Football - World's Most Popular Sport

Motion infographics about simple rules of football. (or soccer in North America) Animated and Directed by Ozgur Abaci and Aaron Bell from Vancouver Film School 2007.

Here they are some comments for the video.

• American FOOTBALL should be renamed to handegg :/

• Just FYI, if you use the term soccer, 90% of the world population won't take you seriously, or even bother to try and comprehend what you are trying to say, as it automatically makes your argument invalid, since you obviously don't know what the fuck you are talking about.

• Lol soccer is the biggest sport in south america europe and africa and has healthy numbers in the other continents, there is no competition between basketball and football. even cricket has more supporters than basketball,fact wake up

• Who really cares about china Football is a Global game

• Another thing!!! WHAT FUCKIN SKILL DO YOU HAVE IN BASKETBALL? you need to be over 6 feet! its played with the hands! WHITH YOUR FUCKIN HANDS..what skill do you get by playing with your hands??? even kobe bryant said soccers a better sport! steve nash said it too. WHY!! cause its full of skill! basketball will never catch up! people dont like it..stop being jealous

• Just stop being jealous!!! soccer is soccer ! i'm sure you go to china where they are close to 2 billion!! and they'll tell you basketball is #1..SURE!!!!! every immigrant i talk to in canada.all talk about soccer! not basketball! how come when there's the world cup soccer! every immigrant wave flags.put flags on their cars..why? so i see your a fuckin fagot gay? you dont like pussies! i love pussies! canada and the US dont have great programs like europe ,africa ect. to be good

• Have you ever been to China and ask them their most popular sport now?! it used to be badminton and ping pong. I study about eastern asia so i know pretty much about china. Yeah soccer has skill for pussy! that's why Canada and the US are so good about it

Top 10 Most Popular and Interesting Sports (by odissey505)

Question
Is there any sport that can compete with Football (soccer)? Tennis, table tennis, hockey, regby ,american football, baketball, baseball, golf ?

Answer
About 350-400 million watch or play American football? That means the ENTIRE US watch football, and that there actually are other parts of the world that gives a fuck.
That statement is flat out wrong. American Football has 60 million followers in the US, and 10-15 million combined in other parts of the world.
American Football is far from a popular sport, it's a shit game that only Americans like.

Snowboarding At It's Best

Snowboarding by itself is a fun and safe sport which is basically a cross between skiing and skateboarding. Using a single large snowboard, enthusiasts rush down slopes through the snow. The feel and balance is quite different from regular skiing since navigation through the snow is achieved on only a single board, and unlike skateboarding, snowboarders let gravity do all the work of propulsion for them as they slide down the slopes.

Naturally, once snowboarding caught on in popularity, it was only a matter of time before the most highly skilled practitioners decided to tackle harder and harder slopes, finding ones with more dangerous terrain, or natural formations that allowed for stunts like turnpipes in skateboarding.

Thus was born extreme snowboarding. Extreme snowboarding involves extremely tough slopes set at 45 degree angles or less, making runs down these slopes extremely fast and difficult to control. Unlike gentle civilian snowboarding slopes, extreme slopes will also usually have outcroppings of rock jutting out from the snow as part of the challenge.

This is not a fact to be taken lightly, and not a sport to be taken by amateurs. Given the speeds at which an extreme snowboarder can go, even a casual splash on the slope an lead to broken limbs or a broken neck from impact with the snow alone. When you factor in the presence of actual rock formations, you can see how this sport is one that is not undertaken lightly.

Extreme snowboarder slopes actually dont have any of the usual conveniences of a civilian ski or snowboard slope. There are no trans for uphill transport, no waystations for shelter and relaxation. It is wilderness all the way. More often than not, during extreme snowboard competitions, the boarders actually ride airlifts to get to the top of the course.

Like some extreme sports, snowboarding enthusiasts have even merged their styles with that of other extreme sports. For example, some snowboarders actually pack parachute gliders on their backs These extreme sportsmen take a snowboard and do a run all the way down a slope which ends at a sheer-drop cliff, and once they fly off the cliff, trigger the chutes and hang glide all the rest of the way down the mountainside. If that isn't an adrenaline rush, I don't know what is!

