Why isn't football more popular abroad?

[Phoenix84]

I'm watching the Broncos game, and I have to wonder, why isn't American football more popular in other countries?

It seems it's only really played here in the states. There isn't American football in the Olympics.

I'm aware what we call soccer the rest of the world calls football. But for the sake of discussion, let's just stick with football as American football.

[thyme4change]

Americans like violence more than other countries. Everyone I have talked to from other countries show no interest in watching HUGE men stand in a line, hit each other, and then stand around for a few minutes, just to stand in a line again.  Futbol/Soccer being the most popular sport in the world values stamina and speed.  Funny that we adopted the word, but the game is nearly opposite.  

[Phoenix84]

Dec 29, 2013 16:51:00 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Americans like violence more than other countries. Everyone I have talked to from other countries show no interest in watching HUGE men stand in a line, hit each other, and then stand around for a few minutes, just to stand in a line again.  Futbol/Soccer being the most popular sport in the world values stamina and speed.  Funny that we adopted the word, but the game is nearly opposite.  

The way you make it sound, it's just like sumo wrestling.

[chiver78]

the rest of the world has rugby, too - less padding, fewer rules.

most of the complaints about American football that I heard when I was working abroad is that the game was too structured (downs, for instance), there was way too much stoppage time in between those downs, and that most of the penalties were for stupid stuff.

don't know if that answers your question, but that's all I got.

[Opti]

The other reason is soccer has been around for much longer than
football. I don't think baseball is all that popular in Europe either
if you want to pick another American invented sport.

[Waffle]

Dec 29, 2013 16:51:00 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Americans like violence more than other countries. Everyone I have talked to from other countries show no interest in watching HUGE men stand in a line, hit each other, and then stand around for a few minutes, just to stand in a line again.  Futbol/Soccer being the most popular sport in the world values stamina and speed.  Funny that we adopted the word, but the game is nearly opposite.  

I'm from this country and I have no interest in watching it.  I think that it's the stupidest major sport ever invented.

[chiver78]

Dec 29, 2013 16:51:00 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Americans like violence more than other countries. Everyone I have talked to from other countries show no interest in watching HUGE men stand in a line, hit each other, and then stand around for a few minutes, just to stand in a line again.  Futbol/Soccer being the most popular sport in the world values stamina and speed.  Funny that we adopted the word, but the game is nearly opposite.  

have you ever watched an Aussie Rules rugby match? those guys are insane.....and have a lot less padding than the guys in the NFL or CFL.

[thyme4change]

Dec 29, 2013 16:52:30 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Dec 29, 2013 16:51:00 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Americans like violence more than other countries. Everyone I have talked to from other countries show no interest in watching HUGE men stand in a line, hit each other, and then stand around for a few minutes, just to stand in a line again.  Futbol/Soccer being the most popular sport in the world values stamina and speed.  Funny that we adopted the word, but the game is nearly opposite.  

The way you make it sound, it's just like sumo wrestling.

Well, we all know how wildly popular sumo wrestling is outside of Japan.  

Also...not an Olympic sport.

I agree with Chiver - football is just too slow.  Now, you want a great game - Australian rules football is amazing.  It is the best of every sport.  It is fast moving, lots of running around and stamina like soccer.  It is violent with really hard hits like american football, and it is really high scoring like basketball.  Not to mention that the guys aren't covered in pads and protective gear and they have amazing physiques.  Gives a little extra something for us ladies. 

[thyme4change]

Dec 29, 2013 16:56:52 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 29, 2013 16:51:00 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Americans like violence more than other countries. Everyone I have talked to from other countries show no interest in watching HUGE men stand in a line, hit each other, and then stand around for a few minutes, just to stand in a line again.  Futbol/Soccer being the most popular sport in the world values stamina and speed.  Funny that we adopted the word, but the game is nearly opposite.  

have you ever watched an Aussie Rules rugby match? those guys are insane.....and have a lot less padding than the guys in the NFL or CFL.

LOL - we were typing at the same time.  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

All of the above and I'll add that there is a fairly well-developed youth football developmental system in the U.S. between flag football proframs, Pop Warner, AYFL, and middle and high school teams.

If you've ever played the game, you are more likely to be a fan.

IF the rest of the world has such youth programs, they certainly don't have the participation rates nor generations of participants that one finds in the U.S.

(listening to the Pats game in the car.)

[chiver78]

Dec 29, 2013 17:01:18 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

LOL - we were typing at the same time.  

great minds and all...

