Let's start, as they say, from the very beginning. This is a football field. It is 120 yards long, 53 yards wide, and has large goal posts at each end. Yards are marked along the sidelines, as well as on two lines near the centre of the field. Each team fields 11 players at any given time. Points are scored by moving the ball into the endzone, or by kicking through the goalposts. Everything else is more complicated, so let's begin....
Down and Distance
American Football uses a "downs" system of play, meaning that when a player is declared down the play is reset from that position. In this way football is not dissimilar to Rugby League, as most often a tackle results in the next "play". Football differs from other field games at this point in that the teams reset and prepare for the next play (or down). Within the rules of American Football, teams play a 4 down system. This means that teams are given 4 downs/plays to advance the ball a given distance (being 10 yards). If the team moves the ball 10 yards within their 4 down limit, the counter is reset to 1.
As such, when a team starts with the ball down and distance is noted as 1st & 10.
If they gain 5 yards this becomes 2nd & 5.
If they then lose 3 yards it's 3rd & 8.
And if they gain 8 yards (or more) it then becomes 1st & 10 again.
If the team does not manage to advance 10 yards within the 4 plays they forfeit the ball to the opposition. To avoid this, teams tend to kick the ball on 4th down in order to give the other team the ball in a less advantageous position.
Plays
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| A typical setup prior to the snap. |
The team in possession of the ball must line up on the down line, known as the “line of scrimmage”. 7 of their 11 must be in line with the ball and the sideline with three on each side of the ball and one over it to initiate play. The other 4 players are free to be positioned anywhere on the field behind the line of scrimmage, although are typically no more than 5 yards from the line.
There are no such rules for the defending team, leaving their 11 players free to be anywhere on the field on their side of the line of scrimmage.
A play is never a long affair in football, being initiated by a backwards pass (traditionally between the legs) to another player - known as the "snap"-, and being ended by;
- A tackle
- Running out of bounds with the ball in hand
- An incomplete forward pass
- Going to ground (typically by kneeling or sliding)
- Declaring yourself “down” while in possession of the ball. (although this is little used)
Players can move the ball forwards through either passing the ball backwards, passing the ball forwards or running. Passing backwards can be done as frequently as desired during a play, whereas passing forward can only be done from behind the line of scrimmage and can only be done once per play.
Football Terminology
Quick notes from lesson one;
- Down - An individual unit of play, also know as a “play”.
- Line of Scrimmage - The line the ball makes with the sideline at 90 degrees at the start of each down.
- Snap - The initiation of a play by passing the ball back from the line of scrimmage.
- Offense - The team in possession of the ball.
- Defense - The opposing team.
- Endzone - The area at each end of the field, into which the ball is advanced to score.
Football 110 is coming soon.