Gamers who play the Madden football games are becoming smarter football players.
That's the premise of a recent Wired story. Former Kansas City Chief and current Bishop Miege football coach Tim Grunhard is quoted calling the games "a learning tool."
"Back when I was playing football, we didn't realize what a near or a far formation was, we didn't really understand what trips meant, we didn't understand what cover 2, cover 3, and cover zero meant," Grunhard says, charging through jargon that's comprehensible only to Madden players and football obsessives.Grunhard encourages his players to play the games to learn the strategy and tactics that they'll need on the field.
"It just seemed to help out," he says. "The kids understood where theGrunhard isn't the only one using the games as a learning too. Kansascounter play or power play was going to open up. Or the middle
linebacker lining up for a blitz -- where the gaps were going to open
up."
wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe credited the game with teaching him how to
read defenses. And coaches at the University of Missouri have plugged
in their playbook into the game to teach assignments to their players.
It can't be hurting. Grunhard coached Miege to a 4A State Championship victory last year.
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