Football is a sport that is increasing in popularity across the United States and worldwide, with collegiate and professional football established as two of the most popular and most profitable sports in the country. Many things can be picked up about football by simply watching it on television, but the best way to learn about the game is to play in your backyard or enroll in an organized team or league in your community.
Step 1
Learn the difference between offense, defense and special teams, and understand the important positions for each. If kids understand who the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks and kicker are, they will have a good idea of how football plays are run.
Step 2
Understand what the field looks like and how you try to score. The field is 100 yards long with end zones on each end, which is where you try to move the ball to score. The offense does this by running or passing the football down the length of the field without getting tackled by the defense. If the ball is successfully crossed into the end zone for a touchdown, the offense receives six points. They can add an extra point with a short kick through a set of uprights behind the end zone. The offense can try for three points at any time by forgoing trying to score a touchdown and instead kicking the ball through the uprights.
Step 3
Teach the kids how the game is split up and how it begins. Football games are played in four quarters, with the teams switching sides of the field after every quarter. The game starts with a kickoff, in which one team kicks the ball off a tee at the 30- or 35-yard line to the opposing team, with normal plays starting when the ball returner is tackled.
Step 4
Work in secondary information, such as turnovers and penalties, when the basics of the game are understood. The basis of turnovers is that the offense wants to physically hold onto the ball, and if the defense comes into possession of the ball either in the air or on the ground before the ball carrier is tackled, the defense is awarded possession of the ball. The most common penalties are offsides and holding. Offsides occurs when either the offense or defense crosses the imaginary line of scrimmage before the snap, which is the location of the field where the ball carrier was brought down on the previous play. Holding happens when one player holds onto the jersey or pads of an opposing player, preventing him from moving freely.
Tips and Warnings
- Watch football on television and try to imitate what you've seen.
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