Skip to content

Rugby On Nbc

The Browns Board
60 19 2.8k
  • Just a few examples of hits from Rugby, its a good game to watch, but just like Football it has its crap boring games to. And being from Scotland we have been as shit as the Browns for the last god knows how many years so nothing new there with my Sport team supporting

  • Really, some of you really do show off your classless asses by being so freakin' Retarded with your baseless platitudes. I watched the Rugby this weekend that was on NBC and it was a great sport to watch. My guess is that some of you didn't "get it" meaning, you didn't take a few minutes to learn the rules, so you gave up on it, than immediately went on to here like some high schooler trying to build an army for your ineffectual argument and gang up on something you completely have no reason to make fun of because it's different and you don't know anything about it.

    If you watched, you saw some great hits, some great stiff arms, and some great strategies in running the ball up field with weaves and overlaps. We say a kick off or a punt return is an exciting play in the NFL, well, guess what, that is basically what Rugby is. And there is blocking in the game. However it is a little different. Runners try and use their team mates as picks while they do block creating space and running lanes. It's not blocking in the NFL where you have 300 lbs men stand up and play sumo for a few seconds and then suck wind.

    Rugby, Soccer, NFL Football, are all great sports. To bad not everyone has a great mind to understand everything and appreciate it.

  • c-dawg said:

    You guys crack me up.

    Do any of you sports hounds know who is the defending Olympic rugby champion?

    The United States.

    No pads, no blocking and no time outs except for injury. 45 minute halves. Say hello to pain boys and girls.

    I'd like to see a couple of you long-winded asses get out on the rugby field. That'd be hilarious. The funniest part is that you would LOVE the game.

    It is like "smear the queer" or "fumble annie" with a couple of rules thrown in. Everyone can run the ball and everyone can tackle.

    I played fly half and full back. No, I am not FB size for football, the fullback in rugby plays deep like free safety, has serious wheels, and also functions kinda like a punter when needed (although anyone can kick the ball in the air or on the ground at any time).

    Ever have a runner come at you, pop kick it over your head or around you, and then fly by you to catch it or pick it up again and take off?

    Rugby keeps you on your toes, plays can last for minutes. Football is a serious of small sprints. Rugby is an endurance contest.

    Did I see a John Carrol post? We played you guys tough at Hiram in the 80s: Sevens in the Snow baby, you gotta love the cuts from the ice.

    The highlighted words are the key here from my view. If there is no blocking there is little if any contact except when making the actual tackle....which, correct me if I am wrong, is usually accomplished by grabbing the waist. I doubt that you see many Jack Tatum style tackles in Rugby.

    Also, correct me if I am wrong, but there are no forward passes in rugby, are there? Only laterals? Thus, there is less open field tackling.

    Yes, football evolved from Rugby, but with no blocking and no passing, it is obviously a different game. Yes, still, it is too rough for me to play. I only want to play contact sports between the sheets.

    @the-gipper said:

    The highlighted words are the key here from my view. If there is no blocking there is little if any contact except when making the actual tackle....which, correct me if I am wrong, is usually accomplished by grabbing the waist. I doubt that you see many Jack Tatum style tackles in Rugby.

    Also, correct me if I am wrong, but there are no forward passes in rugby, are there? Only laterals? Thus, there is less open field tackling.

    Yes, football evolved from Rugby, but with no blocking and no passing, it is obviously a different game. Yes, still, it is too rough for me to play. I only want to play contact sports between the sheets.

    Thoughtful response Gips.

    I will correct you as you request. With no blocking, more tacklers get access to hit you. Usually you line up across from someone and you either hit them or they hit you every set play (penalties, etc). What happens is that you lateral it right before you get hit, but you still get hit to try to take you out of rest of the play.

    Waist tackling is common, sure, but devastating shoulder hits are also common. Keep in mind that it is more free-form and fluid than football with far less set offenses and defenses, so being in position to make that Tatum-like shoulder hit is less common. You rarely hit someone in the back, etc., you are face to face for most of it and folks are rarely defenseless.

    Imagine this, you get tackled, and when you go down you MUST release the ball immediately (fumble) by rule. Another one of your guys picks it up, gets knocked down, releases it, now let's say the opposing team then grabs it, picks it up, you knock them down, then they release it, etc.

