Overview of American Football

Study Notes

Also known as American football in the United States to distinguish it from other forms of football, such as soccer (association football)
A contact team sport played between two teams of 11 players using an oval-shaped ball with the objective of scoring points by carrying or throwing the ball into the end zone of the opponent's field

Modern American football originated in the United States in the mid-19th century
First intercollegiate football game played in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton universities
National Football League (NFL) established in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA)

Game divided into four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes
Points can be scored through:
- Touchdown (6 points): carrying or throwing the ball into the end zone
- Field goal (3 points): kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts
- Extra point (1 or 2 points): kicking or throwing the ball into the end zone after a touchdown
- Safety (2 points): when a player is tackled in their own end zone or commits a penalty in their own end zone
Players can either run with the ball (rush) or throw the ball to teammates
Teams take turns playing offense (trying to score) and defense (trying to stop the other team from scoring)

Offense:
- Quarterback (QB): leads the offense, calls plays, and throws the ball
- Running back (RB): carries the ball on running plays
- Wide receiver (WR): catches passes from the quarterback
- Linemen: block for the quarterback and create holes for the running back
Defense:
- Defensive lineman: rushes the quarterback and stops the run
- Linebacker: supports the defensive line and covers receivers
- Defensive back: covers receivers and defends against passes

Down: a period of play, with four downs (plays) to advance the ball 10 yards
First down: when a team gains 10 yards and earns a new set of four downs
Red zone: the area of the field between the 20-yard line and the end zone, where a team is likely to score
Blitz: when the defense sends extra players to rush the quarterback

Known as American football in the United States to distinguish it from other forms of football
Contact team sport played between two teams of 11 players with an oval-shaped ball
Objective is to score points by carrying or throwing the ball into the end zone of the opponent's field

Originated in the United States in the mid-19th century
First intercollegiate football game played in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton universities
National Football League (NFL) established in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA)

Game divided into four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes
Points can be scored through touchdown, field goal, extra point, and safety
Touchdown is worth 6 points, field goal is worth 3 points, extra point is worth 1 or 2 points, and safety is worth 2 points
Players can either run with the ball (rush) or throw the ball to teammates
Teams take turns playing offense (trying to score) and defense (trying to stop the other team from scoring)

Touchdown: carrying or throwing the ball into the end zone
Field goal: kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts
Extra point: kicking or throwing the ball into the end zone after a touchdown
Safety: when a player is tackled in their own end zone or commits a penalty in their own end zone

Down: a period of play, with four downs (plays) to advance the ball 10 yards
First down: when a team gains 10 yards and earns a new set of four downs
Red zone: the area of the field between the 20-yard line and the end zone, where a team is likely to score
Blitz: when the defense sends extra players to rush the quarterback