Football is a "World Sport" and the Men's World Cup Championship is the most watched program worldwide. However, despite these praises, there are still many people who find it difficult to watch and enjoy football. Part of it stems from a lack of understanding and partly because of the "flat" nature of football compared to other sports. Even so, this "beautiful game" is available to anyone and the drama, curiosity and excitement in football doesn't just come from the goals scored. You just need to know where you can find the attraction.
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Method 1 of 3: Understanding Football Rules
Step 1. Understand the basic rules of this match
From a regulatory standpoint, soccer is a fairly simple game. The object of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team by putting the ball into the opponent's goal. Each team has 11 players who work together to move the ball and defend the goal from attacks, but they may not use their arms or hands when doing so. The key to the rules of football that must be known include:
- Each team has one goalkeeper who is allowed to use his hands to defend the goal, but only when in the box around the goal (penalty box).
- A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the entire goal line and is inside the goal frame.
- Although light physical contact is permitted, a team of 3 referees is on the pitch to enforce the rules and ensure the players trying to attack the ball are not members of the opposing team.
Step 2. Know that playing hours are counted from 0 to 90 minutes, not 0
One of the first things that confuses new football fans is the game clock. Unlike most other sports, the hours in soccer are not counted up to 0, but are counted up to the 90th minute. The match is divided into two equal parts for 45 minutes with a break of 10 to 15 minutes in the middle.. The football game clock also never stops and the match only ends when the referee blows the final whistle (usually 2 to 3 times in a row).
- This is done so that the match does not stop unexpectedly. Football is a sport that prioritizes the flow of the game and if the game time is constantly stopped, started and checked like in a game of american football or basketball, the game will take a very long time.
- The game doesn't end right after the 45th or 90th minute. However, the referee adds "overtime" to compensate for times when the ball is out of line, a goal is scored, there is a substitution, etc. This means the match could actually have ended in the 93rd minute. Most television broadcasts will show how much extra time is added to the corner of the screen as it nears the end of the first half or the end of the match.
Step 3. Know the parts of the soccer field
A simple rectangular football field. There are a few extra lines, but the most important ones are intuitive and easy to read.
- Center Circle is where the game begins. The ball is placed in the center of the field and the starting team may pass it. The other team may not enter the circle until the ball has been touched.
- Penalty Box Also known as a goal box or 18-yard box is a rectangular line at either end of the field, in front of each goal.
- Sideline is a long line on the sides of the field. If the ball does cross these lines, the last team to touch the ball must pass it to the opposing team for a throw-in.
- Goal Line Two finish lines at each end of the court. If the ball crosses this line and is inside the goal frame, a goal has been scored. If the ball crosses the goal line but is not in the goal, it counts as a goal kick or a corner, depending on who last touched the ball.
Step 4. Learn how to assess what constitutes a violation and what is not
A foul is when a player makes illegal physical contact with another player from the opposing team by hitting, tripping or kicking him. However, there is a lot of physical contact that is not a violation. Figuring out what constitutes a foul and what is not is one of the most difficult practices in world football, as there are very few "offs" that can be clearly called fouls like in American football or basketball. The best way to remember a foul is to ask yourself -- did the player "play with the ball," meaning did the player make contact with the ball, or did the player "play with the opposing player", by pushing/hitting tripping other players to get possession of the ball? FIFA determines the types of violations which include:
- Kicking or trying to kick another player.
- Tackle or try to tackle.
- Jumping/crashing at someone
- Attack, or try to attack
- Hitting, or trying to hit
- Manage
- spitting
- Holding the opponent's body
- Holding the ball.
Step 5. Understand the offside rule
This rule worries a lot of people, but it's actually quite firm. The offside rule only states that a player cannot receive the ball from a teammate if he is behind the last opposing defender. This is easier to understand with an example--
- United States forward Alex Morgan dashed past defenders, leaving only him and the goalkeeper between himself and the goal.