[thyme4change]

Dec 29, 2013 17:04:58 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

All of the above and I'll add that there is a fairly well-developed youth football developmental system in the U.S. between flag football proframs, Pop Warner, AYFL, and middle and high school teams.

If you've ever played the game, you are more likely to be a fan.

IF the rest of the world has such youth programs, they certainly don't have the participation rates nor generations of participants that one finds in the U.S.

(listening to the Pats game in the car.)

This is another reason that soccer is gaining fans in the US.  Soccer leagues are capturing more kids.  Many parents like it better because of the press around safety issues with football.  (I think the amount of concussions from soccer and the damage that can be done there is still a secret.)  Many kids like it better because they don't have to put on heavy, hot, stinky pads or wear helmets, etc.  

[Phoenix84]

I suppose I should ask the inverse question too.

Why isn't soccer more popular in the United States?

[Sum Dum Gai]

It's easier to follow other sports because the teams are smaller.  Football teams are huge.  Also the game structure and penalties are confusing for new fans. 

[Phoenix84]

Dec 29, 2013 17:08:12 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Dec 29, 2013 17:04:58 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

All of the above and I'll add that there is a fairly well-developed youth football developmental system in the U.S. between flag football proframs, Pop Warner, AYFL, and middle and high school teams.

If you've ever played the game, you are more likely to be a fan.

IF the rest of the world has such youth programs, they certainly don't have the participation rates nor generations of participants that one finds in the U.S.

(listening to the Pats game in the car.)

This is another reason that soccer is gaining fans in the US.  Soccer leagues are capturing more kids.  Many parents like it better because of the press around safety issues with football.  (I think the amount of concussions from soccer and the damage that can be done there is still a secret.)  Many kids like it better because they don't have to put on heavy, hot, stinky pads or wear helmets, etc.  

You might be right about soccer gaining popularity in the U.S.  Indianapolis is getting a professional soccer team from what I hear.

[thyme4change]

Dec 29, 2013 17:09:09 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I suppose I should ask the inverse question too.

Why isn't soccer more popular in the United States?

It is gaining.  The number of kids playing soccer has doubled in 20 years.  I think MLS will see the benefits of that over the next 10 years or so.  The fact that we now have an MLS is an indicator that it is a growing sport.  Creating passion for a sport is a long process.  It doesn't happen overnight.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

*Some* kids just dont like heavy contact sports. YDS loves football but quit Pop Warner after several years playing flag because of the contact. So, now he is my soccer player and ODS plays varsity football. Different strokes...

Of course, soccer CAN still be a game with heavy contact as you said, Thyme. In fact, I am on my way to YDS's Futsal Game (indoor soccer on a basketball court) as I post this. Playing in such a confined space almost guarantees some contact even if it is accidental.

[Phoenix84]

Dec 29, 2013 17:15:01 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Dec 29, 2013 17:09:09 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I suppose I should ask the inverse question too.

Why isn't soccer more popular in the United States?

It is gaining.  The number of kids playing soccer has doubled in 20 years.  I think MLS will see the benefits of that over the next 10 years or so.  The fact that we now have an MLS is an indicator that it is a growing sport.  Creating passion for a sport is a long process.  It doesn't happen overnight.

Wasn't your kid good at soccer?  Do you think he has a future in MLS?  GRG, what about you?  Do you think your son can get in on the ground floor of MLS?

[thyme4change]

My son is a soccer player.  He might think he has a future, but I highly doubt that.  He plays in one of the lower divisions of the league, so even though he is one of the glue guys on the team - he would likely be outclassed on a different team.  Unless puberty improves him greatly, this will just be his thing in childhood.

[swamp]

Dec 29, 2013 16:48:08 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I'm watching the Broncos game, and I have to wonder, why isn't American football more popular in other countries?

It seems it's only really played here in the states. There isn't American football in the Olympics.

I'm aware what we call soccer the rest of the world calls football. But for the sake of discussion, let's just stick with football as American football.

Canada has American style football. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Definitely agree that America has a preference for violence. 
Another impact might stem from the higher rate of point scoring. 
I do think soccer is a beautiful game as they say, but the amount of goals in a soccer game compared to touchdowns and field goals in a football game makes football more fun for some people. 
Football has more people involved in the game than soccer. 
I don't know about this--it's just a random thought: is soccer harder to learn than football? It seems like there's far more finesse required in soccer than football. Does that make football "easier" for people to play/follow. 
I do understand Dark's theory about learning all the rules. I'm pretty decent at it because I was raised in a football watching family. I cannot name plays or anything like that though. 

