Ah, football. The ultimate team sport. When all 11 guys do their job, the team is rewarded. When that's not the case, it can be hard to find success. What's often greatly mistaken as a game of violence and dominance is actually a game of inches, a game of mistakes, and a game of champions. There's a reason 100 million viewers tune in to watch the Super Bowl every year. There's a reason we associate football as a part of Thanksgiving tradition. And my goodness if there isn't something so peaceful about tailgating on a beautiful fall day with family and close friends and fellow students and alumni before a huge college game. There's so many reasons to love football: the sea of colors when one walks in a stadium of 80,000 people, the atmosphere of all those fans unified together rooting for the home team and the goose bumps that come with that. But above all else it's a game that poetically imitates life. It's full of struggle, adversity, hard work, being a great teammate and in return being picked up sometimes by your great teammates, communication, knowing when to call an audible when your plans fall through, execution, really high highs, really low lows. And it unites people around the country every Saturday and Sunday. If you're a new fan of the sport, this article is for you! We'll break down everything from the field, to the positions, to the rules, to the scoring, and attempt to do so in a way that's simplistic and easy to follow!
The Field
The field itself is 120 yards. 100 yards from goal line to goal line, and then the end zones are 10 yards each. Typically every 10 yards is numbered on each side, with the 50 yard line being the midpoint (the home team's logo is usually found at midfield also). The goal posts are the yellow elevated things in the back of the end zone, a horizontal crossbar connecting two vertical posts, used only for kicking (more on that later). The white outline of the field is the sideline, which is considered out of bounds, i.e. no longer in the field of play. And of course the most important part of the game is the pigskin itself, the football.
The Clock
A football game consists of 4 quarters, each 15 minutes in length, with an extended halftime break between quarters 2 and 3. If the game is tied after 4 quarters, overtime is played, but NFL and college use different overtime rules so we will skip over this for now. Although game time itself is only 1 hour, playing a full game actually takes 3-3.5 hours. Many things can stop the clock, this includes running out of bounds, incomplete passes, calling a time out (each team gets 3 per half), scoring plays, turnovers, and in the NFL the "two minute warning" (clock stops 2 minutes before the 2nd and 4th quarters end). Factor in commercials and half time and that's how it reaches its full length.
The Players on the Field
There are 11 players on the field for each team at any and every given time. Each position is detailed below, with the number of these on the field at a time in parenthesis.
Offense
Quarterback (1)
The leader of the team and honest to God the most important position in all of sports. The Quarterback calls the plays in the huddle, and can then change the play at the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. He then receives the snap from the center, and can then throw it to a wide receiver, hand it off to a running back, or rush it himself. The quarterback needs an insanely high IQ and needs to be able to perform in extremely high pressure situations. He also takes a beating from the opposing defense. They are entrusted to make smart decisions with the football and get it in the hands of the right people.
Running Back (1)
Takes hand offs from the quarterback and runs the ball up the field.
Wide Receivers (2-4)
A player who uses his speed and quickness to run routes and evade defenders and catch balls thrown from the quarterback.
Offensive Linemen (5)
5 bigger guys whose job is to protect the quarterback from the defense and create holes for the running back on rushing plays. One of these, the center, lines up in the middle and begins each play by snapping the ball to the quarterback. A great offensive line makes everyone else's job easy, a poor one puts the entire offense under duress.
Tight End (1)
Sort of a hybrid between an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Sometimes they block, sometimes they catch passes.
Defense
Defensive Linemen (usually 4, sometimes 3)
The interior members are called Defensive Tackles, the outer members are called Defensive Ends. The Defensive Tackles' job is to take up space. They try to shoot gaps between the offensive line and stuff rushing plays for little to no gain. The Defensive Ends aim to apply pressure from the outside on the quarterback. If they tackle him in the backfield before he throws the ball, it is called a "sack".
Linebackers (usually 3, sometimes 4)
Versatile, athletic players in the middle of the field who often have dual roles of guarding the run and also the pass. They are traditionally the best tacklers on the team.
Cornerbacks (2-4)
They guard wide receivers and try to prevent them from catching passes from the quarterback. They have great speed and reaction instincts and must be physical to guard bigger bodied receivers.
Safeties (2)
Essentially the center fielders of the defense. They line up the deepest and serve as the last line of defense, especially against deep passes. They are athletic players who need to cover a large portion of the field in small amounts of time. Sometimes they move up to defend the run or pressure the quarterback as well.
Special Teams
Kicker (1)
Attempts to kick the ball between the goal posts on field goal and extra point attempts. Also kicks the ball back to the other team after scoring plays.
Punter (1)
A punt is a special type of kick used when a team is unable to gain a first down but wants to pin the other team deep in their own territory. A punt occurs when a player drops the ball towards their foot but then "punts" it into the air before it hits the ground.
