The Top Health Benefits From Playing American Football

Football is considered as one of the most popular sports in the country. Its popularity can be attributed to many reasons, one of which is the number of health benefits it offers both children and adults. Several of these are listed below.

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Alleviation of negative stress: Medical studies have shown that an increase of physical activity dramatically improves neural connections, which lessens the effects of negative stress. A healthy amount of endorphins – the hormone known to make a person feel good – is also released in the brain. In particular, American football players show an increase in activity in brain areas related to goal-orientation and focus. These areas have been correlated with reducing the amount of negative stress a person feels.

Intense cardio workout: Football is an excellent overall workout, but has been shown to provide intense cardio benefits. This is due to the range of movements involved in the game, which often includes kicks, turns, twists, and throws. Football also requires a significant amount of running, jumping, and the quick changes of direction.

Increased bone density and mass: Research found that football players typically have improved mass and bone density. This may be because they are usually required to have a high protein and carbohydrate diet that helps them participate in the tough sport. This means that there is a significant reduction of bone or joint-related diseases as the players age.

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These are only a few of the myriad of health benefits American football provides. The best way to understand these benefits is to engage in the sport.

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The Truth Behind Concussions and American Football

American football has gained notoriety for contributing to high incidences of traumatic brain injury among players. This sport estimates the highest number of concussions per season, beating rugby, basketball, or baseball. Recent medical studies have also reported that former football players have significantly higher risk of contracting a degenerative disease because of repetitive brain injuries. The authors of these studies estimate that roughly 80 percent of professional players had signs of chronic trauma encephalopathy (CTE).

The cause is fairly obvious. Compared to other sports, American football is built on rough physical exertions. Tackles, which force a player down and cause him to hit his head, are a fairly common occurrence. When these happen often, the trauma can cause abnormalities in the brain.

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These reports have changed the way the game is being played. The NFL has implemented several regulations that prevent serious injury. One such rule is the tackling ban: players can no longer tackle with a blow from the crown of the head. Additionally, teams are now encouraged to develop tackling styles that are similar to those of rugby; that is, tackling from the legs and hitting with their shoulders. These changes have reportedly led to a decrease in reported concussions by around 35 percent since 2012.

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But medical and sports professionals say there is still a long way to go. American football can only be modified so much without changing the essence of its game-play. Consequently, the current focus is improving protective equipment. There is also some hope for newer and better forms of imaging which would allow athletic trainers to spot damaging tackles and immediately call for medical timeout.  

Having lived, breathed, and played professional football for most of his life, Will McHale understands both the beauty and danger of engaging in this sport. For more information, like this Facebook page.

Getting into American Football

Many would agree that American football is one of the greatest sports in world. As evidence of its widespread popularity, the National Football League, in its championship game, the Super Bowl, ranks among the most-watched sporting events in the globe with millions of fans from different countries tuning in.

But the thing that makes American football truly special is the game itself. It is a sport that balances mental and physical toughness, cooperation, and leadership. Players who excel in the field can expect a badge of prestige and honor from their families, friends, and communities.

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American football is a game for all shapes and sizes. From physical technique and endurance to communication and analytical skills, the game uses specific skills depending on the player’s position in the team—one can be a speedy pass catcher, while others can be offensive blockers for stronger defense. That said, it is vital to know your strengths and weaknesses in order to determine your role in the game.

In terms of cost, American football is an affordable sport to get involved in. If you are student, local clubs in colleges and universities can help you hone your skill. In the U.S., it is estimated that nearly 1 million high school athletes and 70,000 college athletes play the sport annually.

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Whether for recreation or a professional career, American football is for everyone. It is a game that spreads positivity and bond among players.

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American football vs. rugby: Which is the tougher sport?

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American football and rugby are two of the most physically demanding sports in the world. Both games have established a tough reputation due to their associated risks and dangers, pushing human strength and endurance to the limit.

