This weekend during the Fall football excitement it dawned on me not everyone asked Santa for a real football helmet every Christmas…
still I believe there are many who want to love their football fantastic loved one and share in the experience.
So...
I've started a communication primer for anyone who wants to understand the game better or perhaps even put some ease into your relationship…romantic partner, friends, your mother…whoever that fanatical fan in your life might be.
First, I thought we'd explore some common phrases in sports talk, then move on to Coaches' speak, and finally I have a few viewing tips.
Common phrases in sports talk
You are especially likely to hear these terms during pre-game shows or interviews.
“Makes plays with his feet.” What the announcer is saying is often this guy...wants to tackle...
this guy
It simply means a quarterback who is quite good at avoiding would be tacklers by running. When a play breaks down (especially on 3rd down) the quarterback who "makes plays with his feet" will improvise and often make a 1st down by...juking and jiving versus throwing the ball into the stands.
Funnily enough the player least likely to “make plays with his feet” is the slow-footed kicker.
"Avoid making turnovers"- We are not talking pastry tarts here. (cherry turnovers, apple, cinnamon…). The coaches really do not like it when anyone drops the ball or throws it to the wrong team. Turnovers are so scary because they provide a devastating shift in momentum. Kind of like the sugar crash in energy after the pastry treat.
Coaches' speak
Whether watching a TV broadcast or listening to the game on the radio you are going to hear men with loud voices (and varying degree of manners) yelling into microphones. To be fair they are responding to a stock set of questions but still you can expect to hear some of this...
"Make some plays"- These are the coaches' go to words.
He uses them before the game...
“We need to get after it on defense have some guys step up and make some plays."
after the game...
"I told our quarterback to stay within the limits of our offense…Denard? he's our leader. he can make some plays (...with his feet)."
in the off-season...
"yeah this is gonna be a big year for us...we’re not gonna out physical anybody but we got some young guys who can make some plays..."
Basically, "make some plays" is the mainstay of the coaches' verbal diet.
Other popular sentiments expressed in coaches' speak include:
"Taking it one game at a time." It's a 16 game schedule…(aka it's a marathon not a sprint) and
"ball club"- I thought we did some good things but there’s a lot we need to work on if we want to be a great "ball club." My guys know that but we’re ready to get after it and back to practice...
You should NOT hear anything about "the old fumblerooskie" but if you do check this out...
Other terms you might want to listen for and not use quite yet include:
Naked bootleg
Bump and run
Tight End
Viewing Tips
To make your viewing experience more pleasurable I suggest...
After, perhaps not during, it is okay to try to disengage your loved one from their beloved football. The technique I am about to share is a rich and powerful tool but you must use it well. Communications can really suffer and purposes backfire if used without mindfulness and practice.
Okay, let's say you want to disengage your loved one from a game ...maybe get them to go take a walk, see a movie or something...
Here's the secret. Every sport fan no matter how loyal responds to the word "unwatchable." In the sport fan "fraternity" there's an under-evolved part of back-and-forth banter in which a game is called out as boring...
"That game last night was unwatchable man."
The code of behavior here is to turn away from the slaughter.
Example: The score of the game is Chargers 688 vs. Broncos 0...
It must be delivered with mild disgust and annoyance in your brow...simply turn to your loved one and say
"honey, this game is unwatchable" ...how about we go for a walk?
don't be afraid to try it.
Happy Monday,
Amanda
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