How to Choose a Favorite Football Team

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Following football is a huge pastime for people around the world - so much so, that there are even two kinds of football! Whether you're a soccer fan or an American football fan, you've got to pick a favorite team, and the process is similar for either. Who knows, maybe your support could help take your team to the Super Bowl - or World Cup! If you can't decide on your favourite football team, this is the article for you!

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Surveying the Field of Teams

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  1. Many people by default support the team of the area they live in. This is perhaps the simplest and easiest way to pick a team to support. The benefits of this approach is that many of your friends and family will probably also support the same time. This will make game days more fun, as you’ll be able to join everyone in tailgate parties and more. Consider the following:
    • Does the city you live in have a football team?
    • If your city or town does not have a team, what big city with a team are you closest to? Support that team.
    • If you are equal distance to two teams, pick whichever you prefer, or whichever one your friends and family support. [1]
  2. Some people are lifelong supporters of one team. They support the team of their hometown where they grew up, and they support that team for the rest of their lives. You can go with this approach as well.
    • This will help you bond with family and friends who still live in that community, if you have moved.
    • This might feel natural because you are probably familiar with the mascot, the colors, and the fan culture of the team.
    • If you’ve moved far away, this might present a problem as you might not be able to attend many games in person. [2]
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  3. If we’re talking American college football, many people support the team of where they graduated or where they grew up. People do this for many reasons including tradition and emotionalism, but mostly because they associate their college football team with the good times they had in college. This is certainly a good way of determining what team to support. [3]
  4. For many families, supporting a football team is tradition. Get behind that tradition and support the same team that your parents and grandparents supported. Not only will you be able to have more in common with your family, but you’ll be able to participate in football related events together, like tailgates and viewing parties. You’ll also be able to attend games together. [4]
  5. Some people are moved by mascots and team colors. If this is the type of person you are, take a look at the wide variety of mascots and team colors of different teams around the country. On the contrary, you might not like a team’s mascot or colors, so you can easily eliminate them from your potential list. [5]
  6. You might be the sort of person who likes supporting the underdog. In this case, take a look at a few teams that have been struggling in recent years. This can be fun, too, since a lot of people tend to support winners. When your team wins, you’ll have a lot more to celebrate. [6]
  7. Perhaps an individual player or coach impresses you. This is definitely an acceptable way of picking a team to support. You can choose to follow that player or coach around as they are traded or begin working for new teams in the future. This way, you’ll be invested in a career and in someone’s talent, rather than just a team.
    • Often times people follow talented quarterbacks from team to team, so consider this.
    • Look into the quality of the coaching staff, you might be impressed and want to follow a team due to the coaches.
    • Sometimes you might not like a certain player or coach of a team, so you can eliminate a team based on this, too.
  8. A lot of people like to support teams that are currently winning. Teams that are currently winning are more likely to have very talented coaching staff and players, so this is a big draw for a lot of people.
    • Take a look at a list of teams that are currently performing the best nationally, or in your region.
    • Examine the track record of that team. Are they dominating this season? Did they dominate last season? Have they made it to bowl games, championships, or playoffs?
    • If you’re comfortable supporting the winning team, do so. [7]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Narrowing Down Your Choices