By comparison, both sports are difficult to play. The first obvious reason lies on their physical requirements and the inherent dangers associated with the sports. In terms of “toughness,” however, the answer may depend on the parameters considered.

The fundamentals of football and rugby are entirely different. In terms of the time limit, for example, rugby has two 40-minute halves, whereas football has four 15-minute quarters, with a half-time intermission. With these factors, rugby places greater emphasis on stamina while football’s more flexible time limit makes the game more explosive when it comes to game plan.

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Both games also differ significantly on strategy. For instance, football teams are given the chance to have unlimited substitutions, whereas, in rugby, teams are only provided at least seven player changes, depending on the mechanics of the tournament.

Other factors such as players’ physique and game objectives must also be accounted as they may affect the difficulty and stringency of the match.

Football and rugby are two different games, and both have their pros and cons. All things considered, the toughness of both sports may depend on the preference and strength and endurance of players.

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REPOST: Which College Football Conference Will Be the Best in 2015?

Who has the highest chance of winning in the college level football this season? This article from Bleacher Report discusses statistics and general observations about the 2015 College Football Conference.

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The SEC is the safest bet to rule college football next season, no matter how deep the Pac-12, how top-heavy the Big Ten and Big 12 or how underrated the ACC.

Why? Because in college football, past results predict future performance. The relationship isn't causal, but there is a strong correlation (.76) between the five-year F/+ program ratings at Football Outsiders and how a team fares the next season.

This concept can be extended to conferences—or at least it can in theory—so we've collated the average F/+ ratings from 2010 to 2014 and sorted by league.

The higher the F/+ rating, the better that conference has been than the FBS average (0.0). The next four columns show the percentage of each conference that falls in the top quartile, second quartile, third quartile and bottom quartile among Power Five teams:

Statistically, the SEC has been roughly twice as good as the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 the past five seasons.

The Big 12 has been comparable, especially with regard to distribution, but its top-tier teams (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU) have been far worse than those of the SEC (Alabama, LSU, Georgia).

Why is this important? Again, because as strange as it feels, looking backward is a big part of looking forward. It might even be the biggestpart. Football Outsiders elaborates on this point:

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The strongest indicator of how a college football team will perform in the upcoming season is their performance in recent seasons.

It may seem strange because graduation enforces constant player turnover, but college football teams are actually much more consistent from year to year than NFL teams. Thanks in large part to consistency in recruiting, teams can be expected to play within a reasonable range of their baseline program expectations each season. Our Program F/+ ratings, which represent a rolling five-year period of play-by-play and drive efficiency data, have an extremely strong (.76) correlation with the next year’s F/+ rating.

If you disregard advanced stats, that's fine; you're well within your rights. And at least you have Charles Barkley in your corner! But in many ways you're arguing that two and two make five.

The SEC has been the best conference since 2010—and not by an insignificant margin—which gives it the best chance to be the best conference in 2015. Is it guaranteed? No. But it's probable.

And that's not even where the argument ends.

After past performance, the next strongest indicator of success is recruiting. How much talent has each conference signed?

Here's a look at the four-year recruiting averages, courtesy of the247Sports composite rankings:

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The validity of star ratings is a popular argument, but again, as Matt Hinton of Football Study Hall explained last February, the numbers suggest they matter. They matter a lot.

There are obvious exceptions (Oregon, Michigan State, et al.), but in general the teams that recruit better play better.

"Arguably, [Alabama has] the greatest collection of football players ever assembled for a college team if the recruiting services are correct," South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said ;at SEC media days last summer. "And they're pretty much correct."

But even if you're dubious of recruiting rankings, the margin by which the SEC dominates should mean something. The table above is persuasive, but here are some additional fun facts.

Seven SEC teams (Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Texas A&M and Tennessee) land in the top 13. No other conference boasts more than two. The Big Ten and Big 12 boast one apiece.

TCU and Arizona would be the No. 13 recruiting school in the SEC. Wisconsin and Georgia Tech would rank last. All four won either their division or their conference last season.