Returner (1)
Attempts to rush back opposing teams punts and kick offs, with the interest of scoring or gaining significant yardage.
Long Snapper (1)
Snaps the ball to the punter or kicker.
Holder (1)
Receives the snap and plants the ball on the turf for the kicker to kick on field goal and extra point attempts.
Scoring Explained
The ultimate goal is for one team to enter the other team's end zone with the football. When this happens it is called a Touchdown and is worth 6 points.
After scoring a touchdown, the team has an option of kicking an extra point, which is a very makeable kick worth 1 point. Or going for a 2 point conversion, where they run another play and try to get into the end zone again. The two point conversion is high risk, high reward, the extra point is safer and almost guaranteed.
If a team gets close to the end zone but is unable to score a touchdown, they can attempt a field goal. This is where they attempt to kick the ball between the posts from wherever they are on the field and it is worth 3 points.
In rare circumstances, when a team is tackled with the ball in its own end zone (i.e. not the end zone they are aiming for, the one they are trying to move away from), it is called a safety, and is worth 2 points.
Moving the Ball
Each time the offense gets the ball, they have four downs to gain 10 yards. So for example if the offense receives the ball on the 25 yard line, they have four downs to get the ball to the 35 yard line or beyond. If they achieve this, they get 4 more downs to move another 10 yards. If they do not achieve this in the first 3 downs, they typically punt the ball away to the other team or attempt a field goal. Occasionally, a team will role the dice and go for it on fourth down, but if they fail to reach the 10th yard, the other team gets the ball right where the offense left it.
When the 10 yards is gained, it is called a First Down. The objective of the offense is to build a series of consecutive first downs that ultimately leads to points. The objective of the defense is to force the offense to give up the ball by not allowing them to gain a First Down or by creating a turnover (more on that later).
Inside the 20 yard line is what's known at the "Red Zone". It means the offense can smell blood and is close to scoring.
Turnovers
A turnover occurs when the defense finds a way to take the ball away from the offense other than a punt. The 2 ways this happens is by a fumble, or by an interception. A fumble occurs when someone running with the football has it knocked out of their hands and the defense scoops it up or falls on top of it. An interception occurs when a pass from the quarterback is caught in the air by a member of the defense.
As aforementioned, going for it on 4th down and failing to convert also results in what is called a "turnover on downs" but technically is not considered a turnover in the statistics of the game.
Penalties
Making sense of all the penalties in a football game will probably take some time. But here is a brief explanation of the most common ones, and how the team is penalized. These are indicated by yellow flags thrown by referees (the field judges wearing Zebra striped shirts). The referees are not 100% correct and are subject to human error.
False Start
When a member of the offense moves past the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Most times it is offensive linemen flinching before the play. Penalty is the offense moving backward 5 yards.
Encroachment
When a member of the defense crosses over to the offenses side of the ball before the ball is snapped. Penalty is the offense moving forward 5 yards.
Holding (offensive)
When a member of the offense grabs a defensive player to prevent them from tackling whoever has the ball. Penalty is 10 yards backward from the spot of the hold.
Holding (defensive)
When a member of the defense grabs a player who doesn't have the football. It mainly occurs when cornerbacks grab receivers who are running past them. Penalty is 10 yards forward and an automatic first down.
Pass Interference
When a member of the defense excessively contacts a player of the offense trying to catch the ball before the ball arrives. I.e. a defensive player illegally restricting an offensive players ability to catch a pass. In college, it is 15 yards forward and an automatic first down. In the NFL, the offense moves the ball up to the spot of the foul.
Face Mask
A defensive player accidentally or purposefully yanks the face mask of an offensive player. Penalty is 15 yards and an automatic first down.
Horse Collar
An offensive player is yanked down by his shoulder pad or inside of his jersey, typically around the neck area. Penalty is 15 yards and an automatic first down.
Targetting/ Helmet to Helmet Contact
When one player uses his helmet to hit the helmet of another player. In college this is an automatic ejection, in the NFL two of these results in an ejection. It is most commonly seen when a receiver goes up defenselessly to catch a pass and a corner or safety violently leads with their head and attempts to hurt the opposing player. In addition to ejection, the offense gets 15 yards and an automatic first down.
Roughing the Passer/ Roughing the Kicker.
When a defender hits the quarterback long after they have released the ball on a pass. Similarly when a defender hits a kicker or punter after they have kicked the ball.
Delay of Game
The offense has 30-40 seconds from the conclusion of one play until they need to run the next one. If they fail to snap the ball in that time, it is a 5 yard penalty backwards.
In Conclusion
This is only beginning to scratch the surface of the game's intricacies and lingo, but this reference should allow the reader to at least follow, understand, and enjoy the game. The best way to learn is to watch for ones self. Watching with educated fans helps, and asking questions is definitely encouraged. But hopefully this serves as a good document to take you a long way in getting a handle on America's most popular sport!
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