sportsbarThe battle of the Codes - the main differences between NFL, NRL, AFL & Union - A voyage to America
October 24th 2007 01:18
The US is a strange land, where things are so similar, yet so far apart. Take Baseball for example; a game that is very similar in principle to cricket, yet metaphysically world away. The Yanks winge and moan that cricket is the most boring game on the planet, they don’t understand it (not that they try). But in essence, the major difference that sets them apart is that cricket is a 360 degree game and batsmen have the upper-hand. There are many subtleties, but the skills used are very similar, nearing on identical. Fielding, throwing, catching, hitting all very similar.
It is the same across the board – sports that are so similar yet universes apart.
What do Americans think of our two major football codes? What does rugby league and AFL look like in the land of big pizza and big movies? (before you say anything Dusk these are 'our' 2 major codes, union and soccer are more Universal
The first thing most Americans notice when first witnessing an NRL or AFL contest is that the players a pad-less! They must be crazy, no helmets either!
What is the difference between Rugby Union, AFL, Rugby League and Grid-Iron? The one change of rule is the reason that we have very different products. It all stems from the break-down. Just what do you do when a player gets tackled?
AFL penalized the tackled player – which resulted in less effected tackles and a more open game.
Rugby Union initiated the rucks and rolls system – a true contest for the ball
Rugby League conceived the play the ball rule. Where the tackled player simply stands and the game continues.
Grid-Iron invented the line of scrimmage. Afer every tackle the game is halted as the attacking team has 30 seconds to decide their next play/
This is how we have such different brands of football today, this one simple rule – the breakdown has these codes almost unrecognizable against each other. In essence, all the running codes are the same. The basic objective is to run the ball over the opposition’s line – one way or another.
The other main difference between the codes is that Grid-Iron allows players to throw the ball forwards, opening up the field. But still – there is ball movement, running and kicking at goal posts at opposite ends of the field.
In reality, a game like rugby league is tailor made for an American audience. It’s fast, really-fast, there are massive collisions and the game has a fairly simple rule structure. Why hasn’t it taken off in America? Why are American’s so myopically focused on NFL? Its hard for us Aussie’s to comprehend, the game is intrinsically slow - stoppages permeate the game and there are six teams in the contest. All this stems from the breakdown. It seems to be a very tactical and technical game… Never having seen a game in the flesh, it is hard for me to fathom what it would be like. It plays well on tv, when you can have expert commentators draw diagrams after each and every play. But without it, it would be hard for newbies to understand what is going on.
League on the other hand is a product that works well both on tv and live at the ground. It is so fast paced and fans go through a wide array of emotions, constantly on the edge of their seat. The ball is nearly always ‘live’ which means anything can happen from the opening kick-off right up until the 80th minute.
Russell Crowe on Monday night did what no one has ever been able to do before him. Advertise rugby league on prime-time American television. He talked about his beloved Bunnies, and promoted the game. He has also arranged a contest against the English Super League Champions in a one-off game to showcase rugby league to the American market.
How will the Americans receive the game? Will in make a dent in their sporting landscape… Probably not. But it is a step in the right direction. Rugby League has the potential to be huge in the States. In might take 50 years though….
It is the same across the board – sports that are so similar yet universes apart.
What do Americans think of our two major football codes? What does rugby league and AFL look like in the land of big pizza and big movies? (before you say anything Dusk these are 'our' 2 major codes, union and soccer are more Universal
The first thing most Americans notice when first witnessing an NRL or AFL contest is that the players a pad-less! They must be crazy, no helmets either!
What is the difference between Rugby Union, AFL, Rugby League and Grid-Iron? The one change of rule is the reason that we have very different products. It all stems from the break-down. Just what do you do when a player gets tackled?
AFL penalized the tackled player – which resulted in less effected tackles and a more open game.
Rugby Union initiated the rucks and rolls system – a true contest for the ball
Rugby League conceived the play the ball rule. Where the tackled player simply stands and the game continues.
Grid-Iron invented the line of scrimmage. Afer every tackle the game is halted as the attacking team has 30 seconds to decide their next play/
This is how we have such different brands of football today, this one simple rule – the breakdown has these codes almost unrecognizable against each other. In essence, all the running codes are the same. The basic objective is to run the ball over the opposition’s line – one way or another.
The other main difference between the codes is that Grid-Iron allows players to throw the ball forwards, opening up the field. But still – there is ball movement, running and kicking at goal posts at opposite ends of the field.
In reality, a game like rugby league is tailor made for an American audience. It’s fast, really-fast, there are massive collisions and the game has a fairly simple rule structure. Why hasn’t it taken off in America? Why are American’s so myopically focused on NFL? Its hard for us Aussie’s to comprehend, the game is intrinsically slow - stoppages permeate the game and there are six teams in the contest. All this stems from the breakdown. It seems to be a very tactical and technical game… Never having seen a game in the flesh, it is hard for me to fathom what it would be like. It plays well on tv, when you can have expert commentators draw diagrams after each and every play. But without it, it would be hard for newbies to understand what is going on.
League on the other hand is a product that works well both on tv and live at the ground. It is so fast paced and fans go through a wide array of emotions, constantly on the edge of their seat. The ball is nearly always ‘live’ which means anything can happen from the opening kick-off right up until the 80th minute.
How will the Americans receive the game? Will in make a dent in their sporting landscape… Probably not. But it is a step in the right direction. Rugby League has the potential to be huge in the States. In might take 50 years though….
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Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Comment by sportsbar
Sports Bar
Fret X
Also, really interested in US perceptions of sports such as cricket, league and AFL in particular.
If anybody could please give me their perceptions, it would be great!
cheers, Andy
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
But yes, you're right...Union is universal...would love for it to be considered a national code but as long as the ARUseless is in control...
Ahhh...that pic you've used...now that's a prime example of Union finery...
Rugby gave birth to NFL...and I know when NFL was first played, back in the mid 1800s, they played without the padding, etc.
Guess they made them tougher back then...
It's funny about the Forward pass rule.
James...I do believe Rugby is getting a fanbase in the US. The US team is ranked 19th out of about 95 countries that play Rugby on world level.
...and Robin Williams organises a celebrity Rugby tournament in Hollywood!...well he used to.
As for league, it will be interesting to see if the US takes to it. I know that Paul Roos was trying to introduce AFL (his wife's from the US and he lived there for a while) but he admitted it was difficult.
Crowe may have some luck with league...he could always make a film about it.
Look what 'Bend It Like Beckham' did for Soccer...and Soccer has featured very heavily on celluloid for the past 10 years, especially teen flicks ('10 Things I Hate About You', 'She's all That', 'She's The Man', etc, etc)
Hope you're doing well buddy...as always, excellent sport provoking post!
Dusk