I really like it, but at the same time wish I had a vested interest (ie a team to support) and for that reason have struggled to really get into it more. I find it difficult when I essentially watch every game as a neutral.
The other thing I find difficult is that there is so much going on, I need several replays with the analysts explaining what just happened and why to make real sense of it. When I've attended live games (twice) I obviously haven't had that and I've found it difficult to follow.
Any tips from anyone as to how to get more out of the game?
@eric_plant said:
I really like it, but at the same time wish I had a vested interest (ie a team to support) and for that reason have struggled to really get into it more. I find it difficult when I essentially watch every game as a neutral.
The other thing I find difficult is that there is so much going on, I need several replays with the analysts explaining what just happened and why to make real sense of it. When I've attended live games (twice) I obviously haven't had that and I've found it difficult to follow.
Any tips from anyone as to how to get more out of the game?
Radio or Twitter will help you follow along if interested. Had a similar experience at a Yankees baseball game live a few years back, really didn't have much clue what was going on and after the initial blast on the senses it just gets a bit dull. Would be easier now to follow along. Also lots of rule guides and previews these days.
@StrongestTeam strangely enough I found Baseball quite easy to follow....just did not understand why no-one was watching it...just eating out of buckets.
@drcongo said:
Tactically American Football is way more interesting than rugby, it feels like a big violent chess game at times.
Chess is more interesting than Rugby !!
On Saturday morning the English chess team were in contention for a third place finish at the European Championships - there were people on a somewhat specialist forum bemoaning the fixture clash - the chess being on live stream in various places.
Not sure how many American Footballers play chess but some of the rugby players at RGS also represented the school at chess.
I went to RGS and find it hard to imagine many of the rugger lot from my year playing chess - although a couple of guys from years above are on NFL practice squads.
@chairboyscentral said:
I went to RGS and find it hard to imagine many of the rugger lot from my year playing chess - although a couple of guys from years above are on NFL practice squads.
I'm guessing you were a year or two below me then, and I can confirm no rugby players were on the chess team.
@drcongo said:
Tactically American Football is way more interesting than rugby, it feels like a big violent chess game at times.
Chess is more interesting than Rugby !!
On Saturday morning the English chess team were in contention for a third place finish at the European Championships - there were people on a somewhat specialist forum bemoaning the fixture clash - the chess being on live stream in various places.
Not sure how many American Footballers play chess but some of the rugby players at RGS also represented the school at chess.
That's possibly down to an overall decline in chess at the school - this was late 80s. But I mention it purely in passing. Chess players that I've met have also played hockey, cricket, badminton and tennis to a representative standard.
Back in the 90s I lived in the USA for a while.
I tried going to all of the main sports...
Basketball - a lot of fuss about not very much.
Motor Racing - tedious. I left half way through the racing because it was so boring.
American Football - lots of spectacle with a game thrown in.
Baseball - a nice way to spend a summer evening. Comparable to T20 cricket.
Ice Hockey - fast moving and very physical. You have to pay attention all the time.
@chairboyscentral They had the best school team in the country while you were there, but seeing as it didn't involve throwing an egg shaped ball about, they didn't really care or shout about it. That's peak RGS!
@Username I just remember the stubborn refusal to play football, in spite of having, if I remember correctly, a successful team in the early-mid 20th century. There was a photo in a dusty old cabinet on the top floor of the main block.
@chairboyscentral said: @Username I just remember the stubborn refusal to play football, in spite of having, if I remember correctly, a successful team in the early-mid 20th century. There was a photo in a dusty old cabinet on the top floor of the main block.
Had around half of the WWFC age group team in my year group when I joined, would have walked the local leagues and still didn't let us play
There were suspicions in my year that certain pupils had gained entry only for their rugby abilities (not that I'm massively keen on selective schooling anyway).
@chairboyscentral said:
There were suspicions in my year that certain pupils had gained entry only for their rugby abilities (not that I'm massively keen on selective schooling anyway).
That was actual policy. Entry grades were lower for Rugby/ Cricket players joining in the sixth form, we had 4/5 rugby players and a cricket player join and not a chance they met the same academic entry criteria. Pretty sure entry grades were lower for paying boarders too.
Completely crooked system, but there could be 2 NFL players from 1 school in Buckinghamshire which would be pretty mad.
Christian Wade is, in all likelihood, too old to make it unless Buffalo have an injury crisis at running back - and even then, he wouldn't be part of their long-term plans. Scotland-Williamson might as he's a couple of years younger, but he plays arguably a more specialised position and Pittsburgh drafted someone in the same position this year who's gone straight onto the roster.
@ChasHarps said:
Is the policy that you could no longer represent the High Wycombe district football team, if you attended the RGS still in operation ?
