Why Football Is More Important Than Ever

David Schuman | American Football | 11/03/2018

In today’s society of lost souls and young people lacking direction, needing direction and longing for social connections, is why football is probably more important than ever. Yes, yes I understand, that there are risks with football, let’s work past that and focus on the overwhelming positives and how they impact society.

#1 Football teaches not just teamwork, but the values of each individuals’ role on a team. This is arguably its greatest value, as people long to belong to something that serves a greater good or that isnt connected to the internet, people need social interaction and a reliance on others for their success. Football does this to the enth degree. Each person on the team has a specific role and each unit or team is only as good as the weakest person in that group. If someone fails in their task and doesn’t value their role the rest of the team is lost. Yes other sports have team elements, but football is the only one where theoretically you can utilize 35–40 individuals or more in one game who all contribute. No other sport does this. The ramification for society is people learning how to work together, pull together not at each other, and how to understand and get along with each other. This is critical for the success of football and is optimal when people of all different backgrounds come together for a common cause.

#2 The physical demands are unmatched. No longer are people required to be drafted into the army or join the armed forces. This is a good thing, but where can people and young men get the discipline and physical demands that teach the skills of armed forces. The only close replica is football. Football requires the ability to go hard every play, get knocked down and keep on going. In life you will get hit real hard and football teaches you how to react to it and improve. In today’s society with everyone focusing on a cumbaya world, we do not get the physical demands required in knocking down, getting knocked down and having to overcome adversity. Football teaches you that and how to get through it.

#3 Football teaches you to be both the leader and the follower. On a football team there are many instances where someone must lead. They must lead their teammates, help them, work with them. There are also many times where they must follow others and follow coaches. The ying and the yang of being both a leader and a follower help you to understand human nature. It helps you to understand what each person and you need to succeed and formulate a task based plan to get it done. In society today more than ever we must learn to know when it’s time to take a stand and when its time to shut up and follow another. This is a key distinguishing feature that football teaches you. You learn when it’s your time to lead and you learn when its your time to listen and follow. We have too many instances in society of people not having a feel for their place in the world and lacking the instincts to make great decisions. Being both a leader and follower will help you with that.

#4 Decision making and critical decision making skills. Football teaches you to make split second decisions and daily consistent decisions that will either hurt or help you on each and every task you attempt to complete. You must execute the plan and the ability to make great decisions are critical. Football teaches this skill and as the athlete becomes better at it, they learn to make better decisions for themselves and their lives. The on the field practices makes for off the field genius. Learning to execute a plan, make a decision and live with it is critical for life success and is learned in football.

These are four of many great things that football can contribute to an athletes’ life that will have dividends for many many years. In a world that is dominated by low interaction, the internet and social media, and gaming, our young people need more activities and sports that place rigorous demands on them on a consistent basis and football does just that. Embrace the great things in football and you will see societal benefits for generations to come.