Football and You - Part 2

Football requires intelligence, agility, and an extraordinary coordination of movement. Size is of secondary importance and many great players are small in stature. Some others have succeeded despite physical handicaps. A case in point: Garrincha. Struck by polio as a small child, he walked with a limp his entire life. Yet, he became a superb player. He was a teammate of Pele and while playing for Sweden and Chile Garrincha made it to the World Championship finals and experienced the glory of being part of the World Championship team.

American fans are not accustomed to sports like this. Sports they follow require more brute strength and more macho. If they were ever lucky enough to see a well-played World Cup contest, they would see the kind of power that’s needed to win and compete well. In addition to their athletic skills, players have to be smart. For example, they have to know how to play against the clock and they must do it instinctively, with no prompt from their coach. Let’s say your team is controlling the ball to protect their lead as time is running out. Imagine the frustration and hostility felt by fans of the opposing team, as your favorite players thwart them at every turn. Now, that’s macho.

I am putting all my effort into making this imagined scenario a reality. By following this formula, players in the United States will be able to successfully compete on a World Championship level, and their fans will react with renewed enthusiasm. This is exactly what American football needs.

Our Formula

Students of the game will understand my winning formula:

South American Ball Control + European Teamwork + American Enthusiasm = Tomorrow’s Champions

To achieve success, two additional components are needed - hard work and, most importantly, real competition. Hard work is no problem for Americans. They’ve already shown the world at the Olympics that they are capable of being top contenders in any given sport. In regards to training, American sports programs feature the best equipment and facilities, as well as the best trainers and medical personnel. Yet, there are elements of the game that you cannot develop in the laboratory or with machines, or by training or instruction from the best coaches. To finely hone their skills, what players need is competition.