Basics
U.S. football is a sport played between two teams with 11 players on each side on a field that is 100 yards long and 53 yards wide. The team with the most points after 60 minutes of play wins. The object of the game is for the team with possession of the football, called the offense, to advance the ball into the defense's side of the field until they reach the end zone. The offense can advance the ball by carrying it on a running play or by throwing it down the field on a passing play. The defense attempts to keep the offense from advancing into its territory.
Scoring and Kickoffs
There are many ways to score points in football. A touchdown occurs when the offense advances the ball into the opposition's end zone. A touchdown is worth six points. Once a touchdown is scored, the scoring team has the option to get into the end zone again for a two-point conversion or kick the ball between two uprights for an additional point called an extra point. If an offense is unable to score a touchdown, they can attempt a field goal, which entails kicking the ball through the uprights. A field goal is worth three points. The defense gets two points if it is able to tackle the ball-carrier in his own end zone.
To start the game and after every score except a safety, a kickoff takes place. A kickoff is when the team's kicker kicks the ball off of a kicking tee while the other 10 players run down the field to tackle the opposing player who returns the kick. Once the kick-returner is tackled, his team is given possession of the ball at the spot where he was tackled.
Offensive Possessions
When an offense takes possession of the football, it is called a drive. The offense has four opportunities, called downs, to gain 10 yards. If it does so, it has gained a first down and is awarded another four downs to gain 10 more yards. When an offense fails to gain a first down, the other team's offense is given possession of the football.
Plays From Scrimmage
On each down, a play is run. For a play to begin, the offense must line up to where the last ball-carrier was tackled--the line of scrimmage--in a formation that demands at least five players be on the line of scrimmage at once. Other offensive players can be positioned behind the line of scrimmage, but no player can start a play ahead of it. The defense has no limitations to its formation except that defensive players must stay behind their side of the line of scrimmage before the play begins.
The action starts when the offense snaps the ball. A snap is when the most interior lineman, the center, moves the ball between his legs and hands it to the quarterback. At that point, both teams are permitted to cross the line of scrimmage during the play. A play ends after the defense tackles the ball-carrier or if a pass is thrown incomplete.
Punting
If an offense is unable to gain 10 yards after three downs, often times the team will elect to punt on its final down. A punt is similar to a kickoff in that it willingly hands possession of the ball to the other team, but it is kicked out of hand rather than kicked from a tee. This strategy is often used to protect a team's field position. A punt also takes place after a team has scored a safety. A safety is the only instance where a team is awarded possession of the ball after it has scored.
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