It has become a weekly tradition for those who follow the beautiful game to wake up at ungodly hours on weekends, trudge themselves to their local watering hole, and watch two (sometimes four, sometimes six) hours of soccer.  It does not matter if you live in a big city like Washington D.C. or a town like Frederick, Md the soccer bar culture has taken over America. It does not matter if it is the English Premier League, La Liga (the Spanish first division,) the Bundesliga (German First Division,) U.S. Men’s National Team matches, or America’s own Major League Soccer. Due to the fierce loyalty of the fans of the game, soccer now has a place at every taphouse, brewpub, microbrewery, and Green Turtle in the United States.

Given the dedication of soccer fans in this country, and the negative treatment that the game has received from mainstream sports fans and the media, it can sometimes be an intimidating place for new fans. However, once you get to know some of the tricks of the match and the bar environment, a soccer game at your local tavern at 7am can a very informative and entertaining experience. With the English Premier League season about to get underway this weekend with the Community Shield match between Manchester United and Wigan, here are a few tips on how to make your soccer bar experience a great experience!

#1: Come in With an Open Mind.

First off, it is a weekend and you are at a bar watching sports. That is a pretty damn good way to start your day.

If this is your first soccer match that you are watching, or maybe you have seen a match or two before but are still learning about the game then great! Most of the people you are watching the game with are still learning about international soccer as well. This is not Major League Baseball. Leagues like the English Premier League have really only been showed to major audiences for about 10 years now so there are very few wise sages who understand every in and out of the game. “The greatest thing about soccer fans in the United States is that for the most part everyone is willing to help each other out,” says founder of the Free Beer Movement Dan Wiersema. The Free Beer Movement is a grassroots organization that aims to connect people who are interested in learning more about soccer through America’s love for beer.  “The thing I love about the Free Beer Movement is that you get to meet two great communities who are open and willing to share their respective loves: soccer and beer.”

Everyone from the bartender to the young kid with a fresh Van Persie, to the old Englishman in the corner with the faded Sir Bobby Charlton jersey are still learning about this game. The best thing about a soccer bar is that it is a community to share your experiences, or lack thereof, about soccer and get to know other people. That being said, most of the people there will probably have a good understanding of the game so feel free to ask questions about different players or teams. Unless you can tell that one of your patrons had a long night before or their team is getting beaten by 6 goals (we call them Newcastle fans) most people are friendly and will answer your questions. You may even get the occasional person who will use ketchup bottles and salt and pepper shakers to explain the offsides rule. Take lots of notes about this as you crack open the striker to put him on your eggs.

#2: Wear Some Colors!

So much of waking up to watch soccer is representing the beautiful game in all of its glory. It is part pageantry, part coffee and beer, and part greasy breakfeast. So if you have a soccer jersey, or anything that is soccer-related, wear it! I normally sport my classic Newcastle jersey with the Northern Rock logo. I will also occasionally wear a Serbia jersey that my good friend Djerdj gave me to get girls. Even if all you have is a Galatasaray scarf that your aunt bought you when she was abroad five years ago that is fine. It shows that you are willing to immerse yourself in the culture.

True story: during the 2010 World Cup Washington D.C. was pretty much in soccer euphoria. Embassies were closed for games, workers all throughout the city were taking “business meetings” for two hour periods between 12 and 2, and bars were open at 7 and 9am for pre-gaming. Being young and working dead-end jobs, my friend Andy and I decided to take a long lunch break and catch some of the matches at Ghana Cafe. Knowing of rule #2, I told my friend Andy he needed to bring a soccer jersey. So what did the man bring to a Ghana- Serbia match? A Togo jersey! Togo a team that has a very bitter rivalry with Ghana for years. Had I known my friend would be wearing a Togo jersey, I would have lent him one of mine.

While waiting in line for a beer, there was another gentleman who was kind of pushing his way through to get a beer. This guy was dressed to the nines wearing a Brooks Brothers jacket, snake skin shoes, and aviator glasses. D.C. is full of these high-class citizens. As the bartender came to us he decided to take my friends and I order before the other fellow. Incredulous, the gentleman barked at the bartender, “How could you let this piece of shit order a beer before me. I am from Ghana!” The bartender, looking like he needed a smoke and a drink himself, very calmly said to the man “While he [Andy] may be wearing the jersey of the enemy, at least he is dressed for the occasion.” Andy felt like he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize afterwards.