- Alex's teammate, Megan Rapinoe who was in front of the opposing defender that Alex had just passed, passed the ball to Alex. Alex was offside and the referee blew the whistle to stop play.
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These rules feel complicated only because of the speed of the game and some important changes to the rules. Even so, the offside rule remains firm:
- If Alex don't touch or play the ball but still in an offside position, he not offside.
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If Megan passes the ball and Alex ran into an offside position to receive it, he not offside.
What matters is his position when the ball is passed not when he receives it.
- If Alex and Megan were in their own team's defense in the field, they will not be able to take offside'.
- You can also be offside with a missed shot or pass, if you receive the ball before anyone else touches it. You cannot be called offside if the opposing team passes or shoots the ball.
Step 6. Be aware that most fouls are restarted with a free kick
In the event of a foul or someone is offside, play is restarted with a free kick awarded to the opposing team. No member of the opposing team may be within 9 meters of the ball before it has been kicked, a process that marks when normal play resumes.
- If the ball leaves the sides of the court, play is restarted with a throw-in which must be taken with both hands above the head.
- If an attacker fails to score and the ball crosses the finish line, the goalkeeper gets a free kick from their goal. If a defender kicks the ball out over his own team's finish line, the opposing team gets a free kick from the corner of the field.
Step 7. Understand that yellow and red cards are awarded for serious fouls
A yellow card is basically a warning, telling the player that the foul he committed was something reckless, reckless or excessive. A red card is much more serious, because it means the player who gets it is kicked out of the game at once and his team has to play with one player short until the game ends.
- Two yellow cards in a game for the same player, always result in an automatic red card.
- Some fouls, such as rough play, deliberately cheating or using hands to stop an obvious goal and cursing or threatening the referee will be automatically red carded.
Method 2 of 3: Appreciating the Football Game
Step 1. Enjoy the flow of the game, not the goals scored
Football isn't a high-scoring game, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun. The essence of football is about flow, the give and take between teams while trying to spot each other's weaknesses and attacking the opponent's weaknesses while defending their own field. Football is more about suspense and sudden changes of pace and momentum instead of scoring goals all the time.
- Think of a goal as the culmination of a long attack -- like a battle being fought and fought for before one side finally makes a big, successful attack.
- The more you understand about football, the more fun the game will be and it doesn't just come from flashy goals. Football is too organic, creative and flexible to be separated into individual games.
Step 2. Watch the individual battles taking place on the field
Soccer matches consist of hundreds of small challenges and individual battles. This could be a winger trying to break into and break through defenders or an attacker trying to jockey an opponent to score with a header. Individual battles like this, often decide the whole game. For example, a striker may barely be able to get past the opposing team's defense before being tackled. But if you notice that the striker is making more and more shots as the game goes on, you'll know that the striker is starting to take control of the game. All it takes is one goal to decide the end of the battle and the match.
Step 3. Understand the role and freedom of each position
How individual players move, attack and defend to help their team. What do they do when they don't have the ball? This is where the determination of whether the game is won or not comes from, as all 11 players must work together no matter where the ball is.
- Backside Do they make room for the opposing team or follow them everywhere? Do they stay close to their home turf or gather to charge forward to attack? Fast and attacking defenders like Philipp Lahm or DeAndre Yedlin are often the most enthusiastic players on the pitch. Players like this manage to tackle and then pull the ball back onto the field to attack. Weaker teams or defenders give attacking players plenty of time and space by waiting for a second defender to help them instead of attacking themselves.
- Midfielder What do the players do in the middle of the field? Midfielders are the players who determine the tempo of the game and they are the most important tactical players on the pitch. Do the midfielders of a team often spread out or to the back? If so, chances are they are tracking gaps in the opponent's defence, waiting and waiting for the opportunity to come. Midfielders who often dribble, attack and pass the ball forward are trying to push their team to score goals, breaking down the opponent's defense by pressing the opposing team to respond to their attacks quickly.
