What's the difference between soccer and american football?

Soccer and American football both originated in the mid-19th century. Because football was modeled after soccer and rugby, the two games had many similarities. Today, however, the two are different in just about every way.

                Soccer fields are larger than football fields. Soccer fields are typically 120 yards long and 70 yards wide. Soccer players have much more ground to cover. Football fields are 100 yards long and 160 feet wide, with one 10-yard end zone at each end.

               One of the biggest differences between soccer and football is physical contact. The most obvious difference between these two sports is the balls they use during a game. A soccer ball is perfectly rounded, whereas a football is more spherical. Soccer is played with your feet rather than football; you play with your hands. Soccer players wear cleats and shin guards, whereas football players wear cleats, helmets, shoulder pads, thigh pads, knee pads and sometimes rib pads.

                Another difference is the flow of the game. Soccer is played continuously with few pauses in the action. During a football game, the game stops between every play. Soccer games are played over a first and second half, whereas football is played over four quarters.

                In soccer, there is a goal at each end of the field that's 24 feet wide and 8 feet tall. A goal is scored when a player kicks the ball past the goaltender and into the goal. Each goal is worth one point. In football, there is a 10-yard-deep end zone at each end of the field. The offense must get the ball into the end zone to score. Each score, or touchdown, is worth six points.

During football games, there is an offense that faces the opposing team's defense. There are 11 players on the field at a time on offense and on defense. In soccer, there are also 11 players from each team on the field at the same time, but the offense and defense for both teams is on the field all the time.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/111718-american-football-vs.-soccer/

http://mikes-take.com/2010/06/30/american-football-vs-soccer-explained/

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