Most of the time if someone notices you are wearing one of their team’s rivals shirts, they will only throw a few verbal shots at you. Since soccer in this country grew up as an us (being soccer fans) versus them (people that hate the game) there is not the animosity between teams as you see abroad. Even among arguably the fiercest soccer rivalry in this country, Mexico versus the United States, there is mutual respect for one another at the bar. “I live in Texas and of course we are right on the border with Mexico. But I am always the first person to go over to the Mexican fans and say hello and welcome them. I am hoping that maybe fans in this country can avoid all of the negative problems that fans in Europe and other parts of the world face and through our mutual admiration of the game,” said Wiersema.

If you do run across the odd salty turd, explain to them that you just started watching soccer and that you wearing the jersey for *insert reason*. Do not take whatever they say to heart and just keep enjoying the match.

#3 Have a Beer (Or at Least a Coffee)

If you are at a bar at 9 or 10am in the morning, crack open a cold one and join in on the conversation. So much of soccer is tied to beer or at least an appreciation of it. While no one is expecting you to drink a case of beer or to take shots, there is nothing better than having a nice cold Guinness and watching some soccer on the big screen. Most places also have Bloody Marys and Mimosas too, but if you go to a place called O’Finnigans do not expect high-end vodka or champagne.

However, if beer or alcohol is not your thing a cup of coffee is always a good substitute. Most of the bars that cater to the soccer crowd always have at least two pots of coffee boiling so they will be ready for a crowd that is getting up early on a weekend.  It is generally nothing fancy (i.e. not Lattes or Frappacinos) but it does the trick.

Oh, and make sure to tip your bartender or waitress well. They are up early in the morning serving you drinks and food and deserve to be tipped well.

#4 Yell, Hoot, and Holler at the TV to Your Heart’s Content

One of the thing that bothers me about so many bars is the piped in music that they play during American football games. I love Lady Gaga as much as the next person, but when there is a game on I want to hear the array emotions from my fellow bar denizens not about her poker face. Luckily most soccer bars have kicked the Jam Jams garbage to the curb in favor of fans yelling, “Ooh!” “Shoot!” “What the f—k is he doing?” or my personal favorite “Come on Ref!” There is nothing like a half-sober fan trying to break the fourth wall to communicate with a referee who is hundreds of thousands of miles away.

Even though you may hear some fans dropping the occasional f bomb, I would say as a newcomer be careful about your language. While it is true that you are at a bar, many soccer fans bring their kids to the bar because it less about the drinking and more about the game. If it is just you and a bunch of twentysomethings, curse all you like. However, if there are kids around mind your manners.

If you are lucky you may even be at a bar where some of the fans will sing the team’s chants. When I went to my first Newcastle Supporters Bar, Slainte’s Irish Pub in Baltimore, the Mobtown Magpies (the local Supporters Group) made me sing the Blaydon Races which is one of Newcastle’s great songs.  Most times though the other fans will sing with you.  For example, Liverpool fans during halftime may pull out “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the Elvis classic. No one is looking for a pitch perfect voice just someone to sing a tune with.

#5 Bring a Friend!

If you are not exactly a social gadfly or have difficulty making on a friends, it is always good to bring a friend especially if they do have some knowledge about the game. While talking to Mr. Wiersema, he used a term that I thought was very appropriate for these types of people. Lifeguards. “They are people that can help you understand the game when you might be over your head and can act as good ambassadors for the game,” he said to me.  Having watched many matches by myself and many matches with friends or family, I can definitely say that games are much more fun when you are with someone else. And if you have a friend who is already immersed in the soccer bar culture then even better!

My two personal favorite soccer bar patrons are my brother T.C. and his two year old son Jack. Every Saturday or Sunday we would have what is called “Man Day” where the three of us would go to the German Biergarten Hause on H Street Northeast in Washington D.C. While my nephew would be demolishing French Toast, singing “Ole!” and dancing to German Electronic Polka music with his dinosaurs, my brother and I would have a beer and a coffee and enjoy the English Premier League and the Bundesliga. While the game is going on we would frequently talk to people in their Washington Redskins jersey, who are there to pre-game for their noon match. What was really cool would be to see these same people come a little bit earlier every week so they could catch more of the match and talk to the other bar patrons. Oh and to boo the bejeezus out of John Terry. It is part enjoying the game, and part enjoying each other’s company but it is a great time all around.

Having been to many bars for many different types of sports, I can say there are very few games that can be as exciting in a packed or even semi-packed house as a soccer match. For ninety minutes, everyone’s attention is fixed on one thing. There are very few stoppages and emotions are always running high. People are singing, swearing both to their respective god and to inanimate objects, and at the end everyone has a laugh and says their goodbyes for the day. The community that has been built through watching games at crazy hours is a great  group that hopefully will continue to grow through following these tips when a newcomer comes at the pub.

If you have any other rules, or experiences that you would like to add feel free to write them below! Enjoy the matches and Go Toon Army!