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What kind of information materials are available?
CD: Texts available on CD version.Texts available in multiple languages.

Background
· American Football Association
· College Football Hall of Fame
· Facts for Features: Super Bowl XLIII
· Football
· National Football League (NFL)
· NFL Scoreboard from ESPN
·
Pro Football Hall of Fame
· Stadiums of the NFL
· Super Bowl
· Official Site of Superbowl
· The Sporting News: Football Archives

Original Documents
· Football Glossary
· NFL Rulebook


For High School Students

· American Football History
· Fact Monster: Football
· How Stuff Works > Game of Football Channel
· Learn2 Understand American Football
· The World Almanc for Kids > Sports > Football > Basics l College Football History l Pro Football History

 
High school football team.
High school football team. U.S. Census Bureau.

American football is a distinct type of football that developed in the United States in the 19th century from soccer and rugby. It requires teams to run, throw and kick an oval ball across a 100-yard field (91.4 meters), is unrelated to the game most of the world knows by that name, and which Americans call soccer. And even the American game has variants, as there are slightly different rules for the versions played by college teams, professional teams and Canadian Football League teams.

Football is played by school, college and professional teams and is one of the most popular American sports, attracting thousands of participants and millions of spectators annually. American football was made popular by teams representing colleges and universities.

For some of its history, professional American football was played within a single National Football League (NFL), although rival leagues did spring up as the game grew in popularity and the lure of television dollars emboldened competitors. In 1960, one such rival league, the American Football League (AFL) competed for premier talent. As the leagues contemplated a merger, they agreed to a single game each year between their respective champions. Because many collegiate football championships were known as "bowls" for the bowl-shaped stadiums that hosted them, one AFL owner referred to the new game as a "super" bowl. The name proved popular with the public.

The Super Bowl is the final contest of the NFL's season. Each year, on a Sunday at the end of January or beginning of February, tens of millions of Americans declare their own unofficial holiday. Americans increasingly have gathered in private Super Bowl parties, where they enjoy food, drink and televised football. An estimated 130 million to 140 million viewers - nearly half of the U.S. population - will tune in to some part of the game. Four of the 10 most watched programs in U.S. history have been Super Bowls.

Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials.
 
Teacher Resources
· Football Instruction
·
Football Tips. Tutorials
· The School Athletics Center: Football
 
  Link Lists
· About Football
·
The Football Portal.com
·
Google Web Directory: Sports > Football > American
· Open Directory: Sports > Football > American
· The Virtual Library of Sport: American Football
· Yahoo! Recreation > Sports > Football (American)
 

Feature Articles [from America.gov]
·
“Trinity” of Sports Demonstrates American Beliefs. Popular games cast light on moral decisions in real life, says religion scholar, by Forney, Craig A.
· American Football Blends Martial Fervor, Clockwork Precision. America’s favorite sport unifies communities, by Bernstein, Mark F. CD
· American Football Celebrates Sacrifice and Progress
Game of “grunts and huddles” highlights warrior camaraderie, by Rosenblatt, Roger CD
· Super Bowl Sunday an Unofficial Holiday for Millions
In the United States, the game is only one part of the party, by Friedman, Michael Jay CD

 
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Any reference obtained from this server to a specific commercial product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the United States Government of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government.
US Embassy
U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany
/Public Affairs/ Information Resource Centers 
Updated: July 2009