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Attacker.
Do they often check back, get the ball and pass it quickly? Do they have the ball far in front of the enemy zone using their size and speed to control the ball, turn and shoot? Do they often run to block passes and then make moves and tricks on opposing defenders to get space? A striker is in the game of football to wreak havoc on opposing defenders, even if they are not in possession of the ball. This battle is often the most crucial part.
Step 4. Watch how each team creates and removes space
Managing the field on the move is the secret weapon of a good soccer team. Passing the ball is not always used directly to attack the opponent's goal. Instead, passes are more likely to be used to force the opposing team to move, move and adapt, potentially making mistakes and leaving gaps open. The basic principle of soccer tactics is to manipulate the opposing team to give you space in front of the goal for a shot when you attack, or to close the space so the opposing team cannot move forward when your team is on the defensive.
- Know how many balls the moving player has played with. This is because they run into the open space. They must have control of the ball before an opposing defender arrives and closes the opening.
- Does a team "fortify itself" by putting all the defenders near their goal? This is used to prevent goals, especially if their score is already ahead. But this move can result in a lot of free-range attacks that will damage the front of the defending team.
- Watch the defense of a great team like Italy, to see how a team controls space on the pitch very well. You'll notice that they move as a consistent line, removing the pockets of space in front of and behind them as a single unit.
Step 5. Check the team formation
Similar to the defensive pattern in American football, soccer teams have a general pattern of players that greatly influences their playing style. Formation is always written from back to front, except the goalkeeper. So a 4-4-2 formation means there are 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 attackers.
- The "classic" 4-4-2 formation is an all-encompassing and solid strategy that has been in use for decades. Even so, this formation is less creative and is often used by teams with a defensive or counter-attacking orientation.
- The formation of a team tells a lot about their strategy going forward. Does the team have 1 forward and many midfielders? If so, chances are they want to control the center of the field and send their players into the spaces on the flanks. Do they have 5 defenders? Where players are placed tells you how the team wants it to attack and defend.
Step 6. Pay attention to the playing style of a team
Your appreciation for football will skyrocket once you realize not only what the team or players do but also why they do it. How do tactics, combat and pace of play come together in a good team? How do they attack (often along the flanks, through the center of the field, or by making big kicks across the pitch?) and how successful are their tactics? Are all passes given to a player or does everyone on the field touch the ball?
- Watching the best teams in the world play cohesive and easy-to-understand matches can help you to understand. Brazil is known for its technical beauty, talent and speed. Italy is known for its slower play and solid defence. The United States was a quick counter-attacking team trying to make the most of limited opportunities against the bigger teams with lightning-fast attacks.
- If you watch American sports a lot, think of each attack as playing an American football game. While an american football team might focus on the game going on to be effective and other players on running, the soccer team might rely on the wingers (sides) to attack the opposing defenders and make long passes into the opponent's penalty box or rely on several players of stature. great for hitting and attacking the middle. The only difference is that the game of football is fluid and organic, it is not selected every 15 seconds, so the strategy is constantly evolving.
Step 7. Enjoy the theater and drama of a good match
A football match is a beautiful race marked by missed goals, brilliant technicality, enthusiastic players, and push and pull without the constant distraction of advertising.
Step 8. Watch a match live
The best way to enjoy football is to watch it live from the stands. You can feel the waves of emotions rising and falling together from fellow viewers and other fans. You can see the effect the tactics of both teams have on the entire team and you'll learn some interesting cheers while watching the match. Like most other sports, soccer is better enjoyed live, when you can immerse yourself in the game.
Method 3 of 3: Finding Good Matches
Step 1. Watch football all year round by switching between different leagues and tournaments
Football takes place all year round, as there are so many different leagues, tournaments and teams around the world that you can almost always find a game to watch. While the availability of certain matches depends on where you live and your television provider, following your favorite team's progress has become even easier in the online era. What's more, the widespread nature of football means that almost every country and region will have a soccer team to watch.
