American football comes to Britain

How do you play American football? People say it’s like soccer and rugby together. The teams play with an egg – shaped ball. They have to move the ball up the field and put it over the other team’s “touchline”. You can run with the ball or throw it to other players.

Sometimes you can kick it. There are forty – five players in each team, but only eleven on the field at the same time. Some are good at running with the ball, some are good at passing, some are good at kicking, and some are good at stopping the other team. These different players move on and off the field many times in a game, because sometimes the team needs good kickers and sometimes it needs good runners.

American football started in Britain after a TV channel started to show football matches from the United States. People liked it and wanted to play it. Quite a lot of Americans live and work in Britain, and they helped the first British teams.

Now there are about 170 serious teams in Britain. The best teams at the moment are the Manchester Spartans and the Birmingham Bulls, and two London teams, the Ravens and the Olympians.

Comprehension Check

Task 1.Complete the sentences.

1. People say it’s like…

2. The teams play with…

3. You can run with…

4. Some are good at running with…

5. There are forty – five…

6. These different players move…

7. American football started…

8. Quite a lot of Americans live…

9. Now there are about…

10. The best teams at the moment are…

Task 2. Answer the questions.

1. How do you play American football?

2. What kind of ball do the teams play?

3. How many players are there in each team?

4. How many players are there on the field at the same time?

5. When did American football start in Britain?

6. Who helped the first British teams?

7. How many serious teams are there in Britain?

8. What are the best teams at the moment in Britain?

Text 4

Read the text.

Physical culture and sport

You have heard many times that sport holds an important place in our life. Sports help people to keep in good health.

Physical culture and sport are very popular in Ukraine. Any boy or girl who shows good results at sports clubs at in athletics competitions for schoolchildren is given every help to become a champion.

There are many kinds of sports, such as running, jumping, tennis, basket – ball, volley – ball, football, boxing, swimming, figure – skating, skiing, wrestling, weight – lifting and others. Athletics is the most popular kind of sport. It is called the “queen of all sports”. Football is very popular in our country too. Most matches take place at large stadiums. Every four years great competitions in sports are organized. They are called the Olympic Games. Only the best sportsmen are chosen for them. They must show not only their physical strength and ability but also courage and wish to win.

From time to time competitions are held in sports and games at our school, but some boys and girls don’t want to take an active part in them. They don’t think that sport is very important.

An English proverb says, “In sports and journeys men are known”.

Comprehension Check

Task 1. Put the sentences in the correct order (1- 10)

1. Those boys and girls are wrong.

2. Football is very popular in our country too.

3. Physical culture and sport are very popular in Ukraine.

4. Great competitions in sports are called the Olympic Games.

5. Sports help people to keep in good health.

6. An English proverb says, “In sports and journeys men are known”.

7. Sportsmen who show good results in athletic competitions can become champions.

8. Most matches take place at large stadiums.

9. It is called “the queen of all sports”.

10. Sport is very popular in our country.

Task 2.

Do you agree with this English proverb “In sports and journeys men are known”? Why?

Text 5

Read the text.