I've said before that I have a problem with elements of the game of American football. My main gripe is that it is possible to throw the ball out, I believe this play is called an incomplete pass. Quite often when a forward pass is attempted the ball goes out, and the offensive team retains possession.
This conflicts with the term foot-ball. In either Rugby League football, or Rugby Union football, or Australian rules football for that matter, intentionally throwing the ball out is a penalty, and possession is lost. A kick is awarded to the opposing team. This makes perfect sense as a player should not receive a 'free pass' so to speak and should kick the damn ball somewhere, it is called foot-ball after all.
Rant over. I was lucky to actually witness an American football game when in the US recently. The game was on Friday night under lights in Cody, Wyoming. The Cody Broncs were hosting the Worland Warriors.
The Cody Broncs won quite easily, which was kind of strange as I thought the players on the Worland team looked better. It might be that Cody had more players. I don't know and don't pretend to know the game.
It was funny to see Cody miss a kick for the extra point, how could anyone miss a kick that easy? Oh wait, I remember Stacey Jones missing one like that in Wellington. It does happen but shouldn't.
The reaction of the crowd in Cody wasn't hostile. This was quite heartening I thought. Maybe it was because the kick didn't matter. It was good to see cheerleaders and a big brass band too. Bands have disappeared in New Zealand these days. The game was played on an artificial turf, not as good as grass I have to say.
Who was watching this game? There were men and women, and school children, the men often had a jacket on with Cody Broncs emblazoned across the back. Clearly this game was important to them. The cheering was good natured, they clearly wanted their team to win but not at all costs. Sportsmanship was clearly something they valued.
I have stopped going to Rugby games in New Zealand. The equivalent of the game in Cody would be a 1st XV encounter in NZ. The atmosphere at 1st XV games in NZ has become very threatening, the crowd starts out in the stands, but they move down to the sidelines as the game progresses and they start abusing the players on both sides, even their own team. It can be very unpleasant. There's no band, no cheerleaders, just ignorant parents and former students all getting on the players backs.
It was a relief to see a game at long last where everyone has things in context. Clearly competing and winning was important. But more important was comradeship and community. When the game concluded the fans ran onto the field and cheered their heroes. There were no fights, no drunkenness and everyone was behaving themselves in Cody, Wyoming.
Showing posts with label gridiron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gridiron. Show all posts
December 05, 2016
January 11, 2016
American Football
I know next to to nothing about it. I couldn't tell you who the current Super Bowl champion is. That said I've been watching a few games, trying to understand the game. It appears to have several limitations which means it will never gain wide acceptance internationally. It can be entertaining though, I enjoyed watching the Bengals choke the other day. These NFL players seem to lack the ability to protect the ball when in possession of it, you'd think these highly paid athletes would be able to do that, but they cannot.
The game is similar to Rugby Union, but more similar to Rugby League.
Where do I think American football goes wrong? There doesn't appear any incentive to keep the ball in play or to make play continuous. This has me scratching my head.
I've come up with some rule changes to address this. I've not tried to change the rules too much, instead tweaking to make playing the ball, and playing the ball with the foot important - hence foot-ball.
Rule changes, in order of importance:-
1. The Quarterback cannot intentionally throw the ball out. The ball must be kicked or run out or passed to another player or kept in hand. This makes skill a component of Quarterback play.
2. The ball must be touched down when a touchdown is scored. If the ball simply crosses the plain the score is worth 4 points.
3. Play does not end when a knee goes down. This has to be the silliest thing I've seen. Play only ends when the ball touches the ground (fairer). This way, both players can contest the ball, and tacklers must hold the player and get him down, while if not held the player with the ball can commence running again (so long as the ball did not touch the ground).
If a player is held up and is not advancing then it can be called ball grounded.
I wouldn't allow intentional ball grounding unless a touchdown. Intentional grounding - the equivalent of taking a knee - would be a penalty and loss of possession.
In fact a lot of penalties would result in loss of possession; such as, time wasting, foul play, and so on.
4. Punts must always be returned until a tackle is made or the ball is kicked out. No running out or taking a knee (see 3 above too) or fair catch stuff. The receiver can kick the ball out though, if he chooses. Play resumes from where the kick was made. (I would not scrap the fair catch as it could still happen from a kick in general play, just not from a punt directly following a snap).
6. Only skull caps may be worn, no helmets.
The game is similar to Rugby Union, but more similar to Rugby League.
Where do I think American football goes wrong? There doesn't appear any incentive to keep the ball in play or to make play continuous. This has me scratching my head.
I've come up with some rule changes to address this. I've not tried to change the rules too much, instead tweaking to make playing the ball, and playing the ball with the foot important - hence foot-ball.
Rule changes, in order of importance:-
1. The Quarterback cannot intentionally throw the ball out. The ball must be kicked or run out or passed to another player or kept in hand. This makes skill a component of Quarterback play.
2. The ball must be touched down when a touchdown is scored. If the ball simply crosses the plain the score is worth 4 points.
3. Play does not end when a knee goes down. This has to be the silliest thing I've seen. Play only ends when the ball touches the ground (fairer). This way, both players can contest the ball, and tacklers must hold the player and get him down, while if not held the player with the ball can commence running again (so long as the ball did not touch the ground).
If a player is held up and is not advancing then it can be called ball grounded.
I wouldn't allow intentional ball grounding unless a touchdown. Intentional grounding - the equivalent of taking a knee - would be a penalty and loss of possession.
In fact a lot of penalties would result in loss of possession; such as, time wasting, foul play, and so on.
4. Punts must always be returned until a tackle is made or the ball is kicked out. No running out or taking a knee (see 3 above too) or fair catch stuff. The receiver can kick the ball out though, if he chooses. Play resumes from where the kick was made. (I would not scrap the fair catch as it could still happen from a kick in general play, just not from a punt directly following a snap).
6. Only skull caps may be worn, no helmets.