    As the rest of the 30 players on the field join in you can have more devastating hits in a few seconds in rugby than in football and you just leave the devastated people ON THE FIELD until they either get up or a ref calls an injury time out. How about that? If you knock enough guys down hard and fast enough you can actually have a temporary advantage in numbers. Good reason to bring the lumber.

    For the second item, more passes than laterals. I don't agree about less open field tackling. First off, a forward pass is a penalty, so none of those. Also, since there is no blocking, the field is always open. All passes are laterals but you can kick forward in the air or on the ground. The reason there isn't less open field tackling is the constant play with few stoppages, and the fact that everybody on the team is a potential running back and tackler. That is all there is Gips, tacklers and runners and a huge open field (with occasional strategic kicks)! There are so many more runs and tackles in a 90-minute rugby game than a football game that there is no comparison.

  • Really, some of you really do show off your classless asses by being so freakin' Retarded with your baseless platitudes. I watched the Rugby this weekend that was on NBC and it was a great sport to watch. My guess is that some of you didn't "get it" meaning, you didn't take a few minutes to learn the rules, so you gave up on it, than immediately went on to here like some high schooler trying to build an army for your ineffectual argument and gang up on something you completely have no reason to make fun of because it's different and you don't know anything about it.

    If you watched, you saw some great hits, some great stiff arms, and some great strategies in running the ball up field with weaves and overlaps. We say a kick off or a punt return is an exciting play in the NFL, well, guess what, that is basically what Rugby is. And there is blocking in the game. However it is a little different. Runners try and use their team mates as picks while they do block creating space and running lanes. It's not blocking in the NFL where you have 300 lbs men stand up and play sumo for a few seconds and then suck wind.

    Rugby, Soccer, NFL Football, are all great sports. To bad not everyone has a great mind to understand everything and appreciate it.

    @brownskidd said:

    And there is blocking in the game. However it is a little different. Runners try and use their team mates as picks while they do block creating space and running lanes. It's not blocking in the NFL where you have 300 lbs men stand up and play sumo for a few seconds and then suck wind.

    Not exactly Kidd.

    Blocking as we understand it in football is a penalty in rugby. That is, blocking by force.

    Blocking by deception, passing (lateraling) the ball and misdirection, are what it is all about.

    So, runners do use picks as you say, yet their fellow players are not blocking by force for them.

    Everyone on offense is a potential running back; they keep their eyes on receiving a lateral, not on taking out an opposing player. Rugby is about possession; you can't hit anyone who does not have the ball.

    Small, but important distinction. And I love your spirit!

  • For the interested:

    POSSESSION

    Rugby is a game of possession, not yardage. Therefore coaching emphasizes passing the ball before being tackled as well as other skills aimed at keeping the ball in your teams possession, and not struggling ahead trying to gain a few more yards while the opponents entire team tries to drag you down.

    NO BLOCKING

    Most think a lack of blocking makes the game more dangerous, but the fact is it makes rugby safer because defenders are not being blind sided by some sprinting lineman hoping to open a hole in the defense (and in the defender!). In football space is created for a runner by brute force (blocking). In rugby space is created by guile and cunning (passing the ball and using misdirection). In Rugby, nearly all collisions between players is anticipated by both, and therefore better prepared for.

    TACKLING

    Tacklers must wrap their arms when tackling. No โ€˜rolling body block' type tackles aimed at an opponent's knees are allowed. Also, NO tackling is allowed above the shoulders. Also known as โ€˜high tackling', it is strictly forbidden and quickly penalized if it occurs. This not only makes for safer play but for surer tackling. Coaches teach not only how to tackle but how to be tackled (i.e. how to fall so that your team keeps possession of the ball).

  • @the-cysko-kid said:

    They hug each other around the waist and have a gay six man waist holding wrestle off for the ball.

    And....Because it's a sport not predominantly an American sport, you are a wrestling fan, got it.

    @kosar_for_president said:

    And....Because it's a sport not predominantly an American sport, you are a wrestling fan, got it.

    This statement makes sense to you?

  • @brownskidd said:

    And there is blocking in the game. However it is a little different. Runners try and use their team mates as picks while they do block creating space and running lanes. It's not blocking in the NFL where you have 300 lbs men stand up and play sumo for a few seconds and then suck wind.

    Not exactly Kidd.

    Blocking as we understand it in football is a penalty in rugby. That is, blocking by force.

