Why do people say that American Football is 'incredibly complex'? What is it that makes it - apparently - one of the most complex sports?

Just a lot of specialized positions and special plays to try to get the specialized positions players to not play their special positions desu

Also trying to get a football past a big fucking defensive line takes some planning and strategies

>>150100256
Is that really any different to any other sport though?

"We're going to California. We'll have to burn these wagons - the wagon master back east. We gotta burn the wagons for firewood. We'll float the Mississippi River with some of 'em. Some of you gon' die, we gon' have some new faces be born. This fucking train's going to California. I'm gon' be on it."
- Jerry Jones

Simple minds could never

The ~100 or so set pieces that require memorization, many more if you count all of the variations available to each of those plays

>>150100374
Give us a breakdown of some of the ~100 set pieces and how they differ, what they offer to a game, etc

>>150100259
I think a lot of the complexity flows from the stoppages between plays, which ironically is what many people hate about american football. that's what allows teams to really strategize and come up with situational schemes based on down/distance/clock/defensive personnel/etc

>>150100580
each receiver runs different routes and has to do different things on each play. most plays involve some sort of key timing, so that the guy is facing a certain direction or blocking a certain area or player on the field at a certain time. its not really like basketball, soccer, hockey, etc where each player has a general assignment, but isnt being moved around like a chess piece.

The coach is the main character of the sport. The players are just pawns. Not many other sports are a turn based strategy game.

>>150100599
It feels too much like watching an exhibitionist game of pool or snooker. Lots of trick shots, some great skill, but ultimately much less watchable than an average game between two decent players.

It's an interesting aspect of the sport that so much is about trying to gain territory off-the-ball, jostling and jockeying past opposition players into space, but to me it seems that that's at the expense of what can be done by the man in possession.

>>150100259
>>150100236 (OP)
Imagine if every time you kicked the ball it was a set play to move it forward.

>>150100259
it's just a bunch of set plays. obviously it takes no brain power to watch or to play, football fans are dumb as rocks and the players are even dumber (besides the QB). Only the coaches need to be clever. There are also a retarded amount of rules that no one knows because they change every season or some obscure rule comes up once a season and no one has ever heard of it, so broadcasts have a rules expert just to explain the bullshit away.

>>150100719
You don't lose possession just for losing yardage though, right? At least not in the first couple of plays? That's not too alien to me as I enjoy both codes of rugby and in rugby league - unlike rugby union - there's a six tackle limit, after which possession is ceded to the opposition.

>>150100736
What sports do you enjoy then? My viewing of American football has been very limited, but I return to it occasionally as I like to give things another go rather than insisting I'll never warm to them.

I also know that some sports aren't really as enjoyable to watch on television as they are in person, especially where the pace of the game (ice hockey) or the importance of off-the-ball players (rugby union) means a view of the full pitch is a must

>>150100811
You have 4 tries to get 10 yards. If you don't get the 10 yards the other team gets the ball, and can also get the ball if the other team obtains possession through an interception of a pass or a recovery of a fumble they get the ball.
Every play on offense is a designed play with each player doing something individually that makes up the entire play. Same on defense. It can get complex actually, even just the blocking schemes of the guys protecting the QB can be complex. Defenses too.

it's hard to decipher how much to bribe the refs that's the complex part

>>150100811
you have 4 plays to go 10 yards. if you get 10 yards, then you are given another set of 4 plays. if you don't get 10 yards, then you lose possession.

if you run 3 plays and lose a total of 6 yards on those plays, then on 4th down you have to go 16 yards to get a new set of plays.

teams will often kick the ball away on 4th down if they have a long distance to go or are deep in their own territory so that when the other team gets possession they have to go further in order to score.

