Besides the proper way to play the game of football, there are a few things that we Americans can learn from the FIFA World Cup, the most-watched sporting event on Earth and arguably the world's most exciting multi-day sporting event.
Daily Excitement - During the Group Stage and the Round of 16, FIFA schedules games each and every day, providing a daily dose of excitement that is unparalleled in sport. With games scheduled each day, the FIFA World Cup stays on the front (or back) pages of sports pages around the world, even here in the U.S. The constant story lines help keep the tournament compelling and in the news for an entire month continuously.
The only parralel we have here in the States is the opening two weekends of the NCAA Tournament, and is one of the reasons why the popularity of March Madness has grown exponentially over the past two decades.
Anyone who has intensely followed the NBA and NHL playoffs in particular knows how interminable the delays can get between series and even between games. There were four off-days between the end of the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Finals this year, even though both Conference Finals went to six games. Same story in the NHL, with four off-days between the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals.
This year Orlando had five off-days after sweeping Atlanta in the Eastern Conference semifinals, while the Lakers had six off-days after dispatching Utah.
If the world’s most-watched sporting event can figure out a way to schedule games each and every day, can’t we?
The Player Escort Program - OK, it is a bit unrealistic to suggest that NFL players storm out of the locker room at the Super Bowl holding the hands of children. However, is there a better way to demonstrate that the game (and all games for that matter) is in the end simply that, and that we should never forget the child in all of us, even when we are competing for our sport's the biggest prize?
Goal Celebrations - Despite a running clock, FIFA allows its players to orchestrate and even choreograph elaborate celebrations involving teammates. A worldwide FIFA sponsor, Coca-Cola, even based their entire campaign leveraging this year’s World Cup around the tradition of World Cup goal celebrations. Though the NFL and NCAA has eased its restrictions on celebrations a touch, both still discourage (and oftentimes penalize) even the most spontaneous of scoring celebrations.
Of course, there may be a few things that we Americans could help introduce to FIFA that could improve their event, but those will be saved for another day.
Instant replay anyone?
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