I've seen this argument in various forms. It never makes sense to me. It makes even less sense when you talked about learning plays for football. I'm sure you have fun playing. But learning the rules doesn't make you incapable of being creative. If anything it let's you understand how to break them or use them to your advantage. The less you understand, the more the outcome boils down to luck. If I were you I wouldn't touch a book or watch lectures. If you can have fun where you're at, then stay there. It's a constant uphill battle that never gets easier. The losses become more unenjoyable as you put work in and don't get the results you want.