>>150100868
In rugby league you get 6 tackles (downs) to score points, if you don't score points the opposition gets the ball. And if you score points you receive the kickoff

>>150100236 (OP)
It's complex in that coaches will watch thousands of hours of film on themselves and their opponents in order to exploit an opponent's weakness to the best of their roster's capabilities and team's offensive and defensive philosophies as well as try to predict what their opponents will do based on their own team's weaknesses and try to stop it. Very few teams can go out every week and do the exact same thing and win off of sheer talent but it certainly helps when they can. There's an adage that good players win games and bad coaches lose them.

football at the NFL level is just sports entertainment desu

>>150100937
It's similar. But in the NFL, idk about Rugby, each receiver runs specific routes that are within the overall design of each play. And there are 100s of plays.
Also on defense, there are zone and man defenses which can each have their own special designs. In soccer (football) you basically always have a zone defense where you defend certain areas, but in the NFL there is man to man defense where a defender is following a specific player.
There's tons and tons of layers to this kind of shit. It can get pretty complex.

>>150100975
Rugby doesn't allow the forward pass which greatly changes what all you can do.

The "complexity" is greatly exaggerated for the benefit of tv audiences. Players at all positions (including quarterback) have delivered elite level performances despite being literal retards with brain damage.

>>150101016
true
>>150101025
the complexity is hidden because the players do such a good job of execution.
99% of the time they're doing exactly what was schemed up, the 1% of the time when they fuck up is funny though lol

>>150100833
Baseball is my one true love, don't care too much for our other sports, football is ok. I don't think football is a good sport (reffing is so arbitrary it puts me off too much to take it seriously) but it's good entertainment, which is what they're going for really. I'm not going to say baseball fans are smart, because most fans of any sport are dumb as rocks, but there's almost certainly a larger subset of baseball fans who are "nerds" than for other sports. It's a game of discrete outcomes so it's super easy to go turbo autist with all sorts of statistics that are actually informative, MLB teams are practically run by computers these days. complex in a different way from football I guess

>>150101406
>I love baseball
>The officials in handegg are too arbitrary
lmao

>>150101580
umpires are trying to get the call right and in fact do so about 95% of the time. and 95% of the time that they're wrong it's very close. missed calls are usually not too consequential either.
football refs are trying to make the game entertaining, there are penalties on every play and refs just choose when and when to not call them. reffing is so arbitrary that it's hard to get particularly incensed about any single call because every single call is debatable.

>>150101659
more...
contact sports by definition are arbitrary. fouls/penalties are judgement calls.
baseball is discrete, the umpire is either right or wrong so it's easy to rag on them when they're objectively wrong. but they're very good at their job.

>>150101580
Balk rules aside, every call in baseball is objective by nature.

>>150100236 (OP)
it's not complex, it's just boring as shit

>>150101659
Do you think there's any truth to the idea that the league is manufactured for entertainment purposes?

I never understood how a sport so complex would be the favorite amongst the dumbest people. I don't think most fans of the sport understand it at all and just were programmed by the media to love it.

>>150100236 (OP)
Midwestoids are exceedingly retarded so they think moving a ball 100 yards is complex because they stop to have a break between every "play" because theyre fat retards

>>150104434
The league admitted to it in court that they are sports entertainment like WWE and not a sport. They legally are allowed to rig games like WWE.

Its a stop play sports with very short playing times so often their plays are extremely choreographed to autistic levels.

>bongs still bitching about the strategic complexity of the downs system
Quit watching 0-0 draws and learn how to brush your teeth faggot. Grass chess >>>> flopslop

>>150104684
>chess would be more complex if it wasn't turn based, actually
you are brown

1. The Chess Match: Offense vs Defense (Part 1)

At its core, American football is a territory-based war game, with one team (the offense) trying to gain yardage toward the end zone, and the other (the defense) trying to stop them. The strategy lies in deception, mismatches, and exploiting human tendencies — not just brute force.

>Offensive Philosophy
An offense is given four downs (plays) to gain 10 yards. If they succeed, they get a new set of downs. The goal is to drive downfield and score a touchdown (6 points) or settle for a field goal (3 points). Strategy revolves around how to manipulate defensive structures using formations, motions, and timing.

>Formations
Spacing is everything. Offenses use different formations (e.g., shotgun, pistol, trips, empty backfield) to spread the defense out or bunch them together, depending on the desired matchup.