- If you want to watch a match but can't find it on television, search for the match and date, plus the word "streaming" in your internet browser. Many football blogs will write about different ways to watch the game.
- Check football teams in your area, including semi-professional teams. Just like baseball, football players and teams can move up and down the ranks from season to season and even become national stars after a few years. Rankings and leagues can fluctuate and the huge global market means players move around a lot.
Step 2. Find out what national leagues are going on this season
Almost every country in the world has a soccer league and although most of them take place during the winter months, many are sidelined to make room for international tournaments later in the year. These teams are familiarly referred to as "clubs".
- english Premier League, generally considered the best league in the world played from late August to early May. La Liga (Spain), Serie A (Italy), Bundesliga (Germany) and Ligue 1 (France) are the other major European leagues that took place at a similar time to the Premier League.
- Major League Soccer is an American football league that runs from March to October. MX League, is a Mexican league that runs both in summer and winter.
Step 3. Choose a team or league to follow to keep track of the scoring
All sports are more enjoyable when you have someone or something to support you. Choose a team or league for whatever reason feels right to you, whether it's from where you're from, has your favorite players, or just looks like an interesting team to support. In fact, each league has its own complexities, features and unique aspects
- English Premier League is where all the best players play because this league has the most money. The play in this league is fresh, tactical and fast. There are many teams that can compete at any time.
- La Liga, or the Spanish League, has the characteristics of a fast and beautiful game. The game technique of the players is very shrewd and their game is very beautiful. The top clubs from the Spanish League, such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, are among the best teams in the world every year.
- Bundesliga, the German league has a technical and physical nature of play. This league produces many of the best players in the world. The German league may be the least watched league of all European leagues, but it has some of the best quality games.
- Major League Soccer is a rapidly growing new league characterized by physicality and developing young players.
Step 4. Look forward to major club tournaments
Almost every league in the world doesn't actually have playoffs. Instead, all scores are collected from all matches and the team with the highest total score wins the league. However, there are several major tournaments every year for club teams and these tournaments are always the best quality football matches you can watch every year.
- The Champions League is a tournament between all the best clubs from all countries in Europe. Qualifiers take place over the summer and winter, with the final taking place in May.
- The FA Cup is a tournament between all professional or semi-professional teams in England, regardless of rank.
- Each continent has its own version of this cup (for example the Copa Libertadores from South America), but the Europa League is the most famous tournament.
Step 5. Follow your country's national team in major world-class tournaments
The national team is a team whose members consist of the nationals of that country and these teams compete in the biggest tournaments in the world, such as the World Cup. International football is played in the summer and consists of a series of matches, qualifiers and tournaments that eventually culminate in the World Cup every 4 years.
- Friendly match is a practice match that doesn't really mean much, but is important for team building and testing the players and their strategies. Since most players go on to play in club teams throughout the year, matches like these are crucial training for coaches.
- Qualification for major tournaments such as the Gold Cup, World Cup and Confederations Cup which take place every year. These important matches ultimately determine the 32 nations that will be able to compete in the World Cup.
- Tournament This competition and knockout system match is what every national team in the world is aiming for. Winning some championships, such as the Gold Cup, can automatically give your team free tickets to the World Cup, the most important tournament in the world.
Step 6. Follow blogs, teams and football accounts to know about upcoming matches
There are so many football broadcasts on television all the time, it's not hard for you to find a match worth watching. But too much information can be boring, especially for new fans. If you don't have a favorite team or don't know which team to watch, the best place to start is the Premier League. The league runs from August to May and all matches are always played on Saturdays and Sundays. That's why this league is easy to watch and enjoy even if you don't know the fixtures.
Tips
- The best way to watch football is to watch the best football! The World Cup, Olympics and the English Premier League are the best places to start.
- Listen to commentary and part-time shows to learn more about strategy and tactics, making the game even more enjoyable.
