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Original poster

No, you don't need to know Maths to be a footballer

251 replies

Ronbo · 03/02/2023 10:26

"NSPCC Number Day" at school again. 🙄

The letter says "children are invited to dress up as someone who uses maths/numbers in thier everyday jobs". Lots of girls dressed as engineers, builders, astronauts, chefs. Well done to them.

Of course, just like every single previous dress up for school day, all the boys turn up in full football kits.

"Coz there is a number on my shirt, and err, u need maffs to count the score."

It was depressing when the same thing happened at "dress up as your favourite character from a book day" but for me this is a new low.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 03/02/2023 10:29

Footballers need to know the best angle to kick the ball in the direction they want it to go in.
That's maths.

AnotherNewt · 03/02/2023 10:31

Yes, angles, trajectory, velocity are all maths/physics topics

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 03/02/2023 10:31

Its pretty handy to know numbers as a footballer in terms of how much you'd need to pay someone off to drop a case against you

My DC are older now but their primary banned anyone from wearing football kit to dress up days which seemed a bit extreme. I don't think I could get worked up about it. It's just another dress up day for the kids with, I assume, some NSPCC aspects thrown in to their day

Anyotherdude · 03/02/2023 10:32

Au contraire, OP, you can turn this around by agreeing that footballers need to have good maths skills, to avoid being ripped off by their unscrupulous clubs, accountants Etc. and to plan for their life after football. Should get some of the little chaps interested in the topic, at least!

AnotherNewt · 03/02/2023 10:32

As is understanding investments for that mega salary....

JudgeJ · 03/02/2023 10:34

Ronbo · 03/02/2023 10:26

"NSPCC Number Day" at school again. 🙄

The letter says "children are invited to dress up as someone who uses maths/numbers in thier everyday jobs". Lots of girls dressed as engineers, builders, astronauts, chefs. Well done to them.

Of course, just like every single previous dress up for school day, all the boys turn up in full football kits.

"Coz there is a number on my shirt, and err, u need maffs to count the score."

It was depressing when the same thing happened at "dress up as your favourite character from a book day" but for me this is a new low.

It's all about parabolic trajectory tell him and make him find out what it means! They also have to understand very large numbers, lots of noughts, to be able to understand their obscene salaries, it would also be useful to understand percentages to check that their agent isn't over-fleecing them! They will also need to understand large numbers for when their arm-candy moves on to the next and tries to take him to the cleaners!

Needmorelego · 03/02/2023 10:35

My hometown football team (not a major team) runs a local charity lottery.

The football ground is fairly run down so the owners have to make sure the financial side of it runs smoothly and costs for maintenance are done properly etc.
That's maths.

SleeplessInEngland · 03/02/2023 10:37

Needmorelego · 03/02/2023 10:29

Footballers need to know the best angle to kick the ball in the direction they want it to go in.
That's maths.

This reminds me of a campaign they did years ago where they showed a popular boxer 'calculating' the angle of an uppercut her should use on his opponent. It wasn't fooling anybody.

GasPanic · 03/02/2023 10:38

There's an incredible amount of maths involved in analyzing the game and also the physics of how the ball behaves.

Making the ball go where they want, most footballers do this instinctively, even though the analysis of it is highly mathematical.

Analyzing the game, I think to date most of it has been done after the game by coaching staff. But the real prize of course is to do it in game, to change the outcome.

I have noticed a tendency for players to increase their in game strategic analysis, as they talk about it more nowadays in post match interviews. I'm not sure you would call it maths, but they seem to be more aware of where problems are, where weaknesses are to be exploited than they used to be. This is more observation and analysis than maths, but observation and analysis are key techniques used in many engineering and scientific disciplines.

MaryMcCarthy · 03/02/2023 10:38

Do footballers have no need for money management skills?

Paying 19 year olds tens of thousands per week... what could go wrong?

The footballers who've suffered the most post-retirement, in terms of depression, destitution, drink, drugs, etc tend to be the ones who didn't manage their money very well. So I'd say maths skills would be a great asset.

