Play an official game of football with two 11-person teams on a field measuring 100 yards long and 53 yards wide. The lines on the football field divide it into 10-yard increments. The offensive team has four plays -- called downs -- to advance the football 10 yards ahead into the defensive team's territory. If a team does not gain 10 yards of territory or a touchdown, the coach usually decides to kick the ball to the other team or go for a field goal.
The game of football has so many rules, it would be too cumbersome to name them all. But here are some of the basics.
What is a Kickoff?
The beginning of a football game starts with a kickoff. The team's place kicker kicks the ball to the offensive team. The offensive team tries to catch the ball and advance it as far as possible towards the defensive team's end zone. The first offensive play of the game starts from where the defensive team stops the offensive team. If a player from the offensive team catches the kickoff in his own end zone and kneels down, his team starts an offensive drive from the 20-yard line.
How does the Scoring Work?
You can score points in football four ways. With six points, a touchdown is the most points you can score in football in one play. After a team scores a touchdown, it can choose to kick the football through the uprights for one point--known as a point-after attempt--or carry the ball across the goal line to gain two points. A safety--also worth two points--occurs when the offensive player is in possession of the football and is tackled by the defensive team in his own end zone. The final way to score points in football is to bring is to kick a field goal. This three-point score is most common on fourth down, when the offensive team is deep in the defensive team's territory.
What is an End Zone?
The end zone is a 10-yard area at both ends of the football field; starting at the goal line and ending at the out-of-bounds line. One end zone belongs to the offensive team, and the other to the defensive team. When an offensive player enters the defensive team's end zone while he is in possession of the football, he scores a touchdown for his team.
What does the Quarterback do?
The quarterback is on the offensive team. This player is responsible for receiving the snap from the center, deciphering the defense, and either throwing the ball to a receiver or handing it off to a running back. The quarterback also communicates the next play to the offensive players. Essentially a coach on the field, the quarterback has a principal leadership role and touches the ball on almost every play.
How Many Players are on a Team?
There are 11 players on each side of the ball--meaning 11 offensive players against 11 defensive players. Coaches substitute players in and out depending on different game situations, but each team must not have more than 11 players on the field at one time, or a penalty is called. In the National Football League, teams have 53 players on the roster, with a starter and back-ups for each offensive and defensive position.
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