>Personnel Groupings
The offense selects combinations of players (e.g., 11 personnel = 1 running back, 1 tight end) to dictate how the defense responds. This forces the defense to "declare" its intent.

>Pre-Snap Motion
Movement before the snap reveals the defense's coverage scheme (man or zone) and can create mismatches or confusion.

>Play Calling Strategy
Offensive coordinators don’t just pick plays at random. They're layering plays to set up future plays — like a magician’s misdirection.

>Scripted Drives
Many teams script the first 10–15 plays to test the defense's reactions to different looks.

>Play Action
After running several successful run plays, a team might "fake" a run to draw linebackers in, then throw over their heads.

>RPO (Run-Pass Option)
Modern offenses blur the lines — the QB reads the defense after the snap and chooses between handing off or throwing, depending on how a specific defender reacts.

>Pace and Tempo
Controlling the clock or increasing tempo is strategic. A hurry-up offense prevents the defense from substituting, while a slow grind chews up clock and controls momentum.

>>150108773
2. Defensive Philosophy and Strategy (Part 2)

While offense is about control and creativity, defense is reactive — but not passive. It’s a complex balance between disguise, discipline, and disruption. A defense aims to stop the offense from gaining yardage, force turnovers, and ideally, get off the field on third down.

>Defensive Alignments
Defensive coordinators choose base alignments to counter offensive formations:

4–3 Defense: Four linemen, three linebackers — good against the run, balances pass coverage.

3–4 Defense: Three linemen, four linebackers — flexible for blitzing and confusing quarterbacks.

Nickel/Dime Packages: Extra defensive backs (DBs) replace linebackers to defend against passing formations.

>Coverage Schemes
The backbone of pass defense is how DBs and linebackers cover receivers:

Man Coverage: Each defender is responsible for a specific player. Risky, but aggressive.

Zone Coverage: Defenders guard areas rather than people. Safer, but can be picked apart with timing routes.

Pattern-Matching: Hybrid defenses react based on receiver routes — man-like, but rooted in zone principles.

>Pressure and Blitzing
Generating pressure is crucial. If a QB has time, any defense will break down.

Blitzing: Sending extra players to rush the QB (often a linebacker or DB).

Stunts and Games: Linemen switch gaps post-snap to confuse blockers.

Disguise: Showing one coverage or blitz look pre-snap, then shifting into another post-snap.

>Gap Integrity and Run Fits
Each defender has a gap — a lane between offensive linemen they’re responsible for. Run defense depends on every player maintaining their assignment. One failure, and a small crease becomes a big gain.

>Turnover Mindset
Great defenses don’t just react — they attack. Punching at the ball, jumping routes, or reading the QB’s eyes are all techniques to create fumbles and interceptions.

>>150108799
3. Special Teams – Third Phase

Special teams is often overlooked by fans, but it's a key strategic phase where field position, momentum, and even game outcomes swing drastically. A blocked punt, a big return, or a missed field goal can shift the narrative of a game in seconds.

>Roles of Special Teams
Special teams units handle:

- Kickoffs and Kick Returns

- Punts and Punt Returns

- Field Goals and Extra Points

- Field Goal/PAT Block Units

These units combine offense and defense principles in a high-pressure environment. Every play has long-term implications on field position and momentum.

>Field Position Strategy
A major strategic goal is flipping the field — making the opponent start deep in their own territory. Punting isn't a surrender; it's a field-position weapon.

Coffin Corner: Punting near the sideline to pin opponents inside the 10-yard line.

Hang Time: A high punt lets the coverage team run downfield, limiting returns.

Directional Kicks: Kickers may avoid dangerous returners or target specific zones.

>Kickoff and Return Tactics

Squib Kicks: Low, bouncing kicks to prevent long returns.

Onside Kicks: High-risk, high-reward plays to regain possession unexpectedly.

Return Formations: Teams might use wedge blocks or misdirection to spring a returner.

>Fake Punts and Kicks
Special teams can be used for trick plays, catching the opponent off-guard:

Fake Punt: A direct snap to a blocker or punter run/pass.