    Blocking by deception, passing (lateraling) the ball and misdirection, are what it is all about.

    So, runners do use picks as you say, yet their fellow players are not blocking by force for them.

    Everyone on offense is a potential running back; they keep their eyes on receiving a lateral, not on taking out an opposing player. Rugby is about possession; you can't hit anyone who does not have the ball.

    Small, but important distinction. And I love your spirit!

    c-dawg said:

    Not exactly Kidd.

    Blocking as we understand it in football is a penalty in rugby. That is, blocking by force.

    Blocking by deception, passing (lateraling) the ball and misdirection, are what it is all about.

    So, runners do use picks as you say, yet their fellow players are not blocking by force for them.

    Everyone on offense is a potential running back; they keep their eyes on receiving a lateral, not on taking out an opposing player. Rugby is about possession; you can't hit anyone who does not have the ball.

    Small, but important distinction. And I love your spirit!

    yes, you probably explained the blocking strategy better than i did. I wonder how a NFL team could benefit from Rugby coach giving advice on special teams. Might make it interesting.

  • For the interested:

    POSSESSION

    Rugby is a game of possession, not yardage. Therefore coaching emphasizes passing the ball before being tackled as well as other skills aimed at keeping the ball in your teams possession, and not struggling ahead trying to gain a few more yards while the opponents entire team tries to drag you down.

    NO BLOCKING

    Most think a lack of blocking makes the game more dangerous, but the fact is it makes rugby safer because defenders are not being blind sided by some sprinting lineman hoping to open a hole in the defense (and in the defender!). In football space is created for a runner by brute force (blocking). In rugby space is created by guile and cunning (passing the ball and using misdirection). In Rugby, nearly all collisions between players is anticipated by both, and therefore better prepared for.

    TACKLING

    Tacklers must wrap their arms when tackling. No โ€˜rolling body block' type tackles aimed at an opponent's knees are allowed. Also, NO tackling is allowed above the shoulders. Also known as โ€˜high tackling', it is strictly forbidden and quickly penalized if it occurs. This not only makes for safer play but for surer tackling. Coaches teach not only how to tackle but how to be tackled (i.e. how to fall so that your team keeps possession of the ball).

    c-dawg said:

    For the interested:

    POSSESSION

    Rugby is a game of possession, not yardage. Therefore coaching emphasizes passing the ball before being tackled as well as other skills aimed at keeping the ball in your teams possession, and not struggling ahead trying to gain a few more yards while the opponents entire team tries to drag you down.

    NO BLOCKING

    Most think a lack of blocking makes the game more dangerous, but the fact is it makes rugby safer because defenders are not being blind sided by some sprinting lineman hoping to open a hole in the defense (and in the defender!). In football space is created for a runner by brute force (blocking). In rugby space is created by guile and cunning (passing the ball and using misdirection). In Rugby, nearly all collisions between players is anticipated by both, and therefore better prepared for.

    TACKLING

    Tacklers must wrap their arms when tackling. No โ€˜rolling body block' type tackles aimed at an opponent's knees are allowed. Also, NO tackling is allowed above the shoulders. Also known as โ€˜high tackling', it is strictly forbidden and quickly penalized if it occurs. This not only makes for safer play but for surer tackling. Coaches teach not only how to tackle but how to be tackled (i.e. how to fall so that your team keeps possession of the ball).

    OK, you cannot block, all you can do is "pick" like in basketball. And you can't tackle at the knees or above the torso...so all you can do is tackle at the waist by wrapping up. (which a lot of NFL players should learn to do better). So, the only hard hits on the field would be a shoulder to torso tackle.

    So, football has:

    1. Set plays ( no smear the queer)

    2. Blocking with brute force

    3. Forward passing

    4. Tackling with brute force...even below the knees and above the shoulders with restrictions.

    So, even though there may be more constant action in rugby....the plays in football are like life as defined by Thomas Hobbes: it is nasty, brutish and short.

    As I analogize it, Rugby would be like conducting modern warfare, trying to invade a country....except without the tanks and planes. Just infantry with muskets.

  • You guys crack me up.

    Do any of you sports hounds know who is the defending Olympic rugby champion?

    The United States.

    No pads, no blocking and no time outs except for injury. 45 minute halves. Say hello to pain boys and girls.