The No. 11 SEC recruiting school (Arkansas) would be No. 3 in the Big Ten and Big 12, No. 4 in the ACC and No. 5 in the Pac-12.

The extent of the SEC's talent advantage can be argued, but the existence of said advantage cannot. Or at least it can't be argued rationally.

This year, unlike previous years, the SEC combines that talent advantage with coaching stability, too. Twelve of 14 teams (86 percent) have head coaches entering at least their third seasons.

No other league has more.

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In the past, predicting the SEC to be the best league in America was so obvious you didn't need to write it. It was like saying after the 2013 NBA Finals that LeBron James was the best player in basketball.

That the Big Ten (Ohio State) and ACC (Florida State) won the past two national titles has stained the SEC's luster, but it hasn't changed reality. Predicting the SEC to be the best league next season is like saying LeBron James is still the best player in basketball: no longer accepted as fact, but still almost definitely true.

Earlier this offseason, I collated the way-too-early rankings from multiple media outlets. The consensus had 10 SEC teams (Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Texas A&M) inside the top 28.

For emphasis: Ten inside the top 28!

It's not blind faith or SEC BIAS! informing those opinions, either. It's logic derived from some form of the numbers above.

The SEC has played like the best conference and recruited like the best conference, which gives it the best chance to stay the best conference, even if it didn't (and doesn't) win the national title.

Sometimes simple answers are the best.

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Basics of football: Understanding player positions

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It is not uncommon to see or hear groups talking about the latest football news. American football has reached such a level of popularity that one cannot go to a bar without hearing something related to the NFL or the local college football team. Parents are now encouraging their children to participate, or become more involved, in the sports scene.

So it has become highly important that individuals recognize and understand the different player positions in the sport. Listed below are the different positions, with a brief explanation of each role.

Quarterback: Considered the most important position, the quarterback is often the leader of the group. QBs, as they are often called, determine the offensive and defensive strategies of each play; meaning he is often the one who calls the huddle, yells signals during scrimmages, and receives the ball from the center.

Center: This is the player who snaps the ball back to the quarterback. The center is the one who handles the ball in every play.

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Running Back: This is the player who runs with the football. Running backs can also be called the tailbacks, rushers, or halfbacks.

Fullback: There are three main roles of the fullback. These are: a) to block the opposing team’s running back, b) be open for pass-blocking, and c) to protect the quarterback. This generally means that fullbacks are bigger and short-yard runners.

Wide receiver: There can be as many as two to four of these types of players. Typically, wide receivers are fast and quick. As their name suggests, they receive the football after the throw and have to elude defenders to score.

Tight end: This player can serve as both a receiver and a blocker. Tight ends line up beside the offensive tackle on either side of the quarterback.

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There are many other roles, but these are sub-categories, and can be performed by a single team player. Depending on the specific strategy of the coach and quarterback, one player can be focused more on a defensive or offensive role.

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Playing in the Ivy League and beyond

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Despite his father and his grandfather’s histories of having played football with Notre Dame, Will McHale set his sights on playing in the Ivy League as early as high school. And he did just that when he played as linebacker for Yale a few years ago. American football wasn’t his first love as far as sports goes, but it was certainly where he shone the brightest.

In his senior year, he was the lone captain of the Bulldogs and he lived up to all the expectations that came with his position as linebacker. During the spring season of 2012, he earned second-team All-Ivy League honors. He finished second in the league with 7.9 tackles and he was also second on the Bulldogs with 79 tackles. Apart from these, he also earned Yale’s Hammer of the Year Award for scoring the team’s top hits.

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His teammates at the time note his speed and dedication to the game. With his attitude important to the defense team’s performance, the young McHale could be counted on to play fast, physical football that the team needed.

Just a few years after his college football career, McHale has been playing for La Courneuve Flash in France. There, he also works as the team’s assistant coach and he has worked with the United States Embassy to promote American culture and sportsmanship.

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