Overview of American Football

Overview of Football

• 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

History of Football

• 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)

Rules and Gameplay

• 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)

Positions and Roles

• 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

Common Terminology

• 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

Overview of Football

• 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

History of 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)

Rules and Gameplay

• 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)

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

Positions and Roles

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

Common Terminology

• 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