Soccer or Football

[Kang Lang 7]

howdy there,

so my husband is a soccer fanatic specifically a liverpool fan. i watch with him but i just don't get the game. i am a HUGE american football fan and he now loves that too since we've been to some games and i explained the rules.

can someone here (i know there are loads of you) gimme the cliff notes on the rules and for the love of cookies explain the appeal of the game. maybe even just discuss why your team is the best.

thank you!

[fozzie 41]

howdy there,

so my husband is a soccer fanatic specifically a liverpool fan. i watch with him but i just don't get the game. i am a HUGE american football fan and he now loves that too since we've been to some games and i explained the rules.

can someone here (i know there are loads of you) gimme the cliff notes on the rules and for the love of cookies explain the appeal of the game. maybe even just discuss why your team is the best.

thank you!

I love football - where you kick a ball with your foot.

[Otto 83]

11 players per side (including goalie).

Up to 3 players can be substituted per game - no more (unlike American sports where they come and go on a regular basis).

No hands (except the goalie) used.

Object: Get the ball in the opposing team's goal (duh right?)

Forward (striking) players can not be offside - in other words they can not hang out near the goal and wait for someone to kick them the ball - must be at least 2 opposing team players behind them if the ball is played to them (some restrictions apply, but that's the jest of it).

Large lined box around the goal is called 'the area' (or penalty area) - it is critical to NOT foul the attacking player inside this box as it can/will result in a penalty kick (which is taken 11 meters from the goal with only the goalie defending).

Fouls often result in a free kick (ball spotted near the place of the foul and kicked) - fouls in the penalty area (see above).

Game runs 90 minutes - no breaks until half time. No matter what the clock says on television, the referee is the ultimate time keeper and can add time as needed (injury etc).

End of 90 minutes (or whatever the referee says) the game is over. In championship games, if the teams are tied there will be two additional 15 minute (each) periods - with a short half-time pause - to see who can score. If still tied after 30 minutes - then there would be a penalty shootout (which is really cool, but some find it unfair...who knows, I like it).

Hows that?

[fozzie 41]

11 players per side (including goalie).

Up to 3 players can be substituted per game - no more (unlike American sports where they come and go on a regular basis).

No hands (except the goalie) used.

Object: Get the ball in the opposing team's goal (duh right?)

Forward (striking) players can not be offside - in other words they can not hang out near the goal and wait for someone to kick them the ball - must be at least 2 opposing team players behind them if the ball is played to them (some restrictions apply, but that's the jest of it).

Large lined box around the goal is called 'the area' (or penalty area) - it is critical to NOT foul the attacking player inside this box as it can/will result in a penalty kick (which is taken 11 meters from the goal with only the goalie defending).

Fouls often result in a free kick (ball spotted near the place of the foul and kicked) - fouls in the penalty area (see above).

Game runs 90 minutes - no breaks until half time. No matter what the clock says on television, the referee is the ultimate time keeper and can add time as needed (injury etc).

End of 90 minutes (or whatever the referee says) the game is over. In championship games, if the teams are tied there will be two additional 15 minute (each) periods - with a short half-time pause - to see who can score. If still tied after 30 minutes - then there would be a penalty shootout (which is really cool, but some find it unfair...who knows, I like it).

Hows that?

To be honest you can't encapsulate the passion I feel for my football team in words. Its tribal, a sense of belonging. Us against them. I take it hard when we lose and enjoy it to the full when we win.

US sports are so focused on constant entertainment, hence the constant scoring (except hockey). Football games can end 1-0 and have been a great game, full of skill, flair and tension. It is so hard to score a goal in football that we celebrate it the way we do. I was going nuts last saturday as liverpool were beating man utd (our fiercest rivals) by a huge scoreline.

Karin/Otto - I wouldn't even bother trying to explain the offside rule. You have no chance.

Edited March 19, 2009 by fozzie

[Otto 83]

Karin/Otto - I wouldn't even bother trying to explain the offside rule. You have no chance.

I know..dug a hole I couldn't get out of... lol

Edited March 19, 2009 by Karin und Otto

[fozzie 41]

Karin/Otto - I wouldn't even bother trying to explain the offside rule. You have no chance.

I know..dug a hole I couldn't get out of... lol

You need diagrams

[_Simpson_ 250]

howdy there,

so my husband is a soccer fanatic specifically a liverpool fan. i watch with him but i just don't get the game. i am a HUGE american football fan and he now loves that too since we've been to some games and i explained the rules.

can someone here (i know there are loads of you) gimme the cliff notes on the rules and for the love of cookies explain the appeal of the game. maybe even just discuss why your team is the best.

thank you!

What is your team? Die hard Dolphins fan here, since 1984.

[fozzie 41]

You need to go to a game. I'm sure he can better explain the rules to you.

[Mary Lou 681]

Gary loves football, watches it online or on the dish allllllllll the time. Me, ive no clue whats really going on, so i just leave him to it.

I did enjoy when we went to a friendly in Chicago though, Celtic was there playing the Chicago Fire, was a good time.

[malamu 0]

so my husband is a soccer fanatic specifically a liverpool fan.

Steven Gerrard is one of the best players in the world

FC Barcelona is my team

I adore football (soccer)

Edited March 19, 2009 by malamu

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Real Americans like football.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

I love football (soccer)

Glasgow Celtic FC is my team B) I have a signed John Hartson jersey, although he no longer plays for celtic

Go the Bhoys, League Cup winners March 14th 2009

Edited March 20, 2009 by ~*Maria*~

[I'm Gone 60]

Man U going to win the Premier and Champions leagues. Liverpool caught them on a bad day last weekend. It isn't going to happen again.

[pedroh 21]

soccer > american football

but to play.. Rugby> All

[I'm Gone 60]

so my husband is a soccer fanatic specifically a liverpool fan.

Steven Gerrard is one of the best players in the world

Torres is the best player on the team. When he was injured they couldn't hardly buy a goal.