For the past 30 years, football has been the most popular sport in America. The National Football League (NFL) is a $9 billion enterprise, not counting costs associated with gambling, legal matters, and other outlets, such as fantasy football. It is made up of 32 teams from across the nation, each with 53 players. The Superbowl is the most watched television event in the United States. Even though it is such a popular sport, many people don’t know the rules. So instead of listening to that crazy fan who doesn’t understand that football is on the same level as rocket science for some of us, take look down below for some insight before the next big game.
A football field is 100 yards long, not including both end zones. There are markings on the field for every yard. The end zones are an extra 10 yards each.
So, obviously, there are two teams that play each other. Each team as eleven players on the field, facing each other. One is the defense and one is the offense. The offense if trying to score and the defense is trying to make the opposite offense give up possession of the ball. If they succeed the team that was on the offense sends out their defense, and the team that was on the defense will send out their offense.
The goal of the game is for the offense to get the ball down the field into the opposing teams end zone for a touchdown.
The game is four quarters long, each quarter is 15 minutes. There are three breaks in between: after the first quarter is a two minute break, after the second quarter a twelve minute break, and after the third quarter another two minute break. The two minute breaks allow the teams to switch end zones.
The offensive team has 40 seconds from the end of the play to “snap” the football; meaning the center gives the ball to the quarterback and the play starts.
The clock stops when a player goes out of bounds, when a penalty is called, or at the end of incomplete passing plays. It starts again at the snap of the ball..
If the game ends in a tie, there is another 15 minute period. If there is a touchdown or safety on the first drive of the quarter the game is over. If the offense scores a field goal the other team has a chance to score. If they score a touchdown the game is over, if they score a field goal then it becomes sudden victory. If the quarter ends, the game ends in a tie.
There are three different groups of players: the offense (the team thats has the ball and is trying to score), the defense (the team that is trying to get the opposite offense to give up possession of the ball), and special teams (these players only come out in kicking situations, like kickoffs, punts, and field goals).
The game starts with a kickoff, where the ball is placed on the 35 yard line and a placekicker kicks the ball to the offense. The “kick return man” on the offensive team will try to catch the ball from the end zone and advance as far up the field as he can until stopped by the defense. Wherever they are stopped is where the four plays begin. If the returner decides to, he can catch the ball in the end zone and kneel to signify a touchback (which is a sign to stop the play— the two teams then meet on the 20 yard line to begin the four plays.
To start the play, the quarterback will call out a code that the whole team knows means a certain play. The center (who stands in front of the quarterback) then snaps the ball between his legs back to the quarterback, who can then run, or pass the ball.
The offense can advance the ball in two different ways. One is a run, which is when the running back or quarterback runs the ball as far as he can down the field until either being stopped by a defensive player in tackle or scoring a touchdown. The other way is to throw the ball. Anyone can throw it, but it typically is the quarterback. To throw it forwards, you have be behind the line of scrimmage; lateral or or backwards passes can happen anywhere on the field. Whomever is throwing it has to stay behind the line of scrimmage (which is the yard line on which the play is being made). The play is complete if a player on the offensive team catches it, usually wide receiver of tight end. If the ball touches the ground before being caught, it is an incomplete pass.
The defense can stop the offense from advancing down the field by taking the ball carrier down to the ground. To count as bring brought to the ground, either one or both of the players knees have to touch the ground. This means the play is over. If a player runs out of bounds that also ends the play.
There are four ways to scores points in football: a touchdown (which is when the offensive team gets the ball into the opposing teams end zone and is six points), an extra point/two-point conversion (after the touchdown the offensive team can either kick the ball through the goal post to score one point, or throwing the ball into the end zone), a field goal (which is an option if the offensive team cannot score a touchdown but needs extra points. This can be put in motion at any time in the game as a new play. The placekicker has to kick the ball through the goal post uprights and over the crossbar and is worth three points), and a safety (which is when a person on the offensive team that is carrying the ball gets tackled behind his own goal line, and is worth two points).
A turnover is when the offense accidentally turns the ball over to the other team by either fumbling the ball (which is when the ball carrier drops the ball or the ball falls on the ground) or from an interception (which is when a player on the defense catches a ball thrown by someone on the offense).
Although painted in the media as a dumb jock, quarterbacks are actually the most essential player in the game. They are the leaders of the team and the playmakers, and they outline each play for the team. The other players on the field during offensive plays are the center (who stands in front of the quarterback and passes the ball back to him), two guards and two tackles try to keep the defense away from the ball), two wide receivers (whom catch the ball from the quarterback), a running back (who runs the ball down the field), and a tight end (who either blocks the defense or catches passes).
The defense is made up of eleven men with one goal: keeping the offensive team from advancing down the field. There are linebackers (that defend against the pass and push forward to stop the run or tackle the quarterback), the defensive line (ends and tackles) (who go head to head with the offensive line), and cornerbacks and safeties (who try to intercept the pass between the quarterback and the wide receiver).
My ultimate advice: if you want to honestly learn about football, sit down and watch a game. Listen to the commentators and referees. And when worse comes to worse, talk about how much the Jets suck. Happy Football season!