Australian Rules Football: Mad About Footy

The first time I watched a game of footy, it felt like a different planet with players scrambling around an oval-shaped field, tumbling, jumping and tackling, getting gory and gritty, and having an absolute ball of a time. Australian Rules Football is one of a kind indeed, often described as a game that combines the physicality of rugby, the skill of soccer, and the speed of basketball. The Aussie footy can get complex but it comes down to the team that scores the most points by kicking the oval-shaped ball between the middle two of four goal posts located at both ends of the field.

When my partner, Isabelle, and I first attended a local AFL game here in Sydney, I remember her wide-eyed reaction, her racing pulse, and our endless questions to the fans sitting next to us. For this reason, if you are new to Footy, get to know how it works before you visit the stadium or watch it on TV. You’ll enjoy it more, trust me, folks!

Football American Style: NFL and Its Thrills

American football, famously popularised via the National Football League (NFL), is a unique battle of strategy and brute force that uniquely punctuates the traditional fall season for millions in the US and around the globe. NFL matches are played on a rectangular field, and the sport involves teams of 11 players each. Remember how our boy Felix, used to get all worked up watching the teams fight for possession of the ball, using complex tactical maneuvers, and using brute strength to push back adversaries?

The game of American football is more akin to a beautifully choreographed war than a sport. The goal of each team is to score points by getting the ball into the opponent's end zone for a touchdown, or by kicking it through the opponent's goalposts for a field goal. The defensive team tries to stop the offense from scoring and to take the ball away by causing turnovers (interceptions or fumbles).

The 'Soccer' Game: Association Football and Its Global Appeal

Ah, football or as my American friends would call it, soccer – a global festival that unites people from all walks of life. This sport is played between two teams of 11 players with a spherical ball on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. The objective is simple enough – to score by getting the ball into the opposing goal. Isabelle became a fervent fan of Association football when we lived in Europe for a couple of years. She even got our daughter, Rosalind, enrolled in the local football club. Imagine the thrill we got from watching Sammy in action on the field!

The game has a simple premise but involves incredible skills like dribbling, passing, goal-keeping, freekicks, and the much-revered penalty shootout. It's a great sport, full of drama, and a satisfaction that only a perfectly timed goal can provide. Some of the most popular leagues across the world include Premier League (England), La Liga (Spain), and Serie A (Italy).

Indoor Action: The World of Arena Football

Arena football is an action-packed variation of American football that is played indoors on a smaller field, making it faster and more high scoring. It came into existence in the late 1980s and since then has been evolving steadily. My first introduction to Arena football was when I visited the United States once. The experience was something out of this world, and I admit, I was pretty hooked.

The differences with American football are slight but substantial, making it a whole new game. For starters, there are fewer players on the field. Additionally, the walls of the playing field are not out of bounds. As a result, the games are faster and higher scoring than traditional American football. Trust me when I say, no football game comes close to the adrenaline-packed energy of an Arena football game!

A Blend of Styles: Canadian Football

No list of football leagues is complete without mentioning Canadian football. Canadian Football League (CFL) games are a staple of Canadian culture and offer a bridge between American and international football, blending the best of both worlds. I clearly remember jokingly arguing with Isabelle over the differences and similarities between American football and Canadian one.

In essence, Canadian football feels a lot like American football, but with a couple of twists - there are 12 players on the field instead of 11 and the field itself is slightly bigger. The teams battle over turns of possessions, just like in American football, but there are a few rule changes that make the game unique and highly entertaining, such as the "single" point awarded for a missed field goal or a punt that enters the end zone but is not returned.

A Sport of the Future: Flag Football

The last but not least, there is Flag football - a version of American football, where instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team has to remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end a down. It's a growing sport around the globe being considered to be safer and thus being pushed to more and more people. Felix and Rosalind, tried their hand at flag football recently and Isabelle and I could not be more excited about this safer and less physical take on the sport.

It isn't just fun; it also teaches kids about teamwork and sportsmanship. It is a perfect family sport that requires less equipment and can be played by everyone regardless of their fitness level or size. Flag football is truly a sport of the future.