    I'd like to see a couple of you long-winded asses get out on the rugby field. That'd be hilarious. The funniest part is that you would LOVE the game.

    It is like "smear the queer" or "fumble annie" with a couple of rules thrown in. Everyone can run the ball and everyone can tackle.

    I played fly half and full back. No, I am not FB size for football, the fullback in rugby plays deep like free safety, has serious wheels, and also functions kinda like a punter when needed (although anyone can kick the ball in the air or on the ground at any time).

    Ever have a runner come at you, pop kick it over your head or around you, and then fly by you to catch it or pick it up again and take off?

    Rugby keeps you on your toes, plays can last for minutes. Football is a serious of small sprints. Rugby is an endurance contest.

    Did I see a John Carrol post? We played you guys tough at Hiram in the 80s: Sevens in the Snow baby, you gotta love the cuts from the ice.

    c-dawg said:

    You guys crack me up.

    Do any of you sports hounds know who is the defending Olympic rugby champion?

    The United States.

    No pads, no blocking and no time outs except for injury. 45 minute halves. Say hello to pain boys and girls.

    I'd like to see a couple of you long-winded asses get out on the rugby field. That'd be hilarious. The funniest part is that you would LOVE the game.

    It is like "smear the queer" or "fumble annie" with a couple of rules thrown in. Everyone can run the ball and everyone can tackle.

    I played fly half and full back. No, I am not FB size for football, the fullback in rugby plays deep like free safety, has serious wheels, and also functions kinda like a punter when needed (although anyone can kick the ball in the air or on the ground at any time).

    Ever have a runner come at you, pop kick it over your head or around you, and then fly by you to catch it or pick it up again and take off?

    Rugby keeps you on your toes, plays can last for minutes. Football is a serious of small sprints. Rugby is an endurance contest.

    Did I see a John Carrol post? We played you guys tough at Hiram in the 80s: Sevens in the Snow baby, you gotta love the cuts from the ice.

    Played from 05-09 at John Carroll. Hiram had just gotten their team back in 08-09. Glad to see you guys back.

  • You guys crack me up.

    Do any of you sports hounds know who is the defending Olympic rugby champion?

    The United States.

    No pads, no blocking and no time outs except for injury. 45 minute halves. Say hello to pain boys and girls.

    I'd like to see a couple of you long-winded asses get out on the rugby field. That'd be hilarious. The funniest part is that you would LOVE the game.

    It is like "smear the queer" or "fumble annie" with a couple of rules thrown in. Everyone can run the ball and everyone can tackle.

    I played fly half and full back. No, I am not FB size for football, the fullback in rugby plays deep like free safety, has serious wheels, and also functions kinda like a punter when needed (although anyone can kick the ball in the air or on the ground at any time).

    Ever have a runner come at you, pop kick it over your head or around you, and then fly by you to catch it or pick it up again and take off?

    Rugby keeps you on your toes, plays can last for minutes. Football is a serious of small sprints. Rugby is an endurance contest.

    Did I see a John Carrol post? We played you guys tough at Hiram in the 80s: Sevens in the Snow baby, you gotta love the cuts from the ice.

    c-dawg said:

    You guys crack me up.

    Do any of you sports hounds know who is the defending Olympic rugby champion?

    The United States.

    No pads, no blocking and no time outs except for injury. 45 minute halves. Say hello to pain boys and girls.

    I'd like to see a couple of you long-winded asses get out on the rugby field. That'd be hilarious. The funniest part is that you would LOVE the game.

    It is like "smear the queer" or "fumble annie" with a couple of rules thrown in. Everyone can run the ball and everyone can tackle.

    I played fly half and full back. No, I am not FB size for football, the fullback in rugby plays deep like free safety, has serious wheels, and also functions kinda like a punter when needed (although anyone can kick the ball in the air or on the ground at any time).

    Ever have a runner come at you, pop kick it over your head or around you, and then fly by you to catch it or pick it up again and take off?

    Rugby keeps you on your toes, plays can last for minutes. Football is a serious of small sprints. Rugby is an endurance contest.

    Did I see a John Carrol post? We played you guys tough at Hiram in the 80s: Sevens in the Snow baby, you gotta love the cuts from the ice.

    I played Football in HS and Rugby in the military on Okinawa. Rugby is by far the more physically demanding sport, by FAR. My first game I required 50 stitches above my left eye and had bruises all over. It is no sport for pussies, no padding, no timeouts except for injuries, etc.

