC FUNCTIONS
It is the failure to appreciate the differences of aerobic and anaerobic functions the intricacies of
ATP production the effects of Lactic acid and the associated biological activity that have a direct
correlation to how American football is perceived in Australasia. This region has been unable to
distinguish between the more “AEROBIC” based football codes of Rugby, League, Australian
rules and Soccer and the “ANAEROBICALLY” challenging explosive power, strength and speed of
American football and the physiological stresses the sport places on the human body.
In order to understand those functions and without getting into the detailed processes of cellular
biology here is a quick run down.
The AEROBIC (meaning with oxygen) system basically involves your heart and lungs
(cardiovascular system) and the efficient transfer and use of oxygen to your muscles and body
during moderate low intensity high repetition endurance activity. This system is very efficient and
economical and can be maintained and improved (through training) for long periods. Jogging
swimming and aerobics (hence the name) are examples of aerobic activity of which most of us are
familiar if not from a biological analysis standpoint from a practical experience standpoint.
The ANAEROBIC (meaning without oxygen) system is basically a chemical reaction within your
cells that releases a quick energy source for the muscles and body during high intensity explosive
low repetition strength power and speed activities.
Unlike the aerobic function which could be described as something that lasts is renewable slow
and steady the anaerobic system can only be maintained for a short time is instantaneous short
lived and also requires a lot of time to replenish. Sprinting Weight lifting and jumping are
anaerobic activities.
One important feature of the anaerobic function is the production and depletion (or restructuring)
of a compound called ATP and of a waste product called Lactic acid. Studies have shown that
ATP replenishment can take as long as 3 ½ minutes and that the human body has difficulty
dispersing Lactic acid, so as the body participates in explosive fast repetitive activity such as
sprinting the ATP disappears quickly and the Lactic acid eventually builds up to a point where it
becomes very difficult for the body to function (this is referred to in sporting circles as “hitting the
wall”) and the body will as a self preservation device shut down.
This anaerobic system is why you can’t do physical things at 100% effort for a long period of time.
A more practical way to understand the difference in the two systems is to run 2 lots of 800 meters
One day you run 800 meters straight at one quarter effort or pace, a jog and see how you feel at
the end.
The second day you can run 800 meters but do it in 20 lots of 40 meter full speed and effort
dashes with 25 second recovery between each. See how you feel or even if you can complete the
task.
Buy running the 800 meters in two different ways you are using different energy systems. The 800
meters at 25 % effort shouldn’t be a problem. The 20 x 40 meter sprints at 100% effort however
may prove harder than you think because of the lactic acid buildup and the physiological stresses
the anaerobic function has on the body.
Even though you are only running for 4or 5 seconds at a time and have a short break between 40
meter reps. The cumulative stresses of 100% effort will soon tell on your body.
Try it and you will begin to understand what an Offensive and Defensive lineman goes through in
American football as he uses his whole body at 100% effort for 4 or 5 seconds wrestling a 300
pound man effort with 25 second recovery on a sustained 14 or 15 play drive.
(and we are all aware of how tiring wrestling can be. Remember how tired you feel after having a
play wrestle with someone)
So having addressed these different energy systems the Aerobic the slow and steady last a long
time system and the almost opposite Anaerobic fast explosive doesn’t last long system we can
now explain one of the most common misperceptions about American football.
That its athletes are perceived to be unfit and not very athletic after all they only play for 4 or 5
seconds and then stop. (Yet such an allegation has never been directed at a Cricket slip fieldsman
who may not move 12 inches in any direction for 2 solid days) This compared to League, Rugby,
Rules and Soccer players who stay on the field and on the move for the whole 80 or 90 minutes
The difference between American football its athletes and the other codes is the structure of the
game the type of athlete and the energy systems required to compete.
