Much of the excitement that comes with the game of football is due to the explosive plays that often decide the game, but the hard hitting also plays a big part in the game's popularity. To the uninitiated, football may be hard to understand because there are a few seconds of action followed by significant deliberation in the huddle, more delay as the quarterback calls signals and then action again. After watching a couple of games and learning a few basic rules and plays, you'll have no problems understanding football.
Step 1
Read as much as you can about the history, strategy and great players of the game of football. Read "The Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football," "Inside the Helmet" and "Big Play" to learn about the game's strategy and rich history. Read current magazines like "Sports Illustrated," "ESPN Magazine" and "Pro Football Weekly" to stay abreast of what is happening in the world of football.
Step 2
Go to a game, sit high up in the stands and watch the game through a pair of binoculars. Focus on the play of the offensive line. You will soon see that if the players on the line move forward, the play is likely a running play. If the offensive line gives ground, it's likely a passing play.
Step 3
Watch classic football movies like "Remember the Titans," "Friday Night Lights," "The Longest Yard" and "Rudy" to get a feel for the culture surrounding the game. "Remember the Titans" is about a southern high school football team during the period of a forced integration. "Friday Night Lights" demonstrates the importance of football to the coaches, players and residents of a small Texas town. "Rudy" is a classic underdog story of a undersized and undertalented player who tries to walk on at football powerhouse Notre Dame.
Step 4
Watch Super Bowl Sunday. This is the day that the National Football League (NFL) decides its championship. The TV broadcast of the game is almost always the most widely watched program of the year. Huge parties are held in conjunction with the game. While the NFL uses the Super Bowl to decide its championship, it is basically a football holiday to the rest of the country.
