Another Sunday has rolled around, and to you, it’s a day you’d rather spend away from the TV with your guy. Football isn’t your thing, but he can’t be bothered between the hours of 10am – 7:30pm PST. “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Now is the time to join, and not just for the snacks at the football party. Here are a few tips to get you into the game and to score some points with your significant other.

Know his favorite team

You don’t want to buy him a Raiders hat if he’s a huge Niner fan. His favorite team is usually from his hometown (or region), a team from the city he went to college in, or in all possibility, an unexpected team he started following at some point in his life. At the end of the day, this is a very easy one to find out without having to ask. If it’s not as crystal clear, look for shirts, hats, and his family team.

Know who the top 3 players are on his favorite team

This one is really for respect. Most casual football fans can rattle off the names of their key players with little difficulty. If you can name do the same, you earn some credibility and become more than the girlfriend looking to pull him from the holy football day. You might even be able to call yourself a football fan.

Learn how successful is team has been over the last last 5-10 years.

Ladies, this provides context. For example, if you’ve ever heard anybody but a Pats fan talk about the Patriots, you might understand why Patriots fans see everybody as haters (my guy is a Pats fan). More importantly, it will help you understand if he is rationally expecting his team to win on Sunday, or if he’s expecting the team to “turn it around this year.”

Learn the basics of the game

From what I’ve been told, no guy wants to give an elementary school level education to anybody when it’s 3^rd and two in the redzone and his team is down by 6 with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter. You don’t have to know the x’s and o’s, but you should know that a touchdown is 7 points, and the game is on the line.

Know an incredible play when you see one (or at least pretend until you learn)

See that one handed catch that guy just made while being smothered by 2 defenders?  Or that guy running with the ball that just made 3 defenders, all within hugging distance from his? That’s football awesomeness. Recognize it, and give it the appropriate level of props. And if everyone around you is cheering all together with high fives, that’s an easy queue.

Find out when his team plays

This one is very simple.  Don’t make plans or need him for ANYTHING while his team is playing.  That just ain’t right.

A few other things to keep in mind: 

–        There are 16 games in a regular season, and we’re at week 7 right now.

–        Football games are played 3 days of the week. Thursday, Sunday (main game day) and Monday.

–        Quarterback is the premier position, even if that quarterback sucks.

–        Touchdown’s are 6 points.  They get the 7^th point after the customary field goal after the TD.

Did I forget something? Leave your survival tip in the comments!

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