  • @kosar_for_president said:

    And....Because it's a sport not predominantly an American sport, you are a wrestling fan, got it.

    This statement makes sense to you?

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    This statement makes sense to you?

    This makes sense to you!

    wrestling02.jpg

  • c-dawg said:

    You guys crack me up.

    Do any of you sports hounds know who is the defending Olympic rugby champion?

    The United States.

    No pads, no blocking and no time outs except for injury. 45 minute halves. Say hello to pain boys and girls.

    I'd like to see a couple of you long-winded asses get out on the rugby field. That'd be hilarious. The funniest part is that you would LOVE the game.

    It is like "smear the queer" or "fumble annie" with a couple of rules thrown in. Everyone can run the ball and everyone can tackle.

    I played fly half and full back. No, I am not FB size for football, the fullback in rugby plays deep like free safety, has serious wheels, and also functions kinda like a punter when needed (although anyone can kick the ball in the air or on the ground at any time).

    Ever have a runner come at you, pop kick it over your head or around you, and then fly by you to catch it or pick it up again and take off?

    Rugby keeps you on your toes, plays can last for minutes. Football is a serious of small sprints. Rugby is an endurance contest.

    Did I see a John Carrol post? We played you guys tough at Hiram in the 80s: Sevens in the Snow baby, you gotta love the cuts from the ice.

    I played Football in HS and Rugby in the military on Okinawa. Rugby is by far the more physically demanding sport, by FAR. My first game I required 50 stitches above my left eye and had bruises all over. It is no sport for pussies, no padding, no timeouts except for injuries, etc.

    @diehardbrownsfan said:

    I played Football in HS and Rugby in the military on Okinawa. Rugby is by far the more physically demanding sport, by FAR. My first game I required 50 stitches above my left eye and had bruises all over. It is no sport for pussies, no padding, no timeouts except for injuries, etc.

    Die Hard is 100% correct. I played both in the US and in England at a high level. Loved playing both, but Rugby kicked my ass. Condition training for football was harder.

  • Just a few examples of hits from Rugby, its a good game to watch, but just like Football it has its crap boring games to. And being from Scotland we have been as shit as the Browns for the last god knows how many years so nothing new there with my Sport team supporting

    @kamac19 said:

    Just a few examples of hits from Rugby, its a good game to watch, but just like Football it has its crap boring games to. And being from Scotland we have been as shit as the Browns for the last god knows how many years so nothing new there with my Sport team supporting

    You're not wrong. To be fair the best team on the day didn't win this time.

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  • My cousin in England is a big Rugby follower. He goes to matches in Australia and New Zealand and South Africa.

    Wasn't that movie with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman about South Africa winning the Rugby World Cup? Directed by Clint Eastwood? Good movie.

  • Although tempted I did not dive into this one straight away.

    I see predjudice against American Football over here in the same way some people on this board are predjudiced against Rugby. The simple fact is - you can compare the sports but to what avail? They are completely different games - if someone said to you I don't like bananas because they don't taste like apples you would rightly think they were an idiot. Both games are excellent to play and watch (although I would rather watch your brand of football)

    Regarding the toughness of each sport. Hmmmm. It has been interesting to read so many comments here from football players who have also played rugby and say Rugby is a tougher sport on the body! Martyn Johnson, ex England Rugby captain - won the world cup in 2003 - an avid American football fan - stated that he would no way play American Football as it was so much more brutal than Rugby. I played Rugby for 8 years as a lad and took my far share of knocks and a few breaks but the way you are coached to take a tackle can help you avoid injury. I played American football for 6 months back in 1986 for a team here in the UK and broke 3 fingers, 2 ribs and a colar bone. Maybe I was the worst WR in history but helmets under the ribs, into the hands and getting blindsided without the ball in your hands was a rapid learning curve. I gave upo beacuse I was missing too much studying time due to injury!

    So, I think the sensible crew on the board have summed it up right. They are two completely different sports, both for real men and any attempt to call either soft or gay is, well, gay.

  • Rugby is better than soccer. That's not saying much and that's all ill give it. So what if the conditioning for rugby is tougher? So what? Conditioning for mma is tougher, and the board has deemed that gay. I hate rugby. Its stupid, boring, has nothing to do with football and nbc has no business broadcasting it in America, just because a few weird fringe redcoat loyalists kind of like it.

