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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:
DarkForces · 03/02/2023 12:36

I know enough about maths to know I'm not subtracting any money from my account for another fecking dress up day when I already own something suitable

FromDespairToHere · 03/02/2023 12:37

All the boys used to dress as The Stig for book day when DD was at school because "he's in the Top Gear annual" 😒

Businessflake · 03/02/2023 12:37

Ronbo · 03/02/2023 12:34

They just wrote "ENGINEER" on the back of a track suit. Probably washable ink.

Of course, for the parents of boys such extreme preparation would be unthinkable. Especially when they've got a football kit with a number on it just sitting there.

Show quote history

Are you really suggesting the parents of girls are somehow superior because they can be arsed to graffiti some clothing?

TheKeatingFive · 03/02/2023 12:38

They just wrote "ENGINEER" on the back of a track suit. Probably washable ink.

Of course, for the parents of boys such extreme preparation would be unthinkable.

I'm not sure why you think the above is so superior. All it demonstrates to me is the limits of dressing up as a way into the topic.

However football offers many opportunities to talk about the value of maths, even in careers you wouldn't expect. So why not take these opportunities instead of whinging?

DarkForces · 03/02/2023 12:40

TeenDivided · 03/02/2023 11:38

I think the OP has a point.

If the school is going to do dress up days, then it needs to consider what it thinks the point is and the response it gets.

If the boys 'en masse' just turn up in football kit, then they should consider why this is and adjust accordingly. The girls engage and have a variety of costumes, so the boys could too, it can't be financial if it is split like this.

So can the boys just not be bothered, or is it uncool, or are they all so one track minded that football is the only thing that springs to mind. Why are parents not encouraging boys to extend themselves?

I don't think 'maths' as such comes into the kicking, even though trajectories are bounded by physics. But I do think probability for which way a penalty taker should go etc does.

(Just like WBD is meant to be about books and reading, not your favourite Disney Character which has been back made into a low quality book).

This is so sexist. My daughter wore a football shirt as she plays football in a competitive team

TeenDivided · 03/02/2023 12:42

DarkForces · 03/02/2023 12:40

This is so sexist. My daughter wore a football shirt as she plays football in a competitive team

Show quote history

I was responding to the OP, who reported girls dressing up, boys coming in football kit. She didn't report kids keen on football....

GoodChat · 03/02/2023 12:43

They just wrote "ENGINEER" on the back of a track suit. Probably washable ink.

So they didn't dress up as engineers then?

bellswithwhistles · 03/02/2023 12:44

Well, I'll make a mental note of that as I regularly do football based maths lessons with my reluctant male learners!

DarkForces · 03/02/2023 12:45

Football isn't just for boys. Most of dd's friends came in their team kit. It's number day. They wore numbers.

StephanieSuperpowers · 03/02/2023 12:46

I think the whole "how does an engineer dress anyway" etc are missing the point a little. Someone sat down with the girls and said, "we use maths for all kinds of jobs - engineers use maths, astronauts use maths, chefs use maths - all kinds of interesting jobs need maths. Which would you like to dress up as? Which do you find interesting?" I suppose it's a question of engagement with sons and daughters and it may suggest an attitude that could contribute to girls performance in school apparently being ahead.

Original poster
Ronbo · 03/02/2023 12:46

fUNNYfACE36 · 03/02/2023 12:24

Just looked on Researchgate at the wealth of articles on the biomechanics of football.
You are showing your ignorance, OP!

I would be willing to bet that 99.9% of professional footballers have never read a single Researchgate article on the biomechanics of football

OP posts:
GoodChat · 03/02/2023 12:47

@Ronbo footballers need to have an in depth knowledge of nutrition, exercise, rest, biology - there's a lot of maths involved in all of that.

SchoolNightWine · 03/02/2023 12:48

Is it footballers or boys you hate in particular? Or maybe both, and boy's parents too.
It sounds like you might the the teacher, and if so please leave the profession, as no child needs your negativity in their lives.

Rollingaroundinmud · 03/02/2023 12:48

Bet you would love Christiano Ronaldo's money. You don't sound like you are not into sports because you wouldn't knock it. Each to their own.

