How To Play American Football – Rules Of The Game

American football or football comes from the United States and is the most popular variant of the so-called gridiron football sports. Therefore, all technical terms related to this sport are kept in English. Despite some parallels, this ball sport has very little to do with football, which is popular in Europe. American football is more closely related to rugby and Canadian football.

Fundamentals

The basic idea of ​​American football is to gain space on the limited field. There are two teams of eleven players each trying to score the most points in a game. A game consists of four quarters of 12 or 15 minutes.

Points can be scored in different numbers in different ways in the game, for example by bringing the cue ball into the opponent’s end zone. The attacking team (offense) can throw the ball (passing) or run (rushing, running) into the opposing area and score there with a touchdown or a so-called field goal. The offense has four attempts to gain at least ten yards.

The defending team (defense) must at least prevent the offense from doing so or gain possession of the ball. If the offense manages to attack, it gets four new tries. If the ball goes to the defense, the offense loses the right to attack the opponents. If the defense can push the attackers back into their own end zone, there are also points. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.

Origin and rules

First played in 1869, this sport was initially only available at universities such as Princeton, Harvard and Yale. Until about 1920 and the formation of the National Football League (NFL), American football was considered college football, organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

However, at that time the rules did not include protection for the players and there was no protective clothing. When American football claimed 18 lives in 1905, new rules and security measures came into use on the initiative of US President Theodore Roosevelt. The current set of rules can be traced back to 1912 and is modified almost every year.

There are also slightly different rules in the different American football organizations. In the amateur field and in the world association International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the so-called NCAA rules apply. However, the US professional league National Football League (NFL) has partially different rules. In Europe, too, the specifications usually differ somewhat, as many games take place on football pitches.

In 1932 there was a demonstration of American football at the Olympics. However, it wasn’t until 2013 before the International Olympic Committee recognized American football as a sport.

NFC, AFC, and Super Bowl

There are 32 teams in this highest US American football league. These are divided into the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). In preparation for the actual season, in the so-called preseason, only test matches are played. The regular season after that lasts 17 weeks. During that time, each team plays 16 times to qualify for the playoffs.

Only the best teams make it to the playoffs, the knockout stages of American football. In the play-offs, the four division winners and two other best teams from each conference, the so-called wildcard teams, compete against each other.
The respective champions of the AFC and NFC, more precisely the two winners from the finals of the NFC Conference and AFC Conferencem contest the final (Super Bowl).

American football elements

Matchfield

The American football field is 100 yards long and 53.3 yards wide. Since a yard is about 90 centimeters, the actual field between the goal lines is about 91.4 by 48.7 meters. The ground in the stadiums consists of artificial or natural grass; Chalk lines mark the zones and yards.

The end zones behind the goal lines are each 10 yards long and have cross lines drawn in every five yards. Here a player can score 6 points with a touchdown. At the end of the field are the goalposts through which a kicker must hit the ball. So-called hashmarks and sidelines form the lateral markings of the yards. Before the start of the game and during breaks, the team and trainer (coach) must be in the specially marked team zone outside the field (bench area).

Game time

The playing time in American football is 4 times 15 minutes with a change of sides after the first and third quarters (quarters). In amateur sports there are also games with 4 times 12 minutes. This is net playing time with no possibility of overtime. Whenever the game is interrupted, the time is also stopped.

The goal

The goal in American football looks like a giant tuning fork. A crossbar is mounted on a post 10 feet above the ground. The two tuning fork rods are 30 feet high. A red flag is placed at the top of the post for better orientation. The kicker kicks the ball with the aim of hitting it right through the tuning fork.

The distance between the two vertical bars differs again depending on the division. In the major leagues it’s 18 feet and 6 inches, in the minor leagues it’s 23 feet and 4 inches.

The ball

The ball resembles a rugby ball in its egg shape, the material can be leather, rubber or simple plastic. Real leather footballs used in the NFL are the most expensive.

Balls made of rubber or plastic dominate in amateur sports. The egg shape is for practical reasons, as balls like this are easier to catch and hold in your hands.

The players’ equipment

The standard equipment for players consists of

• Nylon or spandex football jersey with enough space for the padding. The jerseys must completely cover any protective equipment.
• Football shorts made of nylon or elastane: They reach below the knee and have pockets in which additional padding, for example to protect the tailbone, can be inserted (five-pocket shorts).
• Football helmet with grid-shaped face mask (face mask) and mouth guard: The helmets used to be made of leather, today they are made of sturdy plastic; the face shield can be made of metal or plastic. A thin belt under the chin keeps the helmet in place.
• Belt
• Gloves with padding and sticky palms for better grip to better catch the ball.
• Shoulder pads with neck protection protect the player’s chest, back and shoulders against injuries in the event of a collision.
• Thigh pads and knee pads: Like the shoulder pads, these are a few millimeters thick to protect particularly sensitive areas from injury.
• Socks: These must cover the entire leg and be in contact with the pants.
• Football shoes with pimples

American football terminology

Since the origins of the game are in the English-speaking world, you should learn the English terminology for player positions, gameplay and moves.

• Audible is an order from the quarterback calling the next play
• Backs are all players who are not directly on the line of scrimmage, but slightly behind it.
• Backup is a substitute player who is in the bench area.
• Backfield: All off-line offensive players are in the backfield. Here is also the fixed position of the quarterback.
• Blind Side: The side of the offense that the quarterback is turning away from. Right-handers have their blind side on the left