Renowned NFL analysts' tips to make football more accessible, colorful, and compelling than ever before More and more football fans are watching the NFL each week, but many of them don't know exactly what they should be watching. What does the offense's formation tell you about the play that's about to be run? When a quarterback throws a pass toward the sideline and the wide receiver cuts inside, which player is to blame? Why does a defensive end look like a Hall of Famer one week and a candidate for the practice squad the next? These questions and more are addressed in Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0, a book that takes readers deep inside the perpetual chess match between offense and defense. This book provides clear and simple explanations to the intricacies and nuances that affect the outcomes of every NFL game. This updated edition contains recent innovations from the 2015 NFL season.

Want to know what everyone is cheering about? Learn to enjoy and understand the game with the football fanatic in your life. This book is the ultimate football guide for the novice fan. You will get answers to such complex questions as: . What is that yellow line on the field and why does it keep moving?. What down is it and why do I care?. What is a T formation?Laced with hilarious and insightful anecdotes from Mark Oristano's thirty-year career as a pro football sportscaster, [i]A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football[/i] will turn you into a football-watching pro, or at least, let you fake it.[i]Time Out: I was in the locker room before a game, and I saw an Oilers linebacker furiously drawing on his shoes with a permanent marker. This player, like many, had his ankle tape applied over the outside of his shoes instead of inside, which obviously covered the shoe logo. And he was drawing the logo of his shoe contract on the tape.Wouldn't it be easier, I asked him, to get taped inside and not have to do the artwork?Yeah, it would, he replied, but then I'd actually have to wear their damn shoes, and I hate 'em. So I wear the brand I like and do it this way instead. [/

How can one striker be better than three? Why do the best defenders never need to make a tackle? What's the secret of Tiki-taka? Welcome to Ruud Gullit's masterclass on how to 'read' a match. From his unrivalled perspective as player, manager and pundit, the Dutch football legend shows us everything to look for in a 90 minute match. From formations and tactical decisions to player qualities and pivotal moments, Ruud Gullit unveils the hidden patterns on the pitch. Packed with his acute insights, original observations and talking points, How to Watch Football will quite simply change the way you see the beautiful game.

An opinionated masterclass in the art and science of “reading” a match from one of professional soccer’s most respected and beloved international figures. "For Americans new to European soccer, terms like 'false striker,' 'double accordion' or 'moving trios' need Mr. Gullit’s expert explications." —Wall Street Journal Ruud Gullit knows better than anyone else that to understand soccer you have to understand strategy. When he started playing soccer, his only “strategy” was to get the ball, outrun everyone else to the other end of the field, and score. At first it served him well, but as he advanced through the sport, he learned that it takes much more than one player's speed to make a winning team. Over the course of his career, he worked his way from the Dutch junior leagues all the way to the legendary AC Milan, eventually retiring from the field to be a trainer, then a manager, and finally a commentator. Each step came with its own lessons, and its own unique perspective on the game. Now, having looked at soccer through every lens possible, Gullit shares his own perspective. Most spectators simply watch the ball, but in How to Watch Soccer, Gullit explains how to watch the whole game. He shows how every part of a match, from formations to corner kicks, all the way down to what the players do to influence the referees, is important. And he uses his own vast experience to illustrate each point, so his lessons are filled with anecdotes from his years on the field and insights from his observations as a manager and commentator. This exhaustive guide will change the way even the most die-hard fan watches the beautiful game.

no need to stare blankly at the TV screen or at the shirtless fan next to you at the game, bewildered by the cryptic hand signals of a referee. Teacher Linda Wong and her son, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Kailee Wong, take you through the essential elements of the game in an easy-to-understand format for all prospective fans.Linda and Kailee guide readers through all the basics -- from the field parameters and player profiles to the play rules and scoring system. Linda also shares her experiences as a single mom raising a future NFL linebacker, while Kailee's NFL colleagues offer their own anecdotes and insights into their positions.Complete with a glossary of football terms frequently heard during the game, Mom's Pocket Guide to Watching Football can turn any reader into an avid fan who proudly lets the world know which team she adores!

A guide for women football fans explains each component of the game of football, describes the role of each position player, outlines common plays, and provides descriptions of some of the most memorable moments in NFL history.

The author explains the many skills necessary to be a complete player, and also the desire and passion required.