Hate being the odd man out left out of the huddle when it comes to football talk? Need to brush up on some of the rules? Want to prove your fantasy friends wrong? Then you've come to the right place! Football is a complicated game with lots of colloquialisms that make it feel like you're learning another language, so I've set up this introduction to football post to help you learn the basics of the sport, as a start! Most of these terms and conditions apply to both the NFL and NCAA, but some rules are different as I'll point out. Brushing up on some of this lingo will help you ace this coming football season, even if you don't become a die-hard fan! THE BASICS Each football come consists of 4 quarters (each lasting 15 minutes), but with commercials each game lasts about 3 hours (so bring a snack to the party you're going to!). Each football field is 100 yards long with a goal post on either end of the field at the back of each endzone, and the line of scrimmage (the imaginary line the players line up on) typically starting at the further 20 yard line (except in a special case). The special case is when a team kicks off the ball to the other team and a player on the receiving team can either 1) elect to run the ball back as far as he can which is where the line of scrimmage will be placed or 2) this player can take a knee signifying a "touchback" in which the ball will automatically be placed at the 20 yard line (in the NFL). In each half of the game, each team gets 3 timeouts to be used. If a team doesn't use all their timeouts, they do not rollover into the next half. In overtime, each team (in the NFL) gets 1 timeout to use (we'll get into overtime and all the rules in another post since it's a lot!). During the regular 4 quarters of the game, coaches use timeouts to talk to their team or as a time control strategy since calling a timeout automatically stops the game clock. On a team's drive (possession of the ball), they get 4 downs (chances or tries) to move the ball 10 yards down the field. If the team fails to go 10 yards by their 3rd down, they will typically punt the ball away to the other team. However, if the team is confident they can make it past the 10 yard mark on their 4th down, they may elect to go for it and try another play. If they succeed, they get a new set of 4 downs, but if they fail to make it past the 10 yard mark, the opposing team gets to start their drive at that yard line. If the team is within field goal range on their 4th down, they will almost always try for a field goal. There are five ways a team can score points: a touchdown, a point after touchdown, a two point conversion, a field goal, and a safety. - Touchdown: a team is awarded a touchdown when a player breaks the plane of the endzone with the football, and this is awarded 6 points - Point after Touchdown: following a touchdown, the scoring team typically sends out their kicking team to kick the football through the goal posts, and this is awarded 1 point - Two-Point Conversion: following a touchdown, the scoring team can elect to "go for two" where the quarterback, lineman, and receivers stay on the field and attempt to break the plane of the endzone again, and successfully breaking the plane again is awarded 2 points - Field Goal: This is similar to a point after touchdown where the kicker tries to kick the ball through the goalposts, but a field goal occurs on a regular play during the game, usually on a 4th down. Kickers can typically kick a field goal from 30 yards out easily, but anything 40 yards and further is extremely impressive if they can make it. Successfully getting a field goal results in 3 points. - Safety: a safety is a score by the defense when a defensive player tackles a player with the football in the offensive endzone. Achieving this is awarded 2 points. The infamous example of this was during Superbowl 48 (much to my dismay) on the first play of the game found here. Hope this introduction to the sport was helpful! Stay tuned for more posts!
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