Football

"Football is not about life or death. It is more important than that."

Bill Shankley, former manager of Liverpool Football club.

Well it's rolled around again... FOOTBALL (most certainly not soccer!) fever.  I wonder what surprises the FIFA World Cup 2010 has got in store for us?  There have been the usual dramas and injuries leading into these finals, Thierre Henry's "Hand of Frog" didn't go unnoticed by anyone, oh except of course the ref!

Injury has dashed numerous players (and their fans) World Cup dreams, the English and German teams will be the most affected without Beckham, Ferdinand, Ballack, Adler, Traesch and Westermann.  Before it all kicks off, take a trip down memory lane and have a look, a cheer at these top 50 World Cup moments from The Daily Telegraph.

So how can we encorporate the Football World Cup into our science lessons?  Here's a few suggestions...

1) Analysing distance-time graphs, produced by ASE in 2001
Students will look at actual video footage from an FA Cup 4th round match between Manchester United and West Ham United.  It is a little dated as it was played back in 2000, however, there are 6 different stages and students should make a note of the key point for each stage.  The accompanying key point worksheet is here.

2) video "The Science of Football" 
Encourage your students to improve their science knowledge and football skills (with a lot of practice!) after viewing this engaging video on the science of football.

3)  Article "The physics of football" by Physics World 
Senior Physics students may like to read this article which discusses the spin, velocity and forces as a football is kicked with a curve.

Finally, you must have seen the Nike Football "Write the future" adverts.  I like this overwhelmingly positive review on the Nike Football ads from the soccerbible.com

"Starring some of the world’s best players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Fabio Cannavaro, Franck Ribery, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Patrice Evra, Gerard Pique, Ronaldinho, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Thiago Silva... this epic football journey unfolds through a match of goal line clearances, game-winning tackles and lightning footwork that literally send a ripple effect across the world."

Have a fantastic month cheering on your team. Enjoy the excitement, tension and tears of joy. Relish in that sense of camaraderie and the community feel of it all during the most watched sporting event in the world.