Soccer for example is basically a non contact sport; its athletes are required to jog long distances
for long periods of time with a few bursts of periodic sprinting within the framework of that sports
function. Recent studies have shown that soccer athletes approach levels that can be described
as of above average intensity only 12% of the time within a soccer game. The players are
generally of a trim build and require little if any upper body strength or muscle mass and use an
endurance assisting energy system to compete successfully such is the nature of this very
AEROBICALLY orientated sport. Just like jogging the 800 meters
This of course is in completed contrast to American football, which is a highly physical contact
sport. Its athletes are required to explode with short powerful bursts of speed and strength that
make up the framework of that sports function. Its athletes are muscular and strong and have
huge upper body mass and strength enabling them to block, tackle and run fast over short
distances but use an energy system that produces Lactic acid which is very taxing on the body to
compete successfully, such is the nature of this very ANAEROBICALLY orientated sport. Just like
the 20 x 40 meter 800 meters
Two codes of football but two very different types of athlete and two very different energy systems
requirements. At opposite ends of the spectrum.
If we use the analogy that the football codes and its athletes and energy requirements were Track
events Soccer would be the 10,000 meters a very aerobically challenging long and steady race its
athletes are generally smaller with little body mass.
Rugby, League and Australian rules would be the 400,800,and 1500 meters requiring a faster
pace but for not as long but its athletes are bigger stronger than soccer athletes
American football would be the 100 and 200 meters the biggest strongest more powerful and
faster athletes but only over shorter times and distances.
As is so often the case it is the comparing of different sports that the proverbial “horses for
courses” and “comparing apples and oranges” comes to mind. If you can understand that
American football is so very different from other sports and in particular the other football codes
and on so many levels. That it requires a different set of neuromuscular patterns i.e. skills and
athletic requirements and has unique and specific training and biological functions (energy
systems)
So as long as you can differentiate between energy systems and can appreciate different sports
based on their own structures rules and idiosyncrasies you will appreciate American football and
its athletes. Which leads nicely to
#5
KNOW ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
To truly appreciate the sport of American football its athletes and their athleticism the concept of
athletic performance must also be appreciated. Unfortunately this concept is difficult to quantify
and is by no means an exact science.
From the vertical leap, bench press and 40 yard dash to the intricacies of VO2 calculations the
scientific community have created a vast array of tests and exercises that will provide concrete
statistics and measurement guidelines in which to compare and distinguish athletic performance.
However most of this information and in turn overall concept of athletic performance is lost on the
average Australasian. Running the 100 meters in under 10 seconds the 110 meters hurdles under
13 seconds or 400 meters in less than 45 seconds bench pressing over 600(272 kg) pounds
having a vertical leap of 44 inches long jumping 8 meters or high jumping 2.20 meters means
nothing to the average sports fan Downunder as there is no point of reference or comprehension
of performance differential.
So in keeping with the overall theme of the “Top 10 tips” article and using points of reference that
are readily identifiable to the Australasian demographic lets talk the Olympics and its creed “Citius
Altius Fortius” or faster higher stronger because outside of Olympic competition there are no
athletes in any sport and certainly no team sport anywhere on the planet that come close to the
supreme athletes and athletic performance that you see with American football especially at its
pinnacle the National Football league.
From the legendary Jim Thorpe
(right) a four sport star and
Olympic gold medalist widely
regarded as the greatest athlete
of all time to more recently
former Chicago Bear Defensive
lineman and K1 fighting world
champion Bob Sapp (left)
American football athletes and
athletic performance is
unmatched anywhere. American
football is littered with athletes
that are world champion’s world
record holders and Olympic gold
medalists. They are quite simply
the biggest strongest fastest
athletes in the world.
There are no team sport athletes in world outside of American football that can bench press 600
(272 kg) pounds let alone 700 (318kg) but the great Larry Allen (on left number 71) can
How many sports in
particular team sports and
the associated athletes can
lay claim to an Olympic
medal in the Shot put? Mike
Carter (right number 95)
silver medal 1984 can.
How many sports in
particular team sports and
the associated athletes can
run below 10 seconds for the
100 meters win an Olympic
100 meters gold medal or
hold the 100-meter world
record? The answer only one
American football and it is bursting at the seams with athletes that can, and have done just that.
