Sports is a major aspect of society today all over the world. Wherever you go, sports will be a topic of interest. One sport in particular at the top of that list in America is football. Football is a sport that has the capability of bringing people together in several ways to cheer for a common goal. There is no wonder why young people all across the globe look at these star athletes on television and want to be just like them when they grow up. Athletes are icons in American society. The common person does not understand the work and dedication it takes to even be successful at this sport at the high school level, let alone college or the NFL. For the people who love the game of football and are not able to continue playing past high school, there are alternative ways to still be involved within the sport. Throughout this visual essay by Jake Viverette, several visual elements are incorporated to detail the power of the sport of football, and show the positive influences that the game can have on a person, as well as a society as a whole. 

Putting on a jersey and pads for the first time as a young boy is life changing. As you can see from the first image, the boy has a huge smile on his face and is eager to begin playing.  The stance of the young boy is on one knee, a relaxing position that allows him to take quick rest for the photograph. The jersey is oversized without pads but is also comfortable.  He is ready to throw on his helmet and shoulder pads and begin competing against his peers. He is holding the football in the correct form, high and tight, so he is learning basics from the start.  This is a posed photograph that is in a safe environment, an environment different than what he is about to know on the football field for the first time. What the young football player does not understand yet is the work he is going to have to put in to be able to be successful. The feeling of being on a team for the first time and having people count on you can be overwhelming at such a young age, but it is a valuable lesson that a young boy needs to learn. The youth football days are a blast, meeting new friends that share the same love of the game that you do, and having fun together on the field for the first time is something one will never forget. As the youth days fade, and high school comes around, the boy finds out if he really loves the game, or if he just was playing for the fun of it. 

The next image focuses on action shot of a senior player who is making a big time interception. His feet are off the ground, so he had to exert extra energy to make the play. The work he put in in the weight room during the summer enhanced his vertical jump which made the interception possible. The outstretched arms of the player behind him signify the fact that the other player believed he had a chance on the ball, but he was not able to make the play due to the interceptor. The teammate of the interceptor has facial expression says that speaks volumes, his mouth wide open in awe of the catch his teammate his making. The image is taken as a longshot, and it captures the anticipation the players are feeling as the ball slowly reaches the players hands. This type of play cannot be made over night, the ones who can power through the brutality which is summer, will come to realize that all that hard work one puts in goes toward something, something bigger than oneself.  Everything is ramped up during the junior and senior years, and some young men do not have what it takes. For those who do, they understand that the work they put in is going to take time to pay off. A game changing interception that is recognized by teammates, fans, and coaches is a moment of glory that a young man will hold onto for the rest of his life. Knowing it will not last long, one must come to realization that he will not be playing football forever. 

In this next image there is a coach talking to his football players on the sideline. In this image, the coach is the center of attention. He is the bigger picture in the image with a smaller focus on the two players. This is because coaches make players who they are, and without the influence and help of coaches players would not be able to produce on the field and in life. His hand is up as he is trying to instruct his players on a certain technique. The player on the far left seems be watching the game and not playing attention to his coach, which may be a contributing factor to why he is currently on the sideline and not in the game. The coach has a hand on one knee, as he is using all his energy to implore his players to follow directions.  Football unlike many other sports, is dependent on the eleven men on the field being on the same page at all times. A star basketball player can take over a game by himself, a star pitcher can shutout an entire baseball team, but in football every player needs to do their own particular job for the team as a whole to be successful. The game of football is a microcosm of the game of life, there are so many lessons learned from the game of football that can be applied to everyday life.  These lessons are instilled in players from coaches. Coaches teach players to persevere and to never give up on oneself or the men standing next to you. Players learn to set goals, have discipline, and work as a team in order to achieve ultimate heights.  Coaches help player’s process information and give them the right tools in order to be successful. The game of football can be used to help achieve higher aspirations later in life and that is what coaches preach to their players. 

Football is more than just a game, communities and families live off of football. This next image shows how relationships and communities can come together through the sport. In this image, older men and women all have bright smiles on their faces and are clearly enjoying themselves. The most significant people in this image is the mayor of Atlanta who is holding a football, as well as the Georgia Tech President. These people have come to celebrate a past victory for their local Georgia Tech team and the apparent expansion of  EQUIFAX, which is consumer credit reporting agency that is based in Atlanta. In the center of the image, there is a woman who is holding a pair of scissors to cut the tape which symbolizes the beginning of the expansion of the company.  The sport of football has coincided with an important agency, to make an advancement which simply shows the power of the sport.   All of these people are dressed nicely, which proposes their wealth and power in society.  Football creates a positive environment for people and allows people to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show that the players put on.  The entertainment is unbelievable, and the benefit the sport brings to society is truly unmatchable.

For those who love the game, but are not given the ability to play the game at the professional level, there are many job opportunities that the sport still has to offer without putting the pads on. The final image depicts a male that is going through a serious phone conversation. He is unable to continue to play the sport he loves, but he is able to have a career where he can still use the same energy and passion he once used on the field. His tie is unbuttoned, and his hair is messed up as his adrenaline must be going through the roof with a daily job that involves so much action dealing with the management of others. His face is slightly sweaty, so the viewer can assume he is constantly on edge with several clients. The facial expression presents a sense of engagement where he is locked into the conversation.   Every day is different for him, he rarely has a dull moment in his profession. If you are passionate about something, chase that passion and make it reality. Becoming a sports agent and helping professional athletes succeed would be a dream job, and that hopefully is where one can go if they take the lessons the game has taught them and apply them to their everyday life. 

Football has the capability to change the dynamics of a person’s life, as well as alter a community in a positive direction. This picture essay is meant to shed light onto the powers of the game, and introduce to an audience the various ways that it can be made possible. The images chosen have various visual elements that can speak to an audience without the use of words, and can also speak to each viewer differently and on a personal level. After viewing this essay, the goal is for the viewer to have a new interpretation on the sport, and to view the game as more than just a sport played on a field. 
