Although not without an international footprint in North America, Europe, and Asia, the game known to the rest of the world as American football is an acclaimed national institution. As would be expected from a game so tied to the culture of a nation, it will bear several unusual hallmarks that set it a world apart from other sports.
Rugby lite
Football as many know it today was descended from a group of sports known as “football,” whose main rule was that it was played on foot. That which became modern American football evolved from rugby. This is evident in the territorial and physical nature of the game. Unlike both forms of modern rugby, however, American football is considerably less violent, much to the astonishment of British spectators.
Sports time
Officially, a football game only has about one hour of play. In practice, the time between plays can significantly stretch a game for up to three hours. The game's clock is governed by a number of arcane rules in stopping and starting during the game, which can be used by a particularly savvy coach to a team's tactical advantage.
Three teams
Although only two teams are ever seen competing, there are actually three teams present in the game itself. The “third team” refers to the officiating crew, which is in charge of enforcing the game's rules in the field.
Old pigskin
While most footballs are made from rubber, they are commonly called pigskins. The ball gained its unusual name from the fact that before vulcanized rubber became available, it would frequently be made from a pig's bladder, usually also wrapped in (pig) leather. Although it was possible for a football to be made from leather stuffed with hay, they did not perform as well in-game as the pig bladders. By the late 19th century, rubber footballs have become available at last, but the name of the leather-bound bladder stuck.
Having been an inside linebacker for the Yale Bulldogs, Will McHale later served as the assistant coach for the American football team La Courneuve Flash in France. Visit this blog for more updates on football.
Rugby lite
Football as many know it today was descended from a group of sports known as “football,” whose main rule was that it was played on foot. That which became modern American football evolved from rugby. This is evident in the territorial and physical nature of the game. Unlike both forms of modern rugby, however, American football is considerably less violent, much to the astonishment of British spectators.
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Image source: wikimedia.org |
Officially, a football game only has about one hour of play. In practice, the time between plays can significantly stretch a game for up to three hours. The game's clock is governed by a number of arcane rules in stopping and starting during the game, which can be used by a particularly savvy coach to a team's tactical advantage.
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| Image source: howstuffworks.com |
Although only two teams are ever seen competing, there are actually three teams present in the game itself. The “third team” refers to the officiating crew, which is in charge of enforcing the game's rules in the field.
Old pigskin
While most footballs are made from rubber, they are commonly called pigskins. The ball gained its unusual name from the fact that before vulcanized rubber became available, it would frequently be made from a pig's bladder, usually also wrapped in (pig) leather. Although it was possible for a football to be made from leather stuffed with hay, they did not perform as well in-game as the pig bladders. By the late 19th century, rubber footballs have become available at last, but the name of the leather-bound bladder stuck.
Having been an inside linebacker for the Yale Bulldogs, Will McHale later served as the assistant coach for the American football team La Courneuve Flash in France. Visit this blog for more updates on football.