Dallas Cowboy wide
receiver “Bullet” Bob Hayes
(left) won the Olympic gold
100 meters in world record
time in 1964
Ron Brown (right) was part
of the world record and
gold medal winning 4x100
meter relay team in 1984,
as was Sam Graddy the
Raiders wide receiver that
finished second to Carl
Lewis in the 100 meters.
New York Jets receiver
Johnny ”Lamb” Jones won
gold in Montreal.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver James Jett did the same in Barcelona 1992. Michael Bates an
NFL receiver and kick returner was an Olympic medalist in the 200 meters the same year.
How many other team sports have athletes who have ever been ranked number 1 in the world
over 110 meter hurdles or run sub 13 seconds for the same event. American football has athletes
like
Willie Gault (left) who not
only was the world
champion and ranked
number one in the world
over 110 meter hurdles he
also won an Olympic gold
in the 4x100 meters. He
was an Olympic
Bobsledder and recently
broke the world record for
the 100 meters for the age
group 45-49 in a time of
10.72.
Renaldo Nehemiah (right)
of the San Francisco 49ers
was the first man to break
13 seconds for the 110
meter hurdles.
These are the type of
athletes that litter American football and the type of athletic performance that is on display every
Sunday in the NFL.
Take Cleveland Brown
Running back Eric Metcalfe
(left) who has long jumped
over 8.20 meters. To put that
in to perspective, the New
Zealand national record is 8.05
meters
At 6 foot 5 and 230 pounds
Wide receiver Randy Moss
(right) is as big as a Rugby
lock forward but has run 20.15
for 200 meters. No New
Zealander can even come
close the national record is
20.42 and only one Australian
has bettered that time. As with
many American footballers
Randy has never taken track
seriously and the outside world has no idea of the wealth of talent that resides within the sport.
Now spare a thought for the person that has to defend or cover him and you will get a sense of the
caliber of athlete in American football.
Everyone knows of Michael Jordan the legendary Chicago Bulls basketball player widely regarded
as one of the greatest sporting icons ever. He tried and failed to make it as a Major League
baseball player yet such is the caliber of the American football athlete that many have succeeded
where the great Michael Jordan failed.
Deion Sanders (left) and Bo
Jackson are two prime examples of
the American football talent that the
world outside of the USA has never
heard of. Both were highly
successful 2 sport stars with Deion
Sanders having played in a World
Series and a Superbowl. On one
occasion he played a NFL game in
the afternoon and a Major League
Baseball game in the evening on
the same day. If that doesn’t
impress you remember Deion’s and
Bo’s 40 yard dash times are faster
than many of the afore mentioned
World and Olympic champions.
So when you watch American football take time to appreciate what your watching the great
athletes and the supreme feats of athleticism that are common place in that sport because outside
of the Olympic games you wont see such talent on or in any other sport on the planet.
#6
KNOW COLLEGE FOOTBALL
While professional football (the NFL) is widely regarded as the pinnacle of American football
outside the US. It is College football that is truly Americas number one sport and if you really want
to know American football get to know College football.
If you ever get the chance to attend an American football game in the USA make sure it’s a major
Division 1 College football game preferably a rivalry game between two big time universities
because that is what College football is, University football.
The athletes are pure amateurs and usually range in age from 18 to 23. They all play their hearts
out for their team their school (university) and a shot at a professional career in the future. Throw
in the passion intensity that comes with a short 11 or 12 game season (so every game counts)
mixed with tradition cheerleaders dance teams mascots and 200 piece bands and you have the
recipe for an experience you will never forget.
The best analogy for someone Downunder to understand the difference between professional
American football (the NFL) and College football is to use examples of more familiar sports to
draw a comparison.
If we imagine the NFL (pro football) was Test Cricket. College football would be the One-day
game or maybe 20/20.