Some of the more popular and challenging snowboard slopes are located in New Zealand and Alaska. In the Alaskan slopes, there are 4000 foot vertical run areas with gullies, ditches, and wind lips, as well as trees to contend with on the slope. There is also an area with natural half-pipe formations and rolls where freestyle exhibitions similar to that done for skateboarding can be performed.

The New Zealand slopes are more challenging for those who enjoy absolute speed runs. With one of the steepest and sharpest slopes around, navigating the New Zealand snowboarding slopes requires perfect balance and control to keep from spilling.

Given the risks of snowboarding, every professional competing extreme snowboarder is required to learn first aid specializing in cold weather injury treatment, as well as survival, search, and rescue techniques for winter and mountainous terrain. On their runs, they are also required to bring avalanche transceivers for emergency pickups in case of an avalanche or if they go off course and get lost.

Like most extreme sports, extreme snowboarding is most definitely not for the weak or the faint of heart. But for those who are up to the challenge, it offers one of the most exciting blood rushes around.

From Snowboarding Zero To Hero: Basic Pointers To Learn

There is much debate as to where snowboarding originated. But whether snowboarding descended from skiing or skateboarding, snowboarding is a legitimate sport that requires a descent on a snowy slope using a snowboard. It is difficult to really point out who started this fun-filled sport, but one thing is for sure: somebody will always have the idea of sliding down a snowy slope on a board or sled.

The growing recognition of snowboarding around the world is evidenced by its establishment as a sports discipline in 1995. As such, snowboarding has been included in events in Winter Olympics and Winter X-games. It even has a US Open tournament of its own. The growth of snowboarding as a sport is undeniable as more and more people get hooked on it.

Now that you are among the countless ones who want to try out the fun and excitement that only snowboarding can give, it is high time that you learn the basics of making your very first downhill ride on a snowboard. So how do you begin?

First, you need to procure the necessary snowboarding equipment. You need to have the right snowboarding gear, clothing, boots, and of course, snowboard.  Make sure that your snowboard is the right size for you; not too expansive or narrow.

If you already have the necessary equipment, you can start learning the basics of riding your snowboard. Here are a few important things to remember as you start to find your destiny in snowboarding.

Keep in mind that snowboarding is similar to snow skiing. The body movements that enable you to control and stabilize your snowboard are the same as the movements in skiing. Therefore, if you are already a skilled skier, there will be fewer problems for you ahead. A skier will have easier time than a skateboard thrasher to learn snowboarding.

Always be in a relaxed position. Like any sport, snowboarding requires a calm and hang-loose mindset. Most accidents and injuries in snowboarding happen when one is in tensed position. As you mount your snowboard, keep your knees bent; a stiff stance will only make you absorb impacts between your snowboard and snow.

Do not start learning how to snowboard by immediately riding down the snowy slope during the first time. Instead, begin with snowboarding across a small patch of snow. Get a feel for the sport. Be conscious of your snowboard and your movement. Are you comfortable in your getup and equipment?

Try steering the snowboard over the small area you are in. Practice making turns, learn the finer points of toe-side turns, which means turning by lifting your heels up while pressing your toes to the snowboard; or heel-side turns, which make use of your heels for your turning.  Once you have mastered the basics of balancing and steering your snowboard, you can move to a bigger patch of snow, but do not try a long and steep slope just yet.

Now that you have actually moved on your snowboard, you have to learn how to stop your snowboard. Stopping a snowboard basically requires making more turns until you find your self going for an uphill position. An uphill direction will certainly slow your snowboard down until you are in a complete stop.

After learning all the basic riding movements, you can now try a full-scale ride down a longer and steeper snow slope. Good luck!

Kicking Some Boardbutt on Video

411 is a DVD video magazine publication dedicated to boarding - whether it be skateboarding, snowboarding, or surfing. With three distinct magazines dedicated to each area, it's biggest fan following comes from subscribers to it's skateboarding section.

411's monthly features pack the most exciting articles, like interviews with both pro and up-and-coming skateboarders and video coverage of most major skateboarding events. The directorial style of each video article makes good use of camera angles to give skateboarders the best experience possible watching them.

For most major competitions, they also make a point of higlighting the turning points within each event that led to the winner's victory - as well as showing those occasional splashes made by fan favorites to show how flukes and errors cost them the matches.

