American football is arguably the most rule-driven professional sport in the world. Basic aspects, such as scoring a touchdown, are fairly simple to understand. Many of the game's subtler nuances are difficult to grasp, even for avid fans. The official "NFL Rule Book," however, explains and expands upon most aspects of the football's rules and regulations.
The Field
The football playing field is 360 feet long and 160 feet wide with a surface composed of either artificial turf or natural grass. Outside of this perimeter is out of bounds. The end zones at each end of the field are 30 feet deep. Goal posts at the back of each end zone are 18 feet, 6 inches wide with a base 10 feet off the ground. White paint or chalk marks delineate all the yardages and out-of-bounds lines. The ends zones are often painted in the colors of the home team.
Object of Football
The object of the game of football is to score more points than the opponent. Points are scored with touchdowns, field goals, extra points, two-point conversions and safeties. Defensive players have the responsibility of preventing the opponent from advancing the ball toward the end zone. Players score a touchdown by moving the ball over the goal line, either on the ground or after catching a pass. The team on offense has four opportunities called "downs" in which to make 10 yards of progress and a first down. Teams lose possession by fumbling the ball, running out of downs or having a pass intercepted.
Scoring
A player in possession of the ball who runs into his opponent's end zone has scored a touchdown, provided no penalties erase his effort. The player technically doesn't have to enter the end zone. As long as some part of the ball breaks the plane of the goal line, the scoring team receives six points. The scoring player may be a running back, with a muscular lower body designed to push through defenders, or a wide receiver, who uses speed and agility to snake past defenders after catching the football. When a team is only a yard or two from the end zone, the quarterback may call a "sneak" play in which he pushes the ball past the goal line himself.
Point After Touchdown
After a successful touchdown, the scoring team has one chance to add more points to the scoreboard. The team places the ball between the inbounds lines and at least 2 yards back from the goal line. A kick that travels between the goal posts adds one extra point to the team's score. A play from scrimmage that puts the ball back into the end zone results in two extra points, otherwise known as a two-point conversion.
Kickoff
After a touchdown and extra-point attempt, the scoring team must kick the ball off to the other team. Kicking the ball out of bounds on either sideline results in a penalty. Kicking it out of the end zone, on the other hand, results in the ball being spotted at the opponent's 20-yard line with the opposing team taking possession. A kickoff must travel at least 10 yards before a member of the kicking team may touch the ball. The receiving team attempts to move the ball up field during a kickoff return and may potentially score a touchdown during the play, though this is uncommon.
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