Rollingaroundinmud · 03/02/2023 12:51

Have you heard of football college?

TheKeatingFive · 03/02/2023 12:51

I would be willing to bet that 99.9% of professional footballers have never read a single Researchgate article on the biomechanics of football

Perhaps. But you seem to wilfully miss the point.

They certainly could do and it would improve their football. I expect many coaches do have an interest in it. So that could be a great starting point for discussion, along with all the other ways in that have been suggested on here.

DysmalRadius · 03/02/2023 12:52

Ronbo · 03/02/2023 12:20

Rugby and cricket would also make no sense. Darts would be fine but it's not a big sport round here.

It really isn't "arrogant and condescending" to believe that Christiano Ronaldo doesn't spend a lot of his time solving geometry problems.

Trying to somehow fit footballer into the category of "someone who uses maths in their jobs" is just lazy. It's not like it's really difficult to think of a job that really does actually use maths.

Show quote history

voi.id/en/sports/77091

financesonline.com/cristiano-ronaldo-net-worth-how-he-spends-his-money/

pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/162893-62#overview

Ronaldo is a pretty shrewd investor by all accounts.

I'm no football fan but I did some research for work and was impressed by how many footballers invest in social projects, provide local services in their home towns, and genuinely use their wealth to great effect. I imagine many of them are using their maths /business economics skills more than most. Perhaps it's your narrow definition of what constitutes maths that makes this so inexplicable for you.

andyindurham · 03/02/2023 12:54

This thread has inspired me. If DD ever has to dress up for a career that uses maths, she's going butt naked, wrapped in a bath towel and shouting 'Eureka'. Archimedes FTW! Hope the dress-up day is in June, rather than February.

Original poster
Ronbo · 03/02/2023 12:55

I pretty sure Christiano Ronaldo's accountant does all his money related maths problems for him

OP posts:
Toomanywaterwipes · 03/02/2023 12:56

Dress-up days are such a pain! My kids always hated them. Trying to persuade and cajole them into wearing something vaguely suitable was always so difficult! Not all children like them, that's for sure, and they're just another hassle for busy parents. We were invariably told about them just a day or so before too - never had the luxury of a weeked to prepare an outfit or anything civilised like that 🙄

BashfulClam · 03/02/2023 12:56

Because it’s easy, letter comes in ‘aw ffs another dress up day…well he’s got a football kit so that’s done!’

MajorCarolDanvers · 03/02/2023 12:58

I was going to reply to@Ronbo until I read

Also football fans need maths to get drunk in the street and fall over because they have to "know" the gravitational force smacking thier faces into the pavement

and realised that you are just snob who can't spell and not worthy of it.

GreenWheat · 03/02/2023 12:59

I think you could do with broadening your horizons on modern football OP, instead of relying on hackneyed old tripe that supports your obvious cognitive bias. Professional footballers have to choose between education and career at an early age, therefore very few have formal academic qualifications beyond age 16/17. This doesn't make them stupid, and neither does not speaking RP English. Intelligence comes in many forms.

TheKeatingFive · 03/02/2023 13:00

I pretty sure Christiano Ronaldo's accountant does all his money related maths problems for him

He would be very wise to have oversight of it and an understanding of what's going on. And that's true of all footballers.

thedancingbear · 03/02/2023 13:00

Ronbo · 03/02/2023 12:46

I would be willing to bet that 99.9% of professional footballers have never read a single Researchgate article on the biomechanics of football

Show quote history

Nah. I've been involved in football all my life, playing, coaching, and running a club. A number of my friends played professionally at some point.

There are exceptions, but the ones who manage to carve out a lasting career often aren't the most talented. They are often the ones with some sort of intellect along with the technical ability, athleticism etc. They don't need a degree in physics but they need to be able to memorise and follow complex instructions, adapt to situations around them, to have the people skills to build relationships with team-mates, to learn how to manage pressure and adversity etc. etc.

I'd also add that the ones I knew that 'made it' generally had good (not spectacular) exam results, and have had proper professional careers after leaving the game. I vaguely know someone who chose a-levels and then Oxford, then played professionally after graduating.

To be honest, you're just coming across as a bit ignorant.