Perhaps a better example would be to use Rugby League. International Rugby League country
verse country would on paper be the pinnacle for any athlete fan or coach but as we all know
Downunder it is State of Origin that has the most flare intensity and flat out entertainment value. If
we imagine the NFL (professional football) is International Rugby League. College football is State
of Origin. Basically the same game but one just seems so much more fun intense and
entertaining.
Understand the subtle difference in the two forms of American football and you will understand
why these games have 100,000 plus attendance every week
t
University of Michigan
115,000
Tennessee University
104,079
Ohio State University
104,568
#7
KNOW WHY THEY DON’T PASS LIKE RUGBY
Why don’t they (American footballers) pass like Rugby or League? The answer is they can and
they do but not very often and then usually only in desperate situations for example a last ditch
effort on the last play to keep the ball alive when trying to score. (Go to YouTube search Cal vs
Stanford “The Play” 1982 the 6.46 version)
The first thing that must be pointed out is that Rugby styled passing in American football is known
as a “lateral” or “lateralling” referring to the sideways or backward movement of the ball from
player to player.
The word “Passing” in American football refers to the forward pass and can only be done once per
play and the person “passing” the football forward must be behind the Line of Scrimmage (or
where the play starts from) it is important to differentiate the 2 types of passing.
There are numerous reasons why they don’t “pass” the ball like Rugby in American football. As
mentioned earlier the width of the field had an enormous affect on the ability to “lateral” or use
Rugby styled passes. The introduction of concepts such as blocking (or as it is known Downunder
sheparding or running interference) also had a profound effect on the game (and Rugby style
passing) over the last 100 years. Combined with specific rules and game structure meant that the
art of “passing”(Rugby style) just didn’t work within the framework of the sport thus never evolved
and never needed to.
There is a more subtle reason, which may not be easily identified by the Downunder demographic
In fact it is a combination of 2 things called POSSESSION and PERCENTAGES and the two are
interconnected.
Possession and the importance of having control of the football makes American football
fundamentally different to sports like Rugby, League, Australian Rules and Soccer where the
nature of those games allows for the exchange of possession on a regular basis.
Rugby League for example gives away possession after every sixth tackle or by kicking the ball
into touch or knocking the ball on or committing a penalty etc. Even after scoring you get the ball
right back from the ensuing kickoff. With Soccer it is the nature of the game to win and lose
possession of the ball constantly. In American football however change of possession is a much
less frequent occurrence compared to the other footballing codes thus the importance of
possession is paramount.
Percentages and playing those percentages is also an important facet so to pass the ball around
like rugby increases the percentage or chance of losing possession thus turning the ball over to
the opposition hence the expression “Turnover” (in the sporting context is American football
terminology originally from the expression “Turnover on Downs” that has made its way into other
codes vernacular)
It is the combination of the “P” (Possession and Percentage) philosophies that leads to the most
important statistic in American football
The TURNOVER RATIO or the difference between giving the ball to, and taking it from the
opposition.
Within a game of American football the team that has no turnovers or less than the opposition
usually wins, so in order to keep possession and increase the percentage (chance) of winning a
team wont pass the ball like Rugby. Every time a player passes a ball like Rugby it increases the
chance of losing possession and therefore also increases the percentage (chance) of losing the
game. (Remembering also that such is the structure of the game that there will be no one to pass
to any way as your teammates are down field blocking for the ball carrier).
This is no better illustrated than in the “SYHR” theorem (pronounced Sire) The premise of the
theory is that when two football teams meet each has a 50 /50 % chance of winning or losing. One
team may be favored but both teams enter the contest with the score zero to zero and on an even
footing.
Such is the nature of American football that if one team loses possession and turns the ball over
to the opposition more than the other team the percentages change dramatically. The rule of
thumb is for every turnover there is a 10 % greater chance that team will lose.
So if Team A gives away possession or turns the ball over to Team B one time the chances of
Team A losing are dramatically increased by 10%. It becomes a 60/40 % chance of losing while at
the same time Team Bs chances of winning has increased 10% to a 60/40 % chance of winning.