That's before you consider the maths of league tables and the absolute multitude of varied statistics attached to each and every football match these days.

GoodChat · 03/02/2023 10:39

There's maths involved in everything.

New outfits for every dress up day is hard work and expensive.

CoffeeRightNow · 03/02/2023 10:39

Parents going for an easy ‘not another fucking dressing up day’ win. Sensible! I would’ve sent my DD in in a footie top, too.

Kitcaterpillar · 03/02/2023 10:39

"Coz there is a number on my shirt, and err, u need maffs to count the score."

What's the implication of the way you've spelt maths here, OP? I mean, I know but I'd like to hear you explain it.

TheKeatingFive · 03/02/2023 10:39

Maths is pretty important to keep an eye on their accountants and make sure their money is being managed and invested wisely.

Kanaloa · 03/02/2023 10:41

I hate these dress up days. The kids have no control over how they dress really. These days just serve to make some kids feel absolutely awful if their parents can’t afford/can’t be arsed. Maybe your school should look at more inclusive ways to help children access numeracy in the school environment rather than pointless dress up days.

Hankunamatata · 03/02/2023 10:41

Parents are skint. Kids have kits, so easy dress up option. You can apply maths to nearly any job.
Lay out angles and get kids to kick at different angles.
Measure force kick ball in newton's.
Length of a pitch and how far youwould have to kick a ball if you were halfway down the pitch.
Footballers need to be fit so need to know about diet and nutrition - mako g healthy meals.

MaryMcCarthy · 03/02/2023 10:41

Kitcaterpillar · 03/02/2023 10:39

"Coz there is a number on my shirt, and err, u need maffs to count the score."

What's the implication of the way you've spelt maths here, OP? I mean, I know but I'd like to hear you explain it.

The implication is that she thinks the kids dressed as footballers are thick, so she's invented a quote that reflects that.

Reindear · 03/02/2023 10:42

Some kids hate dressing up. My kid has hated it since he was a toddler. The only thing he will wear other than school uniform to school is sports wear. So for book day yes he is a footballer. For numbers day (his school don’t do it) he’d probably be a footballer again. Who cares? Why are you bothered?

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 03/02/2023 10:42

I’m in the “These days are ridiculous, expensive and raise absolutely no awareness at all and some people can’t afford food let alone a costume so let them wear whatever the fuck they want” camp.

So many other things can be done to celebrate mathematical jobs.

Sceptre86 · 03/02/2023 10:43

These days might be fun for the kids but they are bloody annoying for the parents. Often at least at my school we get told on the Monday that the Friday is one of these daft days. I then have to find time digging out a suitable costume or going to the supermarket or looking on amazon to buy one and then there is a contribution on top (I don't begrudge the contribution as that goes in to school fund). Not to mention parents who really can't afford it will either keep their kid off or send them in uniform.

They did the best they could and as pp have suggested footballers do use maths in their job, they might not be actively thinking about it but they do.

WandaWonder · 03/02/2023 10:43

I don't know much about football but the non fun players would have to know physics

MasterBeth · 03/02/2023 10:43

Google "Opta stats". Football is awash with maths, powered by the betting industry.

And anyway, how does dressing up as a chef give you any more insight into the world of maths than dressing up as a footballer?

Fruitfriend · 03/02/2023 10:44

In that case my idiot dog is a maths savant, and my brother the maths lecturer should be playing for at least Accrington Stanley.

Needmorelego · 03/02/2023 10:44

@Ronbo you just don't like football do you?
I personally have little interest in watching a match but I have witnessed the excitement for some children when it comes to things like the World Cup (fantastic opportunity for geography lessons there).
Some kids love football. They have footy kits at home - they don't have an outfit for an engineer or whatever.
My nephew in his primary school days pretty much had 2 types of clothes - school uniform and football kits. He didn't wear much else.

edwinbear · 03/02/2023 10:45

I imagine, the mini footballers have working parents who are sick to death of having to spend time, money and energy organising themed school dress down downs. Good for you if have hours of time and plenty of spare cash to pander to school demands. I'll carry on sticking DC in anything available I have at home that is vaguely related.