Soccer and American Football are the most popular sports in the countries they originate from (the United Kingdom and the USA), and both are getting more and more attention globally. Even though the two games are frequently labeled with the term ‘football’ in certain areas of the world, they are far from being the same. Soccer and American Football vary in several aspects, so let’s go over some of their main differences:
The Name
Although in the States it is known as Soccer, the majority of the world uses the name Football which comes from an obvious reason – the players use their feet throughout the game.
American Football, on the other hand, has nothing to do with feet, as it mostly involves catching, throwing, or carrying the ball. Unfortunately, the exact origin of this game’s name is unknown. One theory suggests it stems from its early roots in rugby football, while another claims it might refer to the ball’s approximate one-foot length.
ing">Player Management
Both sports involve eleven players per team on the field, but the differences are in how players are used as part of the in-game strategy. In soccer matches, the same eleven players stay on the field. There are only a handful of substitutes that usually come from soccer cards and sanctions, or potential injuries.
On the contrary, American football teams switch their team members all the time, depending on whether they need a player to be in the attacking or defending position.
League Logistics
The league format is present in both disciplines. The American Football’s NFL organizes a seasonal face-off between its 32 teams. So regardless of their results, each team gets to compete against everyone else in the league in the following seasons.
In soccer, the struct
ure is a bit different. The leagues are divided into sections. Here, the three or four teams that finish towards the bottom of each competition get moved down to the league below. Of course, the top ones are promoted to a higher division.
The Field
The playing area is another important difference between the two sports. The standard dimensions of NFL fields are 48.8 meters wide and 91.4 meters long. Next, the entire surface is marked out in nine-meter or ten-yard sections with two upright ‘rugby’ style posts and an “end zone” at either end.
A soccer field is much different. For instance, with 105 meters in length and 68 meters in width, it is more spacious than the American Football field. Also, there are two semicircles in the middle of the field, and a box placed seven meters in front of each side’s goal. This is the area that indicates where the goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball.
ing">Goals and Aims
When it comes to aims, soccer is easier to explain. The objective is simply to score a goal by kicking the ball into the opponent’s net, and the winner is the team with more goals.
American football, however, is based around “touchdowns”. Here the aim is to score by carrying the ball into the opposition’s end zone and avoid being tackled in the process. Each touchdown carries six points and there is an extra point for players who also successfully kick through the posts.
The Ball
In both sports, the players use just one ball, but the shape and the function of the object are quite different. While soccer balls are round, simple in design, and ideal for rolling smoothly and kicking, the ones used in American Football are almost egg-shaped, each featuring a giant stitch along one of its sides. These balls are perfect for gripping, and they can easily be streamlined through the air. Also, the balls in American Football do not bounce across the field as predictably as the ones used in soccer, so they often rebound in random directions.
Soccer and American F
ootball are incredibly popular, and some sports enthusiasts are simply crazy about both. However, those who are not as savvy when it comes to sports terminology might get confused when either one is mentioned. That is why this list of differences is here to provide a better understanding of the two iconic disciplines.
