Why worry about the science?

Leads to better and safer equipment

Affects the rules of the sport

Improves athletic performance

Increases appreciation of the sport

Good public relations for Physics

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The physics does play an important part in football as it does in almost every sport. As scientists we must remember that the science contributes to the sport in the following ways. Only the first item above involves the asthetic of the sport.

To me it is most interesting that the practicing athlete has developed an instinctive understanding of the physics involved in the sport, usually without connecting that understanding to what we would consider to be the fundamental physical principal.