  • Rugby is better than soccer. That's not saying much and that's all ill give it. So what if the conditioning for rugby is tougher? So what? Conditioning for mma is tougher, and the board has deemed that gay. I hate rugby. Its stupid, boring, has nothing to do with football and nbc has no business broadcasting it in America, just because a few weird fringe redcoat loyalists kind of like it.

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    weird fringe redcoat loyalists

    Are you for real? Do you think that the 250,000 current US rugby players are all proud decendants of the original Mayflower posse? Live and let live man.

    Bloody hell.

  • Weird redcoat loyalists.

  • Weird redcoat loyalists.

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    Weird redcoat loyalists.

    +1 Cysko, that is some funny shite right there (spelled it like the Brits in your honor).

  • Although tempted I did not dive into this one straight away.

    I see predjudice against American Football over here in the same way some people on this board are predjudiced against Rugby. The simple fact is - you can compare the sports but to what avail? They are completely different games - if someone said to you I don't like bananas because they don't taste like apples you would rightly think they were an idiot. Both games are excellent to play and watch (although I would rather watch your brand of football)

    Regarding the toughness of each sport. Hmmmm. It has been interesting to read so many comments here from football players who have also played rugby and say Rugby is a tougher sport on the body! Martyn Johnson, ex England Rugby captain - won the world cup in 2003 - an avid American football fan - stated that he would no way play American Football as it was so much more brutal than Rugby. I played Rugby for 8 years as a lad and took my far share of knocks and a few breaks but the way you are coached to take a tackle can help you avoid injury. I played American football for 6 months back in 1986 for a team here in the UK and broke 3 fingers, 2 ribs and a colar bone. Maybe I was the worst WR in history but helmets under the ribs, into the hands and getting blindsided without the ball in your hands was a rapid learning curve. I gave upo beacuse I was missing too much studying time due to injury!

    So, I think the sensible crew on the board have summed it up right. They are two completely different sports, both for real men and any attempt to call either soft or gay is, well, gay.

    @howiedawg said:

    Although tempted I did not dive into this one straight away.

    I see predjudice against American Football over here in the same way some people on this board are predjudiced against Rugby. The simple fact is - you can compare the sports but to what avail? They are completely different games - if someone said to you I don't like bananas because they don't taste like apples you would rightly think they were an idiot. Both games are excellent to play and watch (although I would rather watch your brand of football)

    Regarding the toughness of each sport. Hmmmm. It has been interesting to read so many comments here from football players who have also played rugby and say Rugby is a tougher sport on the body! Martyn Johnson, ex England Rugby captain - won the world cup in 2003 - an avid American football fan - stated that he would no way play American Football as it was so much more brutal than Rugby. I played Rugby for 8 years as a lad and took my far share of knocks and a few breaks but the way you are coached to take a tackle can help you avoid injury. I played American football for 6 months back in 1986 for a team here in the UK and broke 3 fingers, 2 ribs and a colar bone. Maybe I was the worst WR in history but helmets under the ribs, into the hands and getting blindsided without the ball in your hands was a rapid learning curve. I gave upo beacuse I was missing too much studying time due to injury!

    So, I think the sensible crew on the board have summed it up right. They are two completely different sports, both for real men and any attempt to call either soft or gay is, well, gay.

    Well, I do hear some futbol fans and a few Rugby fans chide Football players for wearing all the protective gear they do, but that is because they don't comprehend the brutality with which the sport is played.

    Soccer is like basketball, there is not supposed to be contact, but certainly some occurs in the course of a game.

    From what I hear of rugby, the only contact that is supposed to be allowed is the tackling of the player with the ball...and that tackling is only supposed to occur within tightly controlled strictures.

    The point of football is all about brutal collisions. There is one guy with the ball, and the other 10 on his side are supposed to disintegrate the players on the other team to allow the guy with the ball to go free. On the other hand, those 11 guys are allowed to brutalize everyone on the offensive side on every play in an effort to brutalize the guy with the ball. Yes, some rules for player safety have been implemented...no face mask grabbing, no horse collar tackling, no chop blocks, no helmet to helmet in certain situations, no head sslaps, but otherwise it is no holds barred in beating all hell out of every player on the other team.