Football vs Football
My own reasoning for each’s benefits
Football (US) and Football (rest of world) are probably my two favourite sports to watch. Whilst I have followed football/soccer since I was a kid, I have only got into American football in the last 10 years. Both of my teams, in two different ways, have always struggled to win since I became a fan. However, I will always be a supporter of both.
This is not the purpose of my article though. With my university studies touching on International Sports, I was further informed of the different systems the two sports operate with in regards to competitions. I was actually watching an American Football game the other day, and realised that both systems offer large positives, for fans and the leagues themselves. I thought, since I walk both paths, I could explain it to those who may be into one but not the other.
League Format — Promotion and Relegation or One League
This differentiation comes from the history of both leagues. Football started in the UK in the final third of the 19th Century, whereas American Football was founded around 100 years ago. Football has always had a system in place to allow teams to be promoted or relegated, meaning a team could go from playing local teams to the nation’s best in a matter of seasons, or alternatively could go from being the best in the land to being forgotten to the annals of time. The big risk here is that some clubs who fall from grace may never come back, some even potentially being at risk of being liquidated due to the inflated expenses associated with the sport. However, it is promotion and relegation which adds an extra level of competition and excitement to the league system.
On the other hand, the North American Model has a fixed league system, meaning teams cannot be relegated and promoted, and instead these teams, however bad they may be, will never be at risk of becoming no more. Instead, what separates the bad from the good is the “finals” portion of the season, where the best teams compete in a knockout tournament to see who will be crowned the champion. Some would probably argue the lack of risk involved in being a poor outfit, and the lack of movement for the teams, makes the sports boring — on the contrary. The wildcard system, where the best of the rest can enter the final rounds of the season, adds that extra level of excitement. The fact a team, who has failed to lose all season, gets beaten by a mid-table side for the biggest prize in that sport, truly makes it an interesting idea.
Getting into Sport — Grassroots vs Schools
Let’s start with American Football for this one. In the U.S, sports are considered less of an outside of school practice. Historically, sports were deemed to be a distraction for students when they were away from Elementary/High School, stopping them from achieving top grades and development. Therefore, this was then put on the American school system, and sports became introduced as a class, and with extra-curricular practice. Issues with this would probably include that some families are priced out of being able to support their child to pursue sports outside of school. Famous football player Zlatan Ibrahimović famously stated that for children to play for a good soccer team, the prices could be close to $3,500 per year. Teams do not pick players based on talent, rather the size of their parent’s wallets. In the same breath, though, the North American model revolves around the school system, as will be explored shortly, so maybe it is due to this that school curriculums are the best place to develop talent.
For European/British Football, there is a heavy emphasis on funding grassroots projects. The governing bodies for football, such as the FA in England, actively develop facilities in order for the next generation to be coached and reach top levels; for all the problems the FA has, this is not one of them. This allows families of any income to support their children into pursuing a sport which they have natural talent in, and that is what is prioritised, talent. Some of England’s greatest modern footballers, including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard came from working class backgrounds, and in the U.S they may never have been discovered.
Implementation of next generation — Academies or Drafts
My final section is how the next generation of players come into their respective teams. Starting with the UK, from grassroots football, players are scouted and signed up to youth academies for teams across the UK. Typically, it will be their local team, and depending on their talent level, they may come through to play for the first team, or may end up moving to another club. The negatives of this is that, if they never make the step up, they could be released from the academy, as my cousin was from Everton. Some studies have looked at the effects of this, with a lot of suicides occurring in former academy players due to not making it. Further, if a successful team has a successful academy, they will continue to be a special team and nobody will challenge. But, the benefits of this model is a local player coming through, and representing their boyhood club. I do not think a feeling would match scoring a goal for a club you have supported for your whole life.
In the U.S, a draft system is instead opted for. Players, once they finish playing for their high school, are then approached by colleges for potential scholarships and chances to represent their academic institution. Once they finish their time at college, they are then a part of a “draft”, similar to picking teams with your friends in school. You are ranked based on your position and potential, and the worst teams have first pick on the next generation of superstars. The positives to this is, as discussed further up, it allows for competitive balance, as it means the worst teams one season can become the best overnight, if they choose the right players to improve them. It also is great to see rookies coming into the league and to a new state sometimes and making a name for themselves, carrying a poor team on their back.
