Comparing and Contrasting-Rugby and Football, Essay Example

Comparing and Contrasting

The two games have some similarities and most are hinged around the fact that they share a common origin which effectively makes them derivatives of each other.

Similarities

Both games are played by a set of players who form a team. They playing pitch (field) is made up of two goalposts where the scores are made. The surface is mostly covered by grass and the sides are marked to indicate the extent of the pitch. In both sports, the games build up play is developed through passing the ball from one person to the next in any possible direction the intent is to keep possession of the ball for the longest possible and possibly obtain a goal against the opponents.

Both sports are manned by a referee who is assisted by linesmen. Play is always continuous in both games and it is only interrupted by any infringement of the rules which is called a foul. The offended team is awarded a spot kick or a penalty kick depending on the zone of the offence. In both sports the coach is allowed to do substitutions to introduce new players but they cannot interrupt the game while it is in progress. Both sports have midway break called halftime when players rest and the coach can impart tactics and analyse the progress as well as advising the players.

Differences

The two games have quite a number of differences. In football the players are free to pass the ball in any direction this means the can pass the ball forward, backwards or sideways. In rugby, the players can only pass the ball to those behind them. The second difference is that in football, holding the ball unless you are the goalkeeper is penalised while in rugby the players are free to handle as well as kick the ball.

In football a goal is scored by putting the ball through the posts past the goalkeeper while in rugby a score is obtained when one places the ball down past a touchline in the opponents half in what is called a try.  While in football a standard game comprises of eleven players, in rugby it can be seven players to make a seven-a- side team or fifteen players to make a fifteen-a-side team.

Either way both of them make for interesting spectator viewing