District football is less of a "thing" than academy football now so I'm not too sure (from my experience). They definitely didn't help anyone out when it came to football - people had to lie to get time off to get to long midweek games if you played at that standard - time off was given to even 3rd xi rugby players no questions asked.
Not quite true. The 3rds and U16s were always short handed because the 1st and 2nd XV took most of the available players. Their results suffered because all the best players in that age group were already playing for the firsts and seconds.
Comments
I really like it, but at the same time wish I had a vested interest (ie a team to support) and for that reason have struggled to really get into it more. I find it difficult when I essentially watch every game as a neutral.
The other thing I find difficult is that there is so much going on, I need several replays with the analysts explaining what just happened and why to make real sense of it. When I've attended live games (twice) I obviously haven't had that and I've found it difficult to follow.
Any tips from anyone as to how to get more out of the game?
About ten pints of Coors and a small bottle of vodka in the inside pocket.
Radio or Twitter will help you follow along if interested. Had a similar experience at a Yankees baseball game live a few years back, really didn't have much clue what was going on and after the initial blast on the senses it just gets a bit dull. Would be easier now to follow along. Also lots of rule guides and previews these days.
@StrongestTeam strangely enough I found Baseball quite easy to follow....just did not understand why no-one was watching it...just eating out of buckets.
Tactically American Football is way more interesting than rugby, it feels like a big violent chess game at times.
Very good description @drcongo but your use of “way” suggests that you are at least slightly Anericanised. Whatever happened to “much” and “far”?
I spend a lot of time across the pond @micra. One day I might also get the hang of calling you lot y'all.
Chess is more interesting than Rugby !!
On Saturday morning the English chess team were in contention for a third place finish at the European Championships - there were people on a somewhat specialist forum bemoaning the fixture clash - the chess being on live stream in various places.
Not sure how many American Footballers play chess but some of the rugby players at RGS also represented the school at chess.
I went to RGS and find it hard to imagine many of the rugger lot from my year playing chess - although a couple of guys from years above are on NFL practice squads.
I'm guessing you were a year or two below me then, and I can confirm no rugby players were on the chess team.
Peak RGS.
@Username I left in 2012 and can't say I even knew we had a chess team. I used to be alright at cross country, but that was about it!
That's possibly down to an overall decline in chess at the school - this was late 80s. But I mention it purely in passing. Chess players that I've met have also played hockey, cricket, badminton and tennis to a representative standard.
Back in the 90s I lived in the USA for a while.
I tried going to all of the main sports...
Basketball - a lot of fuss about not very much.
Motor Racing - tedious. I left half way through the racing because it was so boring.
American Football - lots of spectacle with a game thrown in.
Baseball - a nice way to spend a summer evening. Comparable to T20 cricket.
Ice Hockey - fast moving and very physical. You have to pay attention all the time.
@chairboyscentral They had the best school team in the country while you were there, but seeing as it didn't involve throwing an egg shaped ball about, they didn't really care or shout about it. That's peak RGS!
@Username I just remember the stubborn refusal to play football, in spite of having, if I remember correctly, a successful team in the early-mid 20th century. There was a photo in a dusty old cabinet on the top floor of the main block.
Had around half of the WWFC age group team in my year group when I joined, would have walked the local leagues and still didn't let us play
It was - and probably still is - a very odd school in some ways.
I heard that very rich people like it as they can get free boarding for their kids there? Or is that a myth?
Pretty sure it cost a lot of money to board (with a few exceptions).
There were suspicions in my year that certain pupils had gained entry only for their rugby abilities (not that I'm massively keen on selective schooling anyway).
That was actual policy. Entry grades were lower for Rugby/ Cricket players joining in the sixth form, we had 4/5 rugby players and a cricket player join and not a chance they met the same academic entry criteria. Pretty sure entry grades were lower for paying boarders too.
Completely crooked system, but there could be 2 NFL players from 1 school in Buckinghamshire which would be pretty mad.
That does not surprise me.
Christian Wade is, in all likelihood, too old to make it unless Buffalo have an injury crisis at running back - and even then, he wouldn't be part of their long-term plans. Scotland-Williamson might as he's a couple of years younger, but he plays arguably a more specialised position and Pittsburgh drafted someone in the same position this year who's gone straight onto the roster.
Is the policy that you could no longer represent the High Wycombe district football team, if you attended the RGS still in operation ?
District football is less of a "thing" than academy football now so I'm not too sure (from my experience). They definitely didn't help anyone out when it came to football - people had to lie to get time off to get to long midweek games if you played at that standard - time off was given to even 3rd xi rugby players no questions asked.
Were they short of players in the 3rds?
4 short every week
No wonder there were no questions asked for anyone wanting to turn out for them.
Not quite true. The 3rds and U16s were always short handed because the 1st and 2nd XV took most of the available players. Their results suffered because all the best players in that age group were already playing for the firsts and seconds.