OK, I don’t know about you, but I am not a huge sports fan. I danced (ballet and tap) and played volleyball. Organized sports, as a whole, tend to elude my normal orbit. Being in high school, in a town that LOVES it’s football, this can be a problem. So today? I have Football FAQs for all of you who are like me AND I have a cool football activity set in my shop now just for you!
American football is one of the most popular sports in the United States. If you’re new to the sport, it can be a bit confusing to understand all the rules and jargon. But don’t worry! This beginner’s guide will teach you everything you need to know about football so that you can be an informed fan come game day.
The Field
Football is played on a rectangular field that is 100 yards long and 53.3 yards wide. At each end of the field there is an end zone that extends 10 yards deep into the field. In the middle of each end zone there is a goal post that consists of two vertical posts connected by a horizontal bar.
The object of the game is to score points by carrying the ball into the opponent’s end zone or kicking the ball through the goal posts.Field Goal: A team scores three points if they kick the ball through the opponent’s goal posts.Safety: A team scores two points if they tackle the opposing team in their own end zone.touchdown: A team scores six points if they carry the ball into their opponent’s end zone.
The Players
Each team consists of 11 players who play on offense, defense, and special teams (kickers and punters).
Offense: The offensive team attempts to move the ball down the field and score points. The unit is made up of one quarterback, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and offensive linemen.
- Quarterback
- Running Back
- Wide Receiver
- Tight End
- Offensive Lineman
Defense: The defensive team attempts to stop the offensive team from scoring points. The unit is made up of defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs (cornerbacks and safeties).
- Defensive Lineman
- Linebacker
- Cornerback
- Safety
Special Teams: These players are responsible for kicking the ball to the other team on kickoffs and punts as well as attempting field goals and extra point kicks after touchdowns are scored.
The Game
A football game consists of four quarters that are each 15 minutes long. At halftime, there is a break that usually lasts around 20 minutes. Before each quarter starts, there is a coin toss to determine which team will have possession of the ball first. The game starts with a kickoff from one team to the other and then proceeds as follows:
Offense:
The offensive team tries to move the ball downfield and score points while the defense tries to stop them from doing so. The offense can either run with the ball or pass it forward towards their teammates using forward passes only; lateral or backwards passes are not allowed.
The offense has four chances (downs) to move the ball 10 yards forward before they have to give possession of the ball to the other team; this is called a first down . If they fail to gain 10 yards after four downs, they have to give up possession of the ball either by turning it over on downs or punting it away to prevent their opponents from getting good field position .
Defense:
The defensive team tries to prevent offenses from moving downfield and scoring points while trying create turnovers that will give them good field position .They can do this by tackling players who have possession of the ball or intercepting forward passes . They can also force turnovers on downs if they stop an offense from gaining 10 yards after 4 downs .
Scoring Points :
Touchdowns are worth 6 points while extra point attempts (kicks from between 5-10 yards away from goal post) are worth 1 point ; 2 point conversions (attempts from 2 yards away ) are also worth 2 points.
Field goals (kicks from between 20-40 yards away) are worth 3 points . Safeties (tackles in opponent’s own endzone) are worth 2 points.
Conclusion: Being knowledgeable about football can make watching game day broadcasts much more enjoyable – now you’ll actually know what’s going on! With this guide in hand, you’ll be able impress your friends with your newfound football IQ come game day!
Where did the name football originate?
A form of football called harpaston was first played by the ancient Greeks. In the United States it was played as early as 1609 in Virginia, though in a simpler form. For the ball, they used the inflated bladder of a slaughtered pig.
Most “football” today is played in Europe and South America, and is the sport that North Americans call soccer. Football got its name because in soccer the hands cannot be used to move the ball. Later, rugby came into popularity, wherein the hands are allowed to be used.
American football has been widely influenced by rugby, and is known throughout the world today as (guess what) “American football.”
Where did they get the shape of the football?
The shape of the football comes from the shape of the ball in the game of rugby. Football has an elongated ball with pointed ends. The ball is perfectly designed for the player to hold it easily and have a nice aerodynamic motion when it is perfectly thrown. It also has an unpredictable bounce when it hits the ground.
The ball is eleven inches long and about nine inches wide. All of the manufacturers put some laces on one side so the players can grip and hold it easily. This is the reason why rugby and football have almost the same shape of ball, in contrast to soccer, which has a round ball that is manipulated mainly by the feet.
Final Thoughts
Being knowledgeable about football can make watching game day broadcasts much more enjoyable – now you’ll actually know what’s going on! With this guide in hand, you’ll be able impress your friends with your newfound football IQ come game day!
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