Football is a game with many rules that have many different interpretations. For example, holding is a penalty in football, and it is regularly called on the offensive linemen when pass blocking. However, if an offensive linemen doesn't extend his arm while taking hold of an opposing defensive lineman, it is not holding. Sound complicated? That's because it is. The most important rules for youngsters playing the game involve safety for all players.
Helmet Safety
Perhaps the most important rule to teach kids playing football for the first time is to not hit with your helmet. Not only can this injure your opponent, leading with your helmet can lead to a catastrophic neck injury by the tackler. The spinal column can get compressed in the process of making a helmet-first tackle. This type of injury can devastate a player and his family.
Horse Collar Tackling
It is illegal to run down a player from behind and tackle him using your hand to pull him down by the top of his jersey/collar. This is called a horse-collar tackle. This is illegal because it can lead to head, neck and spine injuries. When you are pulled down from behind like that, the head and neck areas are vulnerable. If you are running another player down from behind, you will need to run him down further, wrap him up and tackle him conventionally, rather than dragging him down.
Facemask Penatly
You cannot grab onto another opponent's facemask under any circumstances. Pulling on the facemask in an attempt to tackle, block or wrest the ball from the ball carrier is penalized. Again, this is the kind of play that could result in a serious neck injury or at the very least a painful neck problem. In some cases, the referee may rule that a hand on an opponent's facemask was incidental and unintentional. Nevertheless, a penalty is still assessed because it can still result in an injury.
Basics of the Game
Each team fields 11 players at a time, and the object of the game is to advance the ball into your opponent's endzone. The team that comes up with the most points wins the game. The team with the ball has four plays--called downs--to advance the ball 10 yards and maintain possession. The ball can be advanced by passing or running. The defense can take the ball away by forcing a fumble or catching a quarterback's pass, called an interception.
Member Comments