Stupid question but how do you become a fan of sport?

[TowelMouse]

I've never followed any sport but I've decided, for various reasons, that I want to try to learn to enjoy American Football. I don't think I'll become a superfan but I'd enjoy the odd game.

How do you learn the rules though so that you can understand it? Do you read up on it, which I've tried to do or do you just keep watching it until you start to pick it up?

I do this with tennis. I do a mix of watching (and trying to understand by myself) and look parts up on Google.

Watch and google usually. I got right into the olympics and learned so much. I now plan to follow both road and track cycling and swimming/diving!

The quickest way to learn the rules is to play the sport, but that might be a bit tricky with a sport as complex & quirky as American Football. Not quite as easy as just picking up a tennis racket!

Have you got a friend who is a fan? You could watch a game together & they could explain as it goes along. I’m a cricket geek and I have done this in the past. Otherwise is there an online fan forum where someone could explain?

Watch it and you pick it up.
My particular sport was F1 racing, so not a chance of taking part!
I don't follow it so much now but was a huge fan for 15yrs or so.
I'm watching the few last races as I've always been a big Kimi Raikkonen fan.

Thanks all. I'm glad that I'm not alone in needing time to understand a sport. I do have friends who love it, including one who played it professionally but they're all in the U.S. I'll see if he'll watch some clips with me and try to explain it. He's tried to explain before but I think footage will make it easier. I'll look for forums too. That's a good idea.

The nfl season starts tonight so a great time to start!