Now basketball, there's a sport that continues to baffle me. 

[mtman]

Dec 29, 2013 17:49:49 GMT -5 swamp said:

Dec 29, 2013 16:48:08 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I'm watching the Broncos game, and I have to wonder, why isn't American football more popular in other countries?

It seems it's only really played here in the states. There isn't American football in the Olympics.

I'm aware what we call soccer the rest of the world calls football. But for the sake of discussion, let's just stick with football as American football.

Canada has American style football. 

We gave them football, they gave us curling......We got screwed.

[swamp]

Dec 29, 2013 18:08:54 GMT -5 mtman said:

Dec 29, 2013 17:49:49 GMT -5 swamp said:

Canada has American style football. 

We gave them football, they gave us curling......We got screwed.

They gave us lacrosse and hockey too. I think we did ok. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Phoenix, my son is fast and competitive, but I honestly don't know if he has the drive to play professional soccer. ODS, by comparison, is constantly honing his lacrosse skills (his first love) and will definitely play in college. YDS is a far more natural athlete than ODS but doesn't invest the time and energy to perfect his skills. He is not certain he even wants to play college soccer which is a little disappointing because he is good. Different kids. Different motivation levels.

Even if YDS decided to pursue a professional soccer career, really good American-born players are mediocre as compared to European and South American born players. I don't know if it is genetic, environment, cultural, or what.

[Deleted]

I am a soccer fan all the way and don't really care for football.
One reason maybe football gives "bigger" guys a chance to play sports. You cannot have a lot of these big football players playing any other sport. And there seems to be a lot more bigger guys in the US. Just made up that reason but it seems logical to me

[thyme4change]

Even if YDS decided to pursue a professional soccer career, really good American-born players are mediocre as compared to European and South American born players. I don't know if it is genetic, environment, cultural, or what.

I think it is just sheer time.  I remember my cousin was a decent hockey player, but couldn't hold a candle to the Canadians.  He said they all had free or cheap outdoor skating for a significant amount of time, plus their whole town or family or school or whatever was 100% hockey, 100% of the time.  


I think soccer is THE sport in so many areas of the world.  They spend all their time kicking around the soccer balls as kids, and they kick with their father, their friends, their Grandfather, at school, etc.  Whereas my husband spent a lot of time teaching our kids how to throw a basketball, including that little tikes hoop that you get a kid as soon as they can walk.  And my son has friends who play basketball, so they do that when they are together.  On recess they usually play football, and during the after-school program they play kickball or softball, because that is what their child-care provider guy likes to do.  Also, the soccer season is 9+ months long in Europe, whereas football is 5 months, baseball is 7 months and basketball is 6-ish months.  It is easy to forget about a sport when half the year is spent watching another sport.  You can really be obsessed with it and never let up. 

It is also a sport that is easy to play pick-up.  All you need is a ball.  If you think about football, to play a decent game, you need lots of people, and lots of equipment and lots of room.  

[wvugurl26]

They are different types of injuries but I know a lot of girls with knee injuries and ACL/MCL injuries from playing soccer. Not the same as some of the football injuries though. In my area, that's why soccer was losing popularity. I don't think any of the 4 year players on my high school girls team made it through without either tearing their ACL/MCL or injuring their knee one year. I saw something a couple years ago about why girls were more prone to these injuries but I don't remember all the logic.

In my world, hockey and lacrosse were rich kid sports. There was none of that where I grew up. I'd seen ice hockey on tv but I had zero exposure to lacrosse until moving to the Baltimore/DC area.

I would say it isn't as popular because it is so different from other sports they are used to.

[thyme4change]

Whenever I hear swamp talk about lacrosse I think of 30 Rock when Tracy Jordan said "I want to be so rich that my grandchildren have to play lacrosse.  Lacrosse!"  LOL.  

[swamp]

Dec 29, 2013 19:35:35 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Whenever I hear swamp talk about lacrosse I think of 30 Rock when Tracy Jordan said "I want to be so rich that my grandchildren have to play lacrosse.  Lacrosse!"  LOL.  

I'm rich?!  Yay!!!!! 

[Sum Dum Gai]

It's partly regional and partly financial.  As a kid I didn't even know lacrosse was a real sport.  Never saw it played, nobody I knew played it, the only reason I knew it existed where the occasional television reference, usually with the jerk rich kid in whatever Disney movie being a lacrosse player.  I thought it was roughly on par with squash, croquet, and sailing.  One of those things only rich white people do.