Does your average American now the rules of Football (soccer)?

Question

or is the sport of no interest to your average american. another question is, What is it that the rest of the world gets, that america does get about football. its a game of skill, tactics and passion who couldn't love it?

djanimaequeenMember since: October 04, 2006

djanimaequeen

What is it that the world doesn't get about Americans? We march to our own drum. Plus games where you can't use your hands are not as much of an interest to us.

Yet you call gridiron FOOTBALL. Your right i don't get it when a game played with your hands is called football but i am english man, we only gave the language to you, we didn't explain how it should be used.

Answer 1

Actually I'm not sure where the other users live, but in California they teach you the rules and how to play football(soccer) in high school. It lasts about 7 weeks or so where you get to play and get a lesson at the same time. We even had to take a test for a grade at the end. It wasn't like the kids learning this was mad about it. They really enjoyed it! It's part of the state wide curriculum.

Answer 2

Football is the best of sports that use balls. the average American doesn't understand much about it unless they have or had a child that plays. It is only in the last decade that soccer has become a sport offered in schools. And to advance as a youth player here in the U. S. , you have to play in a premier, private league which is not only expensive but also involves lots or travel which again the average American would have to sacrifice to afford ( and never be home which isn't always fair to their other children). In other words, the sport is not widely available to everyone here so you don't see a lot of kids putting up goals in their backyards and getting a game going. It's much easier to play American football, all you need is a ball.

Answer 3

No, I'd say that us Americans don't know the rules of soccer in general. It doesn't really gain popularity over here because of the fact that baseball and football are so widely popular. It's not really on television all that much, most of the networks that air games will air baseball and football only. Also, there's really nowhere to go see a live game around here, and there's just generally low awareness of the sport in America. Also, it doesn't help that Americans are generally horrible at the game as well.

Answer 4

No. But does the average brazilian [or insert world class futbol country here] know the rules to baseball or american football? I highly doubt it. Just think of how, lets say, american football would be received by mainstream Brazilian sports fans. Americans would always consider Brazilian gridiron football inferior while most all brazilians themselves would be quick to dismiss american footbal in favor of their primary passion in soccer. You have the exact reverse of that in the US. Its just the difference in culture where we are fed different sports from birth. As a US soccer fan, I have to deal with living in a country where the general population doesnt have the mindset for it.

Answer 5

Certainly not, but I think the football knowledge of people around the world is vastly overstated. I was in France last Summer and one of my hosts barely cared a whit about soccer. He preferred cricket and horse racing. I love soccer and am frustrated by people who have a knee-jerk reaction against it, but it's silly to suggest everyone should be a soccer fan or that people should abandon the sports they like because more people around the world like soccer/football. The fact of the matter is there are many, many people around the world who aren't sports fans at all, much less soccer fans. Also for many people who love soccer there is a national sport(s) that are more popular. I don't like ping pong and don't fully understand cricket or Australian Rules football, but I'm sure they have their appeal to those who grew up playing and watching them.

Answer 6

I suppose as a spectator that would be your own personal preference or which part of the world you're from. Personally I like to watch rugby, both union and league, because I'm from down-under, just like the USA like grit iron and the Victorians love Aussie rules. As a player, well I suppose it's what you fancy yourself to be good at! All in all, all these rugby/football games are very popular because of the huge number of fans.

Answer 7

the "average american" doesn't. i'm sure of this. i visited the united states several weeks ago, and i could not find a single thing related to football - and whenever i asked anybody about the sport, the always referred to american football.

/: meh.

Answer 8

What is it that the world doesn't get about Americans? We march to our own drum. Plus games where you can't use your hands are not as much of an interest to us. Have you ever took the time to learn the intricacies of American football? Do you know that a lot of American kids play Soccer? Ever heard of the term Soccer mom? (moms that support their kids playing Soccer). If we wanted to be like you Europeans, we wouldn't have defected and created our own country. We do a little bit of everything here. You can't expect us to adhere to your likes and interests. Do you adhere to ours?

Answer 9

Not yet. But by the way American kids are playing it now, they will in the near future. Not only that, they will be able to field a very competitive team.

Answer 10

Yes. It is one of the simplest games I can think of and every person i know knows the rules. They just see it as more of a kid's game, and that additude is never going to chage here unfortunately.