Should Team A turn the ball over 2 times the odds of losing now increase to 70/30 %. For Team B
who now have benefited by 2 turnovers the chances of winning have gone from 50/50 % at the
start of the game to a 70/30 % chance of winning.
By this reasoning turning the ball over 5 times or more obviously gives a team no chance of
winning.
By contrast making a team turn the ball over 5 or more times allows for a much greater chance of
success. This theorem is by no means 100 % accurate and as is so often the case there are
exceptions to the rule. However over 100 years of football and countless games has proved the
theory is nearly 100% correct.
It is that high percentage that keeps American football from lateralling or passing like Rugby.
#8
KNOW WHY THEY CELEBRATE A TACKLE
While watching an American football game at what could be any Downunder pub the locals were
in an uproar over watching an American football player celebrate a tackle on the quarterback.
“What a wanker” one said.
“So what he made a tackle, they do that in Rugby all the time and you don’t see them dancing
around and high fiveing” said another.
“Typical yanks getting excited over nothing” yelled someone else.
A quiet fellow sitting at the end of the bar in the corner then explained that they had witnessed a
“SACK” in which a defensive player tackles the Quarterback behind the line of scrimmage for a
loss of yardage.
(the line of scrimmage is the imaginary line across the field that designates the starting point of the
play also known in Rugby terms as the advantage line)
“It’s a big play to make and its very rare for a defensive player to get a sack that’s why he so
excited,” he quietly explained.
The locals look at the man with surprise on their face incredulous that someone would dare stand
up for those bloody yanks.
“Tell me” the man continued
“When a cricketer gets a wicket does he not run around dancing doing high fives and celebrating
in an over the top manner and do you call him a wanker”
“That’s different the locals retort, “ Besides you don’t get many chances to get a wicket”
The quiet man continued “But its not uncommon for a bowler to get 5 wickets in an innings or 10
wickets in a match in fact its conceivable to get 20 wickets in a game and yet they dance around
and high five after every one” he enquired
“Of course what’s your point?” said the locals
“In American football the chances of getting a sack are very rare in fact if you get 7 or 8 in a entire
season you would consider yourself fortunate”.
“That’s 7 or 8 in an entire season, in fact the NFL record works out to be roughly just over one
sack per game that’s one per game and that’s the record so if you get that one sack your pretty
excited” he continued
“So a cricketer gets a wicket something he often gets five to ten times a game and celebrates
every one of them and that’s okay but when an American footballer having had to get past a six
foot seven 350 (150 plus kilos) pound man able to bench press a pickup truck who has trained his
whole life to protect and not let anybody near the quarterback gets to tackle that quarterback for a
loss of yardage maybe once or twice for an entire season if he’s lucky and he’s not allowed to
celebrate?”
The quiet man returned to his corner of the bar.
Unfortunately for the sport of American football there aren’t a lot of quiet men around to explain
the nuances of the sport to the locals. Celebration of a tackle is a frequent occurrence in American
football but it must be understood what it means to make a tackle in certain facets of this sport.
Unlike Rugby Union, League or Australian rules there is the concept of blocking or legalized
interference or shepparding as it is known Downunder. In order to make a tackle or even be in a
position to make a tackle a player often has to get past one two or three OFFENSIVE
DEFENDERS OR BLOCKERS (who by the way are often 6 foot 7 and 350 lbs 150 kilos) whose
primary goal is to make sure no defender gets close to the ball carrier.
Often a defensive player having negotiated through the blockers now has been knocked off
course and must often make the tackle with his body in no position to do so.
Within the sports infrastructure there are concepts like GAP CONTROL, CONTAIN and ZONE
defense where a defensive player must execute playing an area of the field before playing the ball
carrier thus not being in a position to tackle. It is only after a defensive player has successfully
played that area or zone and having discharged his responsibility on the play first that he then
attempts to make a tackle and again often his body is not in a position to do so.
It is the added responsibility in terms of tackling the extra difficulties that a defender faces that
makes the sport fundamentally different to the other football codes. It is also the reason a tackle is
celebrated.
