Contrary to the liking of many avid football fans, a certain popstar has drastically changed the viewership of the NFL. Teenage girls, much to the surprise of their fathers, flocked to their television every Sunday to put on the beloved game in hopes of catching a glimpse of Taylor Swift.
However, between glances at Swift, the camera was forced to pan to a game that many of the girls had never felt the need to care about.
I personally grew up with a father and brother who immersed themselves in the world of sports since before I can remember. I have picked up enough knowledge on the topic to get myself by, but for others, the world of televised athletics can be daunting and you may not know where to start.
This guide not only provides background on the new playing field of Swift, but on other sports that people might be willing to learn about.
Important players and teams are listed above the rules, and I would urge you to throw these out at the dinner table as your dad discusses the latest game and see the utter shock on his face.
Football
Important Teams: Chiefs, 49ers, Chicago Bears
Important Players: Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
Rules: Football is played between two teams of eleven players each, with the objective of advancing an oval-shaped ball down the field and scoring points by crossing into the opponent’s end zone or kicking it through the goalposts.
The team in possession, or the team on offense, gets four attempts, known as downs, to advance at least 10 yards. Players can carry the ball, throw it to teammates, or kick it, with tackling being a fundamental aspect of defense.
If they do not advance with those four downs allotted, then the ball switches possession and the team goes to defense.
Points are scored through touchdowns, field goals, extra points, or safeties.
The big thing to know is what a touchdown is. A touchdown is when a player on offense runs the ball into the endzone or catches it at the endzone, and these earn a team six points. Sometimes silly dances may occur between the offensive team when such a victory takes place.
Baseball
Important Teams: Cardinals, Cubs, Yankees
Important Players: Shohei Ohtani, jackie robinson, Aaron judge
Rules: Baseball, often dubbed America’s favorite pastime, is a sport steeped in tradition and strategy. At its core, baseball is a game played between two teams of nine players each, aiming to score more runs than their opponent within nine innings.
The game unfolds with a delicate balance of offense and defense, governed by a set of well-defined rules.
Key components include the pitcher, who throws the ball towards a batter standing in a designated area called the batter’s box.
The batter’s objective is to hit the ball and advance around a series of four bases arranged in a diamond shape: first, second, third, and home plate. Each time a player runs across home plate, it counts as one run for their team.
Meanwhile, the defensive team strives to prevent this by fielding the ball and making outs. Outs are made by either catching the ball in the air, throwing the ball to one of the bases before the runner lands there, or tagging the runner with the ball.
Soccer
Important Teams: Arsenal, Manchester United, Saint Louis City team
Important Players: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé
Rules: Soccer, also known as football in many parts of the world, is a globally beloved sport defined by its simplicity and beauty.
Played between two teams of eleven players each, the primary objective is to score goals by maneuvering a black and white ball into the opponent’s net using any part of the body except the hands and arms, primarily employing the feet. Matches consist of two halves lasting 45 minutes each.
Fouls, like pushing, tripping, or handball result in free kicks or penalties.
Basketball
Important Teams: Lakers, Warriors, Celtics
Important Players: Lebron James, Caitlin Clark, Michael Jordan
Rules: Basketball is played between two teams of five players each. The objective is to score points by shooting the ball through the opponent’s hoop, which is mounted 10 feet above the ground.
Players move the ball by dribbling, which is when they bounce the ball on the ground next to them while running, and passing to teammates. Each team aims to outscore their opponents within the allotted game time, typically divided into four quarters of 12 minutes.
Foul penalties can result in free throws or turnovers, and violations like traveling or double dribbling lead to turnovers. Traveling is when you carry the ball and don’t dribble it and double dribbling is when you stop and hold the ball before dribbling again.
The scoring in basketball is mainly based on where the ball is shot from. If the player shoots from the outer half circle around the basket and makes it, then their team gets three points. If a shot is made from anywhere inside the half circle, then two points are allotted to the team.
Free throws are the only exception and these occur when a player is fouled by another team. Each free throw only counts as one point, but they are done unencumbered by the opposing team bearing down on them.
