So, the big game is right around the corner.  You know what I’m talking about – the big match up between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers that will be taking place on February 1.  If you are like any true red-blooded football fan, you will be parked in front of your TV all day watching the game.  And, in all likelihood, your girl will be there with you.  After all, women love to socialize, which means the Super Bowl might be the only game during the entire football season and post-season that you can actually get her to sit down and watch a game with you.  But, what can you do to get her to watch more flying pigskin with you when next season rolls around?

While there are certainly some guys who prefer to watch football with only their testosterone-filled man-friends, there are more who wish their lady-friend would sit down and watch the game with them week after week.  I mean, no one can argue that watching football is more fun and exciting when you have someone to watch it with you.  Not only that, if you can turn your woman into a football fan, you might actually be able to watch the game with her each week and have that time counted as “special together time.”  Can you just imagine what a wonderful world it would be if you could watch football and get brownie points at the same time?  If you are ready to transform your woman into a fan of the gridiron, try implementing these five tips.

Tip #1:  Talk to Her About It

You might be wondering why the first tip would be to talk to her.  After all, most of us aren’t big on sitting around and discussing our feelings.  But, trust me, if you tell your woman how much you love football and how much you would like to share that passion with her, she will be more open to giving it a try.  Don’t try to convince her that football is a great sport that she needs to check out.  Rather, tell her you want to spend more time with her and that it would mean a lot to her if she would spend quality bonding time with you by watching the game.  If you convince her that you just want to spend time with her and that you want to share something special with her, she won’t have any other choice but to give it a try.

Tip #2:  Take the Time to Explain

Before you start watching the game, take some time to explain some of the ins and outs of the sport to her.  Don’t overwhelm her by trying to explain every type of formation your team likes to run and the strategy behind each play.  Rather, run over a few of the basics.  The more she understands the game, the more she will appreciate what she is watching.  At the same time, if you explain every detail of the game beforehand, it will likely seem confusing to her and she won’t give it a real try.

Tip #3:  Let Her Talk and Ask Questions

As you watch the game, she will likely have a lot of questions about the game.  Try not to get annoyed by these questions.  Instead, think of it as a sign that you are making good progress.  After all, she wouldn’t be asking questions if she wasn’t interested (or at least trying to get interested).  If you tell her to be quiet or act annoyed by her questions, it will turn her off to the game and all hope of converting her into a fan will be lost.  So, even if Peyton Manning is in the process of completing a 64 yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne, take your eyes off the game and answer her question.  Just remember, if you pull this off, she just might be jumping, screaming and chest-bumping with you the next time a play like that is being made.

If you are really concerned about  missing out on the big plays because you will be too busy answering questions, you might want to consider introducing her to the game by watching a match-up between two teams you don’t care so much about.  That way, it won’t be quite so painful for you to turn your attention away from the action on the screen when it comes time to answer her questions.

Tip #4:  Make it a Special Moment

You will greatly increase your chances of transforming her into a football fan if you find a way to make game day special for her.  A little cuddling on the couch while you watch the game can go a long way and will help make her look forward to the game next week.  If she is the one who usually gets stuck doing the cooking, order out on game day or take over the cooking duties that day so she can relax and enjoy the game with you.

Tip #5:  Buy Her Some Goodies

Let’s face it, women love clothes and they love accessories.  So, take her out and purchase something cute for her that is related to your team.  You might be surprised by the growing number of NFL items that are geared specifically toward women.  A cute women’s jersey will likely put a smile on her face and might help build her team spirit.  Besides, even if she never really gets into watching the game, you will at least have the pleasure of seeing her wear your favorite team’s jersey now and again.

While there is no guarantee you will ever get your woman to sit down and watch every game with you, following these tips will greatly increase your chances.  At the very least, she will appreciate your efforts to include you in your special man-time and she just might gain a better understanding of why she should leave you alone when the game is on.