American football is a large spectator sport where offensive and defensive players will use teamwork and perseverance to try to score more points than their opponent. Football is highly respected in America, where kids will try to chase the dream of one day playing in the NFL (National Football Association); but if you look at an average neighborhood, you'll find that kids and adults of all ages love to go out and throw pigskin. (Lerner and Lerner 275). One thing Americans will be proud of is the college football and NFL teams they root for. People sit down with a beer and talk for hours about football and two individuals can get into a heated argument at the local sporting goods store about which sports team is better. Surprisingly enough, the most passionate soccer players are found at the high school level. Most kids will start their soccer careers as kids in soccer programs like Pop Warner to gain a foothold and engage people in teamwork and friendships. These programs are usually the start of someone falling in love with the sport and making it a career choice eight years later. Football is one of America's favorite sports. When the fall season arrives, people across America place bets, find out where the new sports bar is located, and buy big-screen televisions to watch the NFL on Sundays. After their team plays, they will go out and remember what happened that Sunday. While thousands of fans are still excited about the NFL games they watched; Small towns across America are preparing to close their stores and restaurants for a chance to attend the local high school football game. New York Times reporter Ray Glier writes about football in the small town of Appala...... middle of paper ...... han. "History of Football Helmets." Live strong. May 26, 2011. February 27, 2012.Forthofer. "A History of the First Football Helmet." Hubpages. February 27, 2012.Glier, Ray. “Appalachian Team Faces Next Generation of Football: [Sports Desk].” New York Times October 7, 2009, late edition (East Coast): ProQuest National Newspapers Core, ProQuest. Network. February 27, 2012.Gregorio, Sean. “The problem of football: how to make it safer”. New York Times. January 28, 2010. Newsstand, Web. February 28, 2012. Jackman, Tom. “The price you pay for taking the hits?” The Washington Post April 27, 2011. ProQuest National Newspapers Core, ProQuest. Network. March 12, 2012.Lerner, K. Lee and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. “(American) soccer.” World of sports science. Ed.(2007): p275-278. February 27, 2012.Schwarz, Alan. "Hard hits." The New York Times in advance. December 13, 2010: Research Library, ProQuest. Network. February 28. 2012.