Fake Field Goal: Lateral or pass from the holder instead of a kick.

>Kickers and Punters
These players are specialists — mental toughness and precision are key. Kicking in high-pressure situations (e.g., game-winning field goals) is one of the loneliest jobs in sports.

>Coverage Units
Players on coverage teams are often backups or rookies — but coaches value them highly. Speed, tackling, and discipline are critical. A mistake in spacing or lane integrity can result in a touchdown.

This is the last bit. I lost the rest of the original article.

>>150108822
4. Clock Management – Mastering Time as a Weapon

In football, time is not just a resource — it’s a weapon. Clock management can win or lose games, especially in close contests. The best coaches use every tick to their advantage, whether controlling the game flow or executing a two-minute drill.

>Pace of Play
Teams manipulate tempo based on situation:

Hurry-Up/No-Huddle: Speeds up the game, limits defensive substitutions, and pressures the defense mentally and physically.

Bleeding the Clock: Slowing down the game to preserve a lead — snapping the ball with 1–2 seconds left on the play clock to use as much time as possible.

>Timeout Strategy
Each team gets three timeouts per half. How and when to use them is a huge decision:

Saving Time: Calling timeouts before the 2-minute warning during a comeback.

Ice the Kicker: Using a timeout to disrupt a kicker’s rhythm before a pressure-filled field goal.

Prevent Delay Penalties: Avoiding loss of yardage or momentum if a play call isn’t ready.

>Two-Minute Drill
A fast-paced offense designed to move downfield efficiently with limited time. These drives:

Prioritize sideline routes (to stop the clock).

Use short passes and spike plays.

Require mastery of situational awareness by all players.

>Four-Minute Offense
The opposite of the two-minute drill: it’s about draining the clock while holding a lead.

Run-heavy.

In-bounds plays to keep the clock moving.

Prioritizes ball security over yardage.

>End-of-Half/Game Situations

Field Goal Setup: Teams may position the ball between the hashes for a kicker’s preferred angle.

Avoiding Turnovers: In tight games, taking a sack or throwaway is better than a risky pass.

“Double Dip” Strategy: If a team ends the half with the ball and gets it again after halftime, scoring on both possessions creates massive momentum and point swings.

>>150100236 (OP)
It's not complex. Lol. Americans wouldn't watch it otherwise. These "people" watch capeshit and WWE ffs

>>150100975
>>150101016
I don’t feel like getting into an argument about the complexity of rugby in comparison with gridiron but it is highly complex. In union for example there’s no limit on tackles (downs) and they call them phases, after each tackle a ruck is formed and it’s another phase, so you can imagine there can be a lot of pressure put on the defence and they have to employ specific players for specific purposes all in real time to counter not only the running threat but also the kicking which can be done by any player and points can be scored by drop goals.
League (rugby league) is simplified in some respects but the defence also has to retire 10 metres after each completed tackle as well as stop the run and watch for the kicks and with two fewer players on each team so there’s more space to consider.
I follow and played both rugby codes and I also follow gridiron (nfl mainly) and have a reasonable understanding of the strategies, I know what a cover 2 is. Anyway, it’s likely this OP is a soccer fan and that’s easily the simplest form of football out of the main codes so you’re signing up to teach chess to someone who thinks checkers (a better analogy would be battleships) is highly complex and intellectual game

>>150109512
You shut up you don’t have sufficient knowledge to comment on this topic

>>150108841
It sounds like gamesmanship - the antithesis of gentlemanliness and proper sporting endeavour - is the key to being successful in American football.

>>150101759
Yeah cuz watching a bunch of third worlders flop and kick a ball back in forth, only for it to end in a draw, is truly riveting sports action (lmao)

>>150112376
anything is better than 2 hours of advertising.

>>150100580
Say you play on the offensive side of the ball, picrel is what a play could look like. You are one of 11 players, and must know what your role / task is, and pretty much be aware of what the rest of your teammates are doing so you understand how your task will come together as a unit to move the ball to the end zone...

