The Intricacies of Football

I started playing football at seven years old, of course the schemes are relatively simple and plays extremely basic. For example run through the middle, was one of the most complicated.  That all changed at age eight, when I met Coach Steve. Being much larger at a younger age it was much easier to standout. Due to my good play, Coach Steve decided to give me the nickname Rhino. As Coach Steve grew more fond of me as a player he decided to let me go to his sports camp,where I would learn the game, and workout to be better at the game.

I had already been quite familiar with football, even before my meeting of Coach Steve occurred. Yet, the chess match within the game was revealed to me at a relatively young age.  I learned about all the formations that counteract other formations, the myriad of different plays and schemes. Also on the field reads are the most difficult to learn and understand. The signal caller on defense is typically the middle linebacker, the signal caller on offense in obviously the quarterback.

Each one will make reads of the other. For example a quarterback sends a man in motion, the linebacker has to read what that means. The film he had watched earlier of this team will dictate the audible or change he will make in his defensive line up. He will bark out calls for the defensive line the other linebackers and the defensive backs. This all happens in a matter of five to ten seconds, and any kind of screw will cost your team dearly. This goes both ways, the offense has to also read the defense change their play and formation. For example if a line backer shifts down to the line of scrimmage, or if the defensive backs are playing press coverage all of this a quarter back needs to intake, absorb and react to in five to ten seconds.

     That's not all, during the play your must read your keys execute and play smart. As a defensive line men you can never over pursue the running back or he will cut back and find an open piece of field. If any one player messes up their execution of the play all eleven men on the field will pay for it. It is the ultimate team sport. All eleven on both sides of the ball must know their assignment, and execute it to perfection. If a player your side of the ball will fail to perform the play is busted, and your side of the ball will ultimately lose that play.

In conclusion I am just scratching the surface on the inner layers of the ultimate sport, it requires supreme shape, extreme physicality, and believe it or not quick thinking and intelligence. Also, those three things must be preformed by every man in the field. The one thing that tells me the that football is like no other in its class, is that throughout a season, let alone throughout multiple seasons, you become bonded with your team mates more than ever. You become more than best friends, you become family.