It must also be remembered that American football revolves around increments of ten yards. A
team maintains possession of the ball if it can move the ball a distance of ten yards in four
attempts.
By tackling a ball carrier in what would be described Downunder as “copybook” fashion often
allows the ball carrier to fall forward with his body length and an outstretched arm advancing the
ball another 3 yards so the ability to stop a player cold with no ball advancement despite the
assistance of the “personal protectors” or blockers is why American football developed specific
and unique tackling techniques.
(It was the same techniques developed in American football that Rugby League introduced in the
late 60s and 70s primarily through Jack Gibson that revolutionized that sport and its defense
despite the absence of legalized blocking. In the case of Rugby league the techniques are used
for example by not allowing an offload)
So having negotiated those obstructions and understanding the extra difficulties faced in making a
tackle not to mention knowing just how rare a “Sack” is, a little celebration is well earned.
#9
KNOW ITS NOT JUST “ AMERICAN ” FOOTBALL
American football (like so much of American culture is often ridiculed yet everyone who tries it
loves it and every year it gains in popularity across the globe), is often dismissed as only
American played by Americans yet the sport now has a foothold around the world complete with
its own World Cup.
There are more countries that have registered federations that play American football than
Cricket, Rugby League and Australian rules and just as many as Netball yet the stigma continues
that only America plays the game.
It is true that only a few countries have established infrastructures and are truly competitive such
as Canada (which has its own rule variations), Japan, Germany, Mexico and Austria but surely the
same could be said of Cricket, Rugby League Australian rules and Netball. While the sports
growth has been astounding it will never compete with Soccer for playing numbers or countries
playing for a number of reasons
Firstly enormous logistical, economic, cultural and political restraints. The sport is capital and labor
intensive. Equipment requires a lot of money to purchase and maintain most countries in particular
those outside the OECD (or developed) nations cannot afford the economic and logistical cost.
There is a direct link between the successful establishment of American football and a country’s
economic prowess and GDP ranking.
The sport is very cerebral in nature understanding of its nuances and complexities require time to
accumulate compared to the simplistic nature and game structure of other codes. Again there is a
direct correlation between countries where the sport flourishes and high standards or education.
Unlike soccer for example the physical some would say violent nature of American football the
physical and anatomical requirements of its athletes and the associated neuromuscular
development precludes much of the worlds population from ever competing. It is a sport where
quite literally the laws of nature and survival of the fittest exist. Only the strongest fastest and
biggest survive to play at the highest level. The sport is neither designed nor conducive to social
participation.
So don’t expect the sport to match others in terms of participation or growth. Even in the United
States Soccer players far exceed those of American football thanks to the complex and expensive
nature of American football and the “Soccer Mom” (don’t want the kids getting hurt) mentality. As
elsewhere this excess in participation doesn’t translate to a sports popularity in which American
football has an overwhelmingly enormous advantage.
American football is a representation of the pinnacle of sports evolution and like most highly
evolved things requires time to master.
But know this one thing its not just American any more.
# 10
KNOW TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND
As alluded to throughout this correspondence American football its philosophy ideology and
overall design is often very difficult for those outside North America to assimilate to.
Because it is a football code and should according to Australasians be interpreted as such is like
saying Tennis, Squash and Badminton should be comparable because they are all racquet sports
or if we use the motor sport analogy comparing Formula 1, NASCAR, Rally and Funny car top fuel
Drag racing as the same because they are all motor sports
As a demographic Australasia understands they are very different types of motor sport requiring
different types of vehicles, strategies and driving skills. Australasians must try to interpret
American football in the same way. Although it is a football code it is very different from the other
codes.
Much of the sports structure and indeed rules are contrary to what most Downunder have been
raised and subjected to believing are within the parameters of any football code
For New Zealanders it may be the forward pass adding an extra or 3rd dimension within the
games structure opening exponentially both offensive and defensive variables for consideration, a
concept unheard of in Rugby or Rugby League.
For Australians it may be the struggle with the concept of legalized shepparding or interference
(known as blocking in American football) and the hitting of someone without the ball, yet both are
integral facets of the American game
.