(1 / X hear me out for a bit)

>>150100580
>>150113277
Now imagine you have to know how to do that sort of thing, and other things, for picrel amount of plays. We're talking about a hundred plus different formations, lineups, plays, concepts, etc eyc etc for every single individual on that side of the ball. These could be drastically different from team to team (depending on philosophy / play style of the team)
(2 / X)

american football at high level is a bit like golfing, you never play the same round twice, each rep is going to be different from the last and there's so many micro-adjustments that can be made between each rep you're expected to account for.

>>150100580
>>150113277
>>150113312
Now here's an example of what the defense might call to, defend the goal(line), very simple example of pass rushing & coverage assignments; likewise the defenders have a large playbook of plays, assignments, terminology, etc etc.

So you the offensive player have to understand what your offense is trying to do (or rather, how it wants to get the ball into the endzone), and how the defense is probably going to disguise what they are trying to do. You have to get why or when the holes in the defense will show up [or have coaches who do that for you]
(3 / X)

>>150100580
>>150113277
>>150113312
>>150113366
So you're basically playing a sort of chess with yourself and (21) other dudes running around a field with a ball, and basically you make "moves" at the same time so while it's all happening you're running on the field trying to process it and picrel is also on the field with you on the opposite team running at you with a full head of steam & a green flag to obliterate you with his own body, like he fucking cares about that. It's a man that weighs 240+ and can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, that's a fuck ton of mass moving quickly, you sure as shit ain't slowing that down.
(4 / X)

>>150113366
>>150113414
Or beyond just massive large men, there's also just insanely twitchy quick, or just plain fast athletes. Something like Cornerback might genuinely be one of the hardest positions in sports. You have to understand your assignments, but be so in tune with the opponent (usually a wide receiver) & what their doing; because you have to mirror them, but also be quick enough to run with and react to some of the other [among the] fastest athletes in the world.
(5 / X )

>>150101025
>Players at all positions (including quarterback) have delivered elite level performances despite being literal retards with brain damage.

That can be masked with good coaching. In this sport, the coach *can* be the brains.

>>150100236 (OP)
As an outsider to gridiron, I think I vaguely get the tactical appeal: it's highly specialized, there are tons of interruptions for input, and it's essentially all set pieces from a stationary position. That means there are tons of maneuvers and things to memorize, a lot of possibilities and weighing one's chances. The QB is the center of the play, and the coach has great influence
Soccer-football is free flow, but there are a few chances of set pieces (free kicks, corner kicks). Players have different tasks, but are not nearly as specialized. There is only one real break and it's hard to give input while the game is underway. You can't memorize as much (still, there's a lot to consider and prepare for), and it will always be about improvisation to a degree
But I don't think one is more complex than the other, they are just different kinds of complex. In soccer-football, dominating a certain space/area is important and the possibilities are basically endless. It's just much harder to have a book of plays for everything, even if you practice certain combinations and movements. Every player is tasked with tactical analysis as well, and every player has every opportunity, so to say

>>150101025
NFL players have to pass a literal IQ test during the draft, and scoring too low can exclude you from the team. it's not uncommon for quarterbacks to be 115+. the 'dumb' players are more commonly on the defensive side of the ball.

>>150110534
If you read the OP properly and my subsequent responses, you'd see that I follow rugby league and rugby union and that I am genuinely interested in a proper answer to the question

>checkers
It's called 'draughts'

This entire thread highlights a cultural disconnect. American Football is a sport thats a lot like a board game and you need to watch it like a board game for it to make sense and be entertaining. Its a series of moves much more than a dynamic slow of play what most European footy fans are accustomed to. Its kinda gay to bicker about whats better, you need to fundamentally watch them differently. Both are hecking valid and fun. American football is complex like chess is complex, Footy is complex like flying a helicopter is complex. Its like saying "Why do they say ice cream is tasty?" after putting some in the toaster and being disappointed that its not like toast

>>150115029
Gridiron barriers to entry are too high for Europeans. A toddler can understand soccer or basketball. Gridiron is very complicated