All you need to know about football (American)
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American Football is one of the world's most popular competitive sports. It is mostly popular in the United States where football is the number one spectator sport. Each year the NFL championship, the Super Bowl, is the most watched events= on TV. College football is also very popular with numerous 100,000 plus stadiums selling out every week.
Football is often called a sport of violence where the football is advanced down a field by runners or by passing until the opposing team tackles or brings the player with the ball to the ground. Points in football are scored by advancing the football beyond the goal line (called a touch down) or kicking the ball through a field goal. The rules of the sport are quite complex and differ depending on the levels of play.
Football-players
Football is a true team sport. Most players specialize in a particular position and skill. With eleven players and defense and offense, many substitutions, as well as special teams, most teams will play at least 30 or 40 players on a regular basis. This makes teamwork and overall team talent more important than the abilities of any single player.
History of American Football
Football is an American sport that was formed in the late 1800's at college campuses. The sport has it's roots in the English game of Rugby. The first college game was played between Rutgers and Princeton.
This early form of football was extremely violent with many players actually dying every year. New rules were established over time and, although football is still a physical sport with many injuries, it is much safer today.
The NFL was formed in 1921 and became the major professional league by the 50's. It has continued to grow in popularity becoming the most watched professional league of any sport in the US.
Teams - Both sides have a squad consisting of 52 players but only 11 can be on the field at any one time for each team. However, there is no limit to substitutions throughout the game. Squads are split up into three units; offence, defence and special teams. A team send their offence onto the field when they have possession, while their rivals send on the defence. Special teams are the units who are on the field for both sides on any kicking play.
Scoring points
Football scoring can seem complex at first, but really there are only five ways to score points in football:
Field Goal (three points) – Very similar to a penalty kick in rugby. This is normally done on fourth down and if a team are close enough to score.
Touchdown (TD) (six points) – Like a try in rugby, a touchdown is scored when the team get into their opponent's end zone.
Conversion (Extra Point or Two-Point Conversion) (one/two points) – After scoring a touchdown teams can attempt a field goal-type kick for one point or try to pass or run the ball into the end zone for two.
Safety (two points) – A safety occurs if an offensive player is tackled inside his own end zone.
Moving the ball
The ball can be moved down the field by either running, known as 'rushing', or by the quarterback throwing the ball to a team-mate, known as 'passing'. If a defensive player catches the ball instead it is known as an "interception" and his team will then take over from where he is tackled, although he can attempt to score a touchdown himself.
A 'fumble' occurs when an offensive player loses possession of the ball and it is recovered by a defensive player. Just like an interception, the defensive player can attempt to score a touchdown or his team will start their possession from where he is tackled.
Downs - Think about rugby league and how a team have six tackles before they lose possession of the ball. Well, this is pretty similar but in the NFL an offence have four tackles, called 'downs', to move the ball 10 yards. If successful they will then get another set of "downs". You will hear throughout the game the term 'first and 10'. This simply means first 'down' and 10 yards to go. If they, for example, only move the ball four yards that will make it 'second and six' i.e. six yards to go.
If a player is tackled behind the line of scrimmage, the position on the field from which the play has begun, yards are then added to the distance the team must travel i.e. if a player is tackled three yards behind the line on first and 10, the following play will be second and 13. If the quarterback is the player tackled behind the line it is called a 'sack'. Yards can also be added for penalties given against the offensive team.
Fourth down - The fourth "down" is the one players do not want to see. Like rugby league, the NFL is all about possession and control of the field. On fourth down a team will often attempt a field goal to score points, if they are close enough, or punt the ball as far down the field as they can to give the opponents a longer distance to cover to score. They can try to make the distance on fourth down, but if they fail the ball is turned over to the other team from where the play ends.
Timeouts - A timeout is called by either team to stop the clock. Each team have three timeouts per half. The clock is also stopped after an incomplete pass or if the ball carrier runs off the field of play.
Coaches challenge - If a coach believes an official has made an incorrect decision he can throw a red flag to challenge it. If his challenge is successful the original ruling is overturned, but if the challenge is unsuccessful the team lose one timeout.
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