Football is a game of strategy and skills. The offensive team runs a series of plays attempting to advance the ball toward the opposing team's end zone and score points. The defensive team uses alignments that are designed to halt offensive advancement and prevent a score. Coaches devise strategy to take advantage of their team's strength and exploit weakness in the opposition. Players train to develop skills and techniques for performing the offensive and defensive duties.
Step 1
Learn the terms that describe areas on the football field. The line of scrimmage is the particular yard line where the ball is placed prior to each play. The football is placed on the 35-yard line for a kick-off that starts the game, and following each scoring play. The sidelines define the playing field, and offensive players must remain within the field of play when attempting to advance the football. The sidelines, goal lines and yard lines on the field are marked with white lines that define the boundaries and provide references for a line of scrimmage.
Step 2
Begin the game by kicking the football to the other team. The kicking and receiving teams are determined by a coin-toss that's conducted by the head referee prior to the start of the game. If you're on the kicking team, attempt to prevent the other team from advancing the football toward your goal line. If you're on the receiving team, catch the kick or block the opposing players that are attempting to down your runner. Following a kicking play, the receiving team becomes the offense and the kicking team becomes the defense.
The offense has four plays, known as a series of downs, that can be runs or passes and are designed to advance the football toward the opposing teams goal. Each time the offense advances the ball more than 10 yards it is awarded a new series of downs.
Step 3
Line up for each play with the offensive and defensive front-line players side-by-side along the line of scrimmage, and facing the opposing team's alignment. The area between the front lines is known as the neutral zone. The offense must snap the football back and away from the line of scrimmage to begin each play. If a player from either side enters the neutral zone before the football is in play, the referee will call a penalty and award the other team yardage.
If you're on offense, attempt to block defensive players in order to create running lanes or protect the quarterback on passing plays. If you are playing a defensive position, you must down the ball carrier or receiver as quickly as possible to stop an advancement.
Step 4
Run the football to the area that's determined by the quarterback's play call. If defenders have closed that area or running lane, look for another opening and attempt to gain yardage toward the opposing team's goal line. Protect the football with both hands before encountering defensive players. Hand the ball to the nearest official following a running play.
Step 5
Pass the football to a receiver that has found an opening in the defensive alignment. If you're a receiver it's important to run the specific passing route that was pre-determined by the quarterback. This allows the ball to be thrown before the defenders can get into position to prevent a completed pass.
If you're a defender you must anticipate the arrival of the football through the air and attempt to intercept the pass or knock it down. Incomplete passes result in the football being placed at the line of scrimmage where that particular passing play began. Defenders that interfere with a receiver's opportunity to catch a ball can be penalized. Receivers can be penalized for pushing a defender out of the way in order to make a catch.
Step 6
Listen for the referee's whistle at all times during the football game. The whistle signifies the start of a kickoff and the end of each play that's run from the line of scrimmage. A referee will not stop a play until the ball carrier is downed by a defender or steps out of bounds. Continue to play until you hear the whistle and do not assume a player is down or the play is over at any time. A penalty may be called if you contact a player after the whistle.
Tips and Warnings
- Watch football to learn more about the game and improve your performance.
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