A soccer coach (or manager) shapes how a team plays, who plays, how it trains and how it feels. Talented squads underperform with the wrong coach, and modest squads often overachieve with the right one. A clear tactical identity The coach defines how the team plays with and without the ball: pressing high or defending … Read more
There are more ways than ever to follow football, from watching on TV to managing a fantasy team, coaching youth players or becoming an official. Getting more involved also makes the game more enjoyable to watch. Watching games In the United States, NFL games are shown on broadcast networks (CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC), on ESPN, … Read more
American football is highly specialized. Each of the 11 players on the field has a defined job, and a play only works when all of them do theirs. Here is what each position group contributes. Offensive line Five linemen (center, two guards, two tackles) protect the quarterback on passing plays and open running lanes. They … Read more
Penalties are part of almost every football game. A single flag can wipe out a touchdown, extend a drive or flip field position, which is why disciplined teams often beat more talented ones. Offensive penalties Defensive penalties Penalties for both sides Unnecessary roughness and personal fouls (15 yards) cover late hits and dangerous contact. Face … Read more
Every spring, NFL teams select the top college players in the draft. It is the main way teams add young talent, and because rookie contracts are relatively cheap, good drafting gives a team a long-term advantage under the salary cap. How the order works The draft has seven rounds. Teams that did not make the … Read more
A football head coach leads dozens of players and a staff of assistants, makes split-second decisions on game day and shapes the team’s culture all year. Success at this level depends on much more than knowing plays. A clear vision Successful coaches know what kind of team they want to build and communicate it simply. … Read more
An offensive scheme is a system of plays built to create advantages: numbers, angles or one-on-one matchups. The best schemes fit the players a team actually has, not the playbook a coach admires. Start from personnel A mobile quarterback suggests run-pass options and designed runs; a strong pocket passer suits a timing-based passing game. Big, … Read more
Special teams handle the kicking plays: kickoffs, punts, field goals and extra points. They are on the field less often than the offense or defense, but they influence field position on almost every change of possession and often decide close games. Field position is the hidden score An offense starting at its own 40-yard line … Read more
