The Non-American's Guide to American Football.

That was actually useful, lol.

LOL I need this.

No mention of a safety (the scoring kind, not the position)?

4 downs? what is this nonsense.

OK. now I want to see one for real football. Or something some people call "Soccer"

Originally Posted by Andy2108

OK. now I want to see one for real football. Or something some people call "Soccer"

There's not enough room for the # of situations where "roll on the ground crying and pretending to be hurt" would fit in that flow chart.

lol.....Hand Egg

Originally Posted by Andy2108

OK. now I want to see one for real football. Or something some people call "Soccer"

Do you have the ball? Yes, kick it in the goal. No? Prevent other team from kicking in goal until you have the ball.

Originally Posted by rohde88

Do you have the ball? Yes, kick it in the goal. No? Prevent other team from kicking in goal until you have the ball.

What about the mandatory dive every 7 minutes?

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

What about the mandatory dive every 7 minutes?

that's Brazilian rules football.

Originally Posted by rohde88

Do you have the ball? Yes, kick it in the goal. No? Prevent other team from kicking in goal until you have the ball.

I know you're kidding, but it's way more complicated.

- Offside rule. You always have to have someone between you and the opposing team's goal when you are involved in a play. EXCEPT: it can't be their goalie, when you're not across midfield, and when you have the ball already.

- Direct versus indirect free kicks.

- The card system, and what offenses receive what cards (stuff like DOGSO, etc.).

- The clock system (extra time).

- Overtime and shootout rules.

- What happens if you touch the ball with your hands (depends on who you are, where it happened, and even your "intention").

- Penalty kicks, the box, the semi-circle, keeper coming off his line (technically illegal but never gets called, except when it does).

- When it's ok to tackle someone and how (front versus behind, slide versus conventional, studs up versus studs down).

- When and where the keeper can pick the ball up (can only hold it for so long, can't put it down and pick it back up again, can't pick it up if kicked to him but can if headed to him, etc.)

I could go on and on.

Originally Posted by Chris3Duke

I know you're kidding, but it's way more complicated.

- Offside rule. You always have to have someone between you and the opposing team's goal when you are involved in a play. EXCEPT: it can't be their goalie, when you're not across midfield, and when you have the ball already.

- Direct versus indirect free kicks.

- The card system, and what offenses receive what cards (stuff like DOGSO, etc.).

- The clock system (extra time).

- Overtime and shootout rules.

- What happens if you touch the ball with your hands (depends on who you are, where it happened, and even your "intention").

- Penalty kicks, the box, the semi-circle, keeper coming off his line (technically illegal but never gets called, except when it does).

- When it's ok to tackle someone and how (front versus behind, slide versus conventional, studs up versus studs down).

- When and where the keeper can pick the ball up (can only hold it for so long, can't put it down and pick it back up again, can't pick it up if kicked to him but can if headed to him, etc.)

I could go on and on.

I know. I am huge football (EPL, mostly) fan.

Anyone who doesn't like soccer won't take the effort to learn about the game. The opportunities and playmaking happen all the time, but Americans feel a desire to see black and white goals/numbers. No appreciation for the preparation of sport.

--no offsides on a throw in

--when is a ball out of bounds? touching line, partially over, out of bounds in the air? etc.

^^. Youre right of course, but a lot of what youre talking about are rules violations. If the OP's chart had listed rules and penalties for football, it also would be staggeringly huge.

From a flow/object of the game POV like the chart posted by OP, soccer's chart would be pretty simple. So would basketball and hockey. Baseball would be somewhere in between.

Originally Posted by Xcelratr

^^. Youre right of course, but a lot of what youre talking about are rules violations. If the OP's chart had listed rules and penalties for football, it also would be staggeringly huge.

From a flow/object of the game POV like the chart posted by OP, soccer's chart would be pretty simple. So would basketball and hockey. Baseball would be somewhere in between.

So really, we should say ball placed at midfield, must touch and move forward, 2nd player must then touch. I think out of bounds is pretty important vs. lacrosse where they just run forever. The flow chart is pretty simple for soccer.