Immersing yourself in a new hobby is no easy task. There is a lot of learning involved when it comes to new interests, and some people may struggle with getting used to the ins and outs of their chosen activity.
For sports fans, this task proves to be even more difficult. Watching a new sport on television can be confusing to some, and viewers can be left with more questions than answers.
This is especially true for newcomers to the Premier League, which is the top soccer league in England. There are many differences between soccer and other sports, but also between North American and European soccer.
There are five main aspects of the Premier League that new fans should be aware of before watching:
1. The rules of the game: The most important things to learn about the Premier League are the rules. Fans can become accustomed to the laws governing the game by simply watching the sport on television.
It is important to not only watch the game but to listen. The announcers are crucial to helping the audience understand what is going on, as they provide play-by-play and analysis in real time.
New fans can also watch halftime reports, which is when analysts go further in-depth about the action during the game. Analysts may also show highlights of other games.
Ronnie Gonzalez is a Business Representative for Mechanics Union Local 701. Outside of his job, Gonzalez is a soccer fan who has also played the sport and knows the rules well.
“I think one of the most important rules for new fans to understand is the ‘offside’ rule,” Gonzalez said. “Offsides can be played by both the offensive team and the defensive team trying to control the flow of the game.”
The Premier League has a downloadable handbook of league policies on its website, which includes the rules of soccer, https://www.premierleague.com/about/publications If all else fails, a quick Google search can provide answers that fans have about the rules.
2. The league structure: The Premier League also has a different structure compared to sports leagues in America. North American soccer leagues typically use the franchise model, while leagues elsewhere use promotion and relegation.
According to World Soccer Talk, a league using the franchise model would keep the same teams each year. Most American sports leagues, including Major League Soccer, follow this model. World Soccer Talk explains that promotion and relegation is a structural system based on a team’s performance. Teams who perform well can be promoted to a higher league, and those who do poorly can be sent down to a lower league.
As the Premier League is the top soccer league in England, three teams from the English Football Championship are welcomed every season. The bottom three teams in the standings from the previous season get relegated to the EFL Championship.
Gonzalez believes that this system is effective.
“Failure to or success of acquiring points decides a team’s fate,” Gonzalez said. “I believe that it highly motivates teams to perform at their best to avoid relegation and allows new clubs an opportunity to rise to the big league.”
Promotion and relegation results in a different setup of teams every season, which adds excitement to the game. Teams that get relegated can always fight their way back to the Premier League by placing within the top three of the EFL Championship.
3. The season structure: The Premier League season also has differences to American sports leagues. The Premier League website states that each team plays all the other teams twice, once at their home stadium and once at the other team’s stadium.
The website also explains that each season runs from August to May, with each team playing 38 matches. This leads to 380 games being played each season.
Unlike most North American sports leagues, the Premier League has no playoffs. Rather, the team with the most points at the end of the season is crowned champion.
Gonzalez favors this structure as well.
“I think it is better without playoffs, as the relegation/promotion model makes no need for playoffs,” Gonzalez said. “Points are points, earn them or relegate.”
Matches are only played on certain days of the week, and the time zone difference can make it difficult for American fans to watch televised matches live. However, games can be recorded, watched on demand, or streamed on Peacock.
4. The teams and players: The Premier League consists of 20 teams in a season. The teams vary due to promotion and relegation, but the number of teams remains fixed.
Initially, it may be difficult for some to choose a favorite team. However, it is important to recognize that there is no rush. New fans can take as much time as they need to select teams to follow.
Fans should not feel limited to just one team. Some fans, such as Gonzalez, follow many teams.
“If I have to pick one team, it would be Manchester United,” Gonzalez said. “I also like Liverpool and West Ham, mainly because I played on men’s teams that had those names.”
Players are also a key aspect of the Premier League. New fans can and should choose players to follow, whether they are on their favorite teams or not.
Again, fans should not feel that they like too many players. Gonzalez names David Beckham, Mohamed Salah, and Wayne Rooney as some of his favorites.
The only way to get to know teams and players is to watch games or highlights. Do not feel discouraged if you cannot find your favorites right away. It takes time to find which team and players are your absolute favorites.
5. Know Yourself: Knowing the ins and outs of the Premier League is a good start, but some deep personal reflection is also crucial. It is important to know several things about yourself before you delve into the league.
Awareness of your schedule is crucial, as it is essential in determining which games to watch. Additionally, it is necessary to learn about what you do or do not like in a team or player.
It is also important to trust your gut. If you have a nagging feeling about your opinion regarding a player or team, listen to yourself. Chances are that your first instinct is correct.
Opinions about league events, players, and teams can change over time, and that is perfectly acceptable. With anything, opinions change when learning more facts or observing something interesting.
Gonzalez advises new fans to take chances when getting to know the Premier League.
“There is no real good way but to just jump in and find a town or mascot that you like,” Gonzalez said. “All Premier League games are exciting to watch, so you can’t make a bad choice.”
Watching the Premier League is an endeavor that many people enjoy. The most important thing to remember when getting started is that you will not know everything right away. It takes a lot of time and effort to learn.
Although the Premier League may not be for everybody, it is surely worth looking into. You will never know if you like it until you start watching. You may just discover a new passion. Visit the league website https://www.premierleague.com/