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  1. The more you watch, the better you’ll know teams that you might want to support, and the easier it’ll be to eliminate possible choices. In fact, watching a significant amount of football on TV is the best way to educate yourself about the game and about teams.
    • Watch different teams from different regions.
    • Watch your local team, or the team your friends and family favor, play against a top ranking team.
    • Don’t be afraid to watch teams that are far removed from where you live. [8]
  2. You shouldn’t really commit to supporting a team until you’ve seen them play live. Seeing a team play in person will give you a much better sense of whether or not you‘ll be comfortable supporting them in the future. Attending an actual game is very important in narrowing down your choices. Consider:
    • Attending a game will give you a sense of the specific fan culture of that team. You’ll see how fans tailgate, how they behave, and you’ll get a sense of whether or not you fit in.
    • Attending a home game for a prospective team will give you a sense of the atmosphere of their stadium. You’ll hear the songs they play and the announcer. You’ll also see the halftime show, hear the band, and see the cheerleaders.
    • Try to get good seats, rather than seats in the nosebleed section. This way, you’ll be closer to the action and you’ll be able to see how the players and coaching staff interact on the sidelines.
  3. If you’ve done your homework so far, you’ll have a fairly decent idea of what the stats mean (wins, losses, touchdowns, and more). Take your list and lookup the stats of the teams on it. The stats might speak to you, and might give you an idea of who to support and who not to support. [9]
  4. Since you’re trying to pick a favorite team for the long-haul, don’t rush the process. Set aside a month or two, or perhaps even the whole football season before you make up your mind. You’re going to want to review all of the teams you’ve considered fairly, and give yourself time to consider the many factors.
  5. After you’ve watched a number of games and considered other factors, make your list. Include 3 to 5 teams that have impressed you the most. This list does not need to include all winners, or all hometown teams. It can include teams that you like for any reason. Don’t feel like you need to justify putting a team on your list. You’re simply narrowing down the number of possible teams.
    • Include teams that you might have an emotional attachment to because of family, friends, or region.
    • Include teams that have individual players or coaching staff that you already support.
    • Don’t be afraid to include teams for any reasons. After all, this is all about your preference!
  6. Now that you’ve educated yourself about a number of teams you’re interested in, watching some of those teams again will gain you new insight. Watching your prospective teams, once you’ve narrowed down the selection, will give you a really good idea of which teams you favor more. [10]
    • Try to watch the teams on your list play against each other, if possible.
    • Watch more than one game for each team.
    • Attend more games in person, if you can.
  7. When you’ve got your list, start to narrow it down. What matters most to you? Is it individual talent, the coaching staff, hometown loyalty, or other factors? Ask yourself all of these questions, and eliminate one at a time from your list.
    • Make a list of pros and cons for each team.
    • Rank the teams based on emotional value, skills level of the team, or the importance of tradition (if your family supports the team).
    • Eliminate teams that don’t measure up. [11]
  8. Once you’ve reviewed all of the necessary information, pick a team. This is the moment you’ve really been waiting for. You’ve done all of your homework and considered a number of factors, now you get to support the team that has won this vetting process. [12]
  9. After you’ve vetted the team and decided to support them, watch another game. This should be a new experience for you. You’ll no longer be scrutinizing the team, but supporting them. You’ll take pleasure in their victories, and you’ll mourn their defeats.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What if I still can't decide or everyone hates me because of the team I go for?
    Community Answer
    Choosing your favorite team isn't necessarily a matter of choice, it's actually a matter of love. You don't choose the person you fall in love with, so in the same way you don't choose the team you support. Let it just happen and just feel it. When you feel it, let it grow and don't care about other people's attitudes. Defend your team (not aggressively) and just have fun!
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  • Question
    What if I choose a team, but I constantly feel the urge to want to change it? What can I do to stay committed to a team?
    Community Answer
    Learn more about the players on the team and their background and see how your own story relates to theirs.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Should I be a Seahawks fan or a Packers fan?
    Community Answer
    Where do you live? Perhaps closer to one of these teams? Take a look at the stats and a couple of the players and coaching staff. Does anyone impress you? It's easier to support a team when you can form some sort of personal attachment to it.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Please do not change to whichever team is winning. Hop on a team and try to support them through everything!
      • If you change the team that you support whenever they start losing, you'll be called a fair-weather fan.
      • Always believe or have hope in your team!
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/09/supporting_the_hometown_team_i.html
      2. ↑ http://www.complex.com/sports/2014/10/what-does-your-favorite-nfl-team-say-about-you/pittsburgh-steelers
      3. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/01/carly-fiorina-rose-bowl-standord-iowa-hawkeyes
      4. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/19/support-football-team-children-david-cameron-aston-villa
      5. ↑ http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/03/ncaa-tournament-2016-team-ranked-by-team-name-mascot
      6. ↑ http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2010/04/the_underdog_effect.html
      7. ↑ http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/07/signs-youre-bandwagon-fan/
      8. ↑ http://deadspin.com/5981042/how-to-watch-football-on-television-according-to-1964
      9. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/stats/team
      1. ↑ http://www.timesleaderonline.com/page/content.detail/id/533013/What-to-expect-at-your-first-NFL-game.html?nav=5177
      2. ↑ http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/01/im-considering-becoming-a-sports-fan-how-do-i-pick-a-team/272630/
      3. ↑ http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/01/im-considering-becoming-a-sports-fan-how-do-i-pick-a-team/272630/

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