Football is a Facsimile of American Society

Football is a Facsimile of American Society

In a society where competition and hard work are the rule, the game of football and in particular, high school football, with its melange of mores, norms and rituals have symbolically come to represent the American life. Like many of the conventions in American society, high school football has over the years ingrained in its players teamwork, loyalty, and the value of hard work. In addition, the institution of high school football not only pertains to the game, but has influenced many participants in the matters of sexuality, albeit with a certain degree of conflict. Finally, high school footballs' rituals and rites of passages have enforced the attributes that have been deemed worthy, and have further inculcated beliefs in its partakers. In this paper, I will argue that high school football is not just merely a game, but a small yet very real facsimile of the American society as a whole.

In high schools all across America, football has been the prevalent sport for generations. From the early days of football starting in the 1920's to the present day, football athletes have started their careers on high school fields. Coaches on every football team from the smallest towns to the Nationwide Division One champion teams have to a large degree stressed a certain standard of conduct and behavior. Among these attributes that are taught, teamwork is no doubt the most important. Vince Lombardi, considered by many to have been the finest football coach in history said, "Football is a game of many lessons in teamwork… The only true satisfaction a player receives is the satisfaction that comes from being part of a successful team, regardless of what his own personal ends are."...

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...as in essence emulated real life, with its own standards and rules of conduct. Through the teaching of hard work, loyalty and teamwork, those who have taught these traits have not only produced better football players, but have taken things necessary from the business world and have transplanted it into their players. Also, football has influenced its members on the subject of sexuality, which like in American society today is fraught with discrimination, confusion and controversy. Finally, high school football with its rituals, good and bad have paralleled quite nicely with rituals that many American adults employ in their every day lives. In these rituals, it is seen just how well high school football is a smaller version of life itself. On the playing field of life, high school football will always be an indicator of reality's values, beliefs and rituals