One of the more attractive monthly features done by 411 involves chaos exhibition skateboarding, where several famous pro skateboarders are invited to just rip and show their best stunts off. These are pure adrenaline-fests with loads of eye candy that generally leave the audience wondering how the skaters pulled those stunts off, as well as giving inspiration to aspiring skateboarders.

Their interviews with pro skateboarders tends as much to the informative as to the personal. They focus not only on the backgrounds and lifestyles of the people they interview, but also ask for tips and demonstrations from these professionals to help their viewers improve their own skating styles. Not always, though. Sometimes these interviews are purely demonstrative, where the pro is asked to do just one thing - strut his stuff and show off how he kicks butt on a board. Like the chaos exhibition matches, these video clips are focused purely on viewer entertainment.

Perhaps one of the most in-demand interview articles from 411 involve a feature on 14 year old Bam Margera, a young icon in skateboarding. This video is a good example of the quality of 411's articles, showing Bam at home, on tour, being drowned in a bathtub, and strutting his stuff on a skateboard at his favorite practice arenas. Some of his skating teammates also make cameo appearances in segments of the article.

Occasionally, 411 also features documentary-style video articles whenever there are new advances in skateboarding technology that they feel will make a huge impact on the skateboarding world. For these feature articles, they go straight to the developers of the new technology to make sure that their viewers get the most accurate information.

Aside from the quality of the information they provide, however, the other half of the formula for 411's key to success is the wackiness of their video articles. They're definitely entertaining to watch - a bit abnormal sometimes, but hey, normal's boring right? The video clips are all done with a sense of humor bordering on the warped that keeps viewers laughing half the time, when they aren't busy oooh-ing and aaah-ing over the stunts of their favorite skateboarders.

Currently, 411's fans have even taken to posting some of their favorite video articles on free video streaming sites like ifilm and youtube. These videos, submitted and sponsored by fans of 411, show just how much people have been enjoying their offerings. The overall mix of exciting video presentation, combined with an emphasis on facts and information tempered with a wacky sense of humor, all conspire to make 411 one of the best choices to get in skateboarding video magazines.

4 Skateboarding Tricks – and Tips – to Add to Your Repertoire

If you’re bored with the usual turns, jumps, and tricks that belong to the beginner level, and you feel that you’re ready to put your skills to the test, here are 4 skateboarding tricks – and tips on how to do them – to add to your repertoire:

Skateboarding Trick #1 – Bomb Drop
This is a popular skateboarding trick that’s commonly performed by skateboarders although they do find a way into professional competitions as well. Basically, the bomb drop is an alternative to an ollie when tackling a drop or a flight of stairs. With a bomb drop, what you do instead is jumping with the board on your hands first then getting it to your feet when you’re in mid-air.

Obviously, this is not the safest skateboarding trick to practice so start with a place that hasn’t too much height. Secondly, wear the necessary protective gear. Thirdly, practice your hand and feet coordination skills; you’re usually given a split second alone to get your board from your hands and to your feet.

Skateboarding Trick #2 – Boneless One

This one has been around for a long time already and at present have numerous variations already. With this skateboarding trick, you start by taking the skateboard off your feet just as you get off it as well. Afterwards, you jump with just one foot then ending by returning the skateboard to its original position (under your feet) as you make a perfect landing.

Although it sounds complicated, this skateboarding trick is not that difficult to accomplish as long as you’re willing to practice it frequently. The ease of doing this skateboarding trick may have, in fact, contributed to its fading appeal to skateboarders, especially those belonging to the younger generations. Nevertheless, having an old skateboarding trick such as this under your belt is always handy to carry around because you’ll never know when you might need to include it in your exhibition!

Skateboarding Trick #3 – Coffin
Although the term used for this trick sounds a bit terrifying, it is once again a simple trick to perform although it’s definitely a step or two higher than the basic turns and curves that you’ve mastered while you were practicing at the beginner level.

To start with, increase your speed while skateboarding. Secondly, position your body at the skateboard’s front area. Thirdly, take a seat at the middle of your skateboard by bending your knees and taking hold of your skateboard’s sides. Use both hands of course. Finally, lean back then lie prostrate on your skateboard as if you were on a coffin. Voila! Skateboarding trick accomplished!

Skateboarding Trick #4 – Firecracker
Light the streets up with this entertaining skateboarding trick! Just like setting up and getting ready for fireworks, however, you need careful planning and precision when performing this particular trick. This fire cracking skateboarding trick involves a flight of stairs and you going downhill once more. As you go down, you can increase your speed by deliberately letting the end of your skateboard slap against each step. This slap is of course equivalent to the cracking sound of firecrackers. It won’t work effectively however if you can’t ensure that the sounds resemble the continuous burst of fire from firecrackers. Consistency and constancy, therefore, are the key elements to getting this trick right.

There are of course more skateboarding tricks for you to learn from but for now, start with these four. Master them before skateboarding to the next level!

Do You Know Your Skateboarding Trick?

Skateboarding is one of the many sports that involve displays of skill and expertise. It is essential to know a skateboarding trick or another to be considered a real skateboarder. Many skateboarding tricks have been developed through all the time people have been skateboarding. Here are just some of the most popular tricks:

1. Aerials – also known as airs, these general kinds of tricks are typically done on quarter pipes, pools or half pipes where vertical walls with transitions are available. Aerials are usually combined with other tricks such as grabs and rotations. Among the most popular subtypes of aerials would be the 540, 720, 900, Benihana, Body Jar, Caballerial, Christ Air, Finger Flip air, Gay Twist, Gnar Jar, Judo Air, Lien Air, Madonna, McTwist, Samba Flip, Sean Penn, Sloth Air, Stalefish, Rocket Air, and Method Air.

2. Ollie – this is known as the father of skateboarding tricks because most tricks are derived from this. Invented by and named after Alan “Ollie” Gelfand, this trick involves getting on air without grabbing the skateboard but instead by stomping or popping the posterior end of the board. Variations of the Ollie involve the Nollie, switch Ollie, Fakie Ollie, Power Ollie, Boned Ollie, Ollie North, and Pressure.

3. The Flip – as its name suggests, the flip is a skateboarding trick that involves the flipping or spinning of the board in the air. This trick was originally developed by Rodney Mullen, who then called it the Magic Flip. Among the most popular variations of the flip are the heelflip, kickflip, Casper Flip, Anti-Casper Flip, Backside Flip, Big Spin, Cab Flip, Disco Kickflip, Ghetto Bird, Hardflip, Hospital Flip, Impossible, Late Flip, Mother Flip, Pop Shove-it, Sal Flip, Salabanzi, Sex Change and the Scissor Flip.

4. The Grab – as these tricks are named, grabs involve holding the skateboard, usually during aerials. Grabs are quite useful in keeping the skateboarder on the board during in mid-flight. Examples of grabs are the Airwalk grab, Backside grab, cannonball grab, Crail grab, Christ Air, Early grab, Frontside grab, Gorilla grab, Indy grab, Japan grab, Melon grab, Mosquito grab, Nose grab, Roast Beef, Seatbelt grab, Tail grab and the Tucknee.

5. The Grind – this is a kind of trick where a skateboarder would hide on hangers of the skateboard truck. This trick can be done on any smooth object where the truck can slide. Some of the variations of the grind are the Barley grind, Crooked grind, Darkslide, Fandangle, Freeble grind, Gurl grind, Hurricane, Losi grind, Nosegrind, Novacaine, Overcrook grind, Pole Jam, Salad grind, Smith grind, Sugarcane, Suski grind, Willy Grind, and Csmit grind.

6. The Slide – sliding is somewhat like the grind, but instead of gliding through the trick, this involves gliding using the board itself. Some important slides are the Bertlemann slide, Bluntslide, Boardslide, Booger slide, Crail slide, Ces slide, Darkslide, Lipslide, Noselide, Powerslide, and the Tailslide.

7. Lip Tricks – this skateboarding trick is done on mini ramps, quarterpipes, and half pipes. They are called so because they need to balance on ramp lips. Notable lip tricks are the Andrecht Invert, Axle stall, Blunt, Disaster, Egg Plant, Fakie-Bonk-off, Frontside Invert, Good Buddy, Ho-Ho, New Deal, Nose pick, Nose stall, Pivot, Pogo, Rock and Roll, Smithvert, Tail Stall, Staple Gun, Stelmasky Plant, Sweeper, Tail Block, Tucknee Invert, and the Woolly Mammoth.

There are many other skateboarding tricks out there, and many others are still being developed. To now more about skateboarding tricks, you can read the leading skateboarding magazines or ask a skateboarding expert.