It is the ability or should that be inability to open Australasian minds to different ideas and
interpretations of achieving fundamentally similar objectives i.e. scoring points, not allowing the
opponent to score or kicking a goal etc regardless of the code that has been a real inhibitor to
American footballs wider growth and acceptance.
Access to the sport of American football for most Downunder has increased significantly with the
advent of the Internet combined with numerous cable and satellite broadcasting options. With this
increased accessibility however requires an increased open mindedness to interpret just what the
viewer witnesses during an American football game.
Keep an open mind to the fact that you are witnessing some of if not the best “athletes” on the
planet displaying skills toned from a lifetime dedicated to the sport. The professionals you see on
the NFL broadcasts are just that, professionals.
What you don’t witness are the years of dedicated lifting weights and running. The years of
watching and analyzing game film. The years of repetitious play learning and running
choreographed as to allow not one ounce of imperfection. The years spent throwing and catching
and blocking. The years of countless brutal summers surviving training camps.
Just like any skilled craftsmen or a performer a juggler a magician or any elite level athlete they
make the very difficult look easy.
The problem for American football is that unlike say attempting to juggle or playing golf or cricket
or any other established sport most from the Downunder demographic have never played or
witnessed an American football game live and therefore are unable to draw upon any experience
or appreciation of the skills required to perform.
They can only draw upon experiences from Rugby Rugby League Aussie Rules or Soccer of
which they have experienced and believe translate to American football, which as we have tried to
install in this correspondence is detrimental and not beneficial to understanding or participating in
the sport.
Lets take golf for example. Anyone not familiar with the sport would argue after watching Tiger
Woods play how hard could it be its just hitting a stationary ball with a club into a hole. Easy right?
For most Downunder they know from experience that golf is a very difficult sport to execute and
even more so on an consistent basis Its just that Tiger makes it look easy and can do so only after
spending a lifetime (especially for him) perfecting the skills required.
Maybe cricket is a good analogy. An American unfamiliar with cricket, watching it for the first time
would see a spin bowler bowling up what appears to the untrained eye as some easy lob type
deliveries with no real speed. That American used to seeing home runs in baseball would think
just smash that ball out of the park… easy right?
However someone from Downunder appreciating the nuances and difficulties of facing class spin
bowling and understanding although it looks easy on TV it is a very difficult task to negotiate a
spin attack. This comes from a lifetime of playing and watching Cricket. The combination of
experience and knowledge allows an appreciation of the skills displayed.
It is important that the Downunder population maintains the same open mind to American football
What appears to a Downunder audience to be just big guys running into each other on the field
with no skill and seems very easy for a Rugby, Soccer or League player to do is in fact a highly
skilled complex sport that just looks easy on TV. The skills from the other sports just don’t
translate to American football, which requires a different skill set and philosophy.
TV doesn’t allow a full appreciation of the velocity of the collisions or the speed of the game or the
size and strength of its athletes. It doesn’t show how fast a quarterback throws a football in the
same way it doesn’t allow a viewer to appreciate the speed of a fast bowlers delivery in cricket. (It
should be noted here that one NFL quarterback recently had one of his passes timed at 79.6 mph
or close to 130kph which incidentally is the same speed as many medium fast cricket bowling
deliveries)
So when you’re watching American football avoid comparisons (especially with the other football
codes) and leave the pre conceived notions and flat out prejudices behind. Appreciate that as a
sport it may be a little different than what your used to and it maybe a little more complex.
It may take time to fully understand but like most things worthwhile a little time and effort make all
the difference
Above all keep an open mind.
Coming soon
10 MORE TIPS TO HELP YA KNOW FOOTBALL
Have you ever wondered why there seems to be so many players on a team or why there are so
many players per position?
What about why they wear all that padding?
How hard is it to kick a field goal?
All these questions and more will be answered in a future installment of “10 Tips to help ya know
football” coming soon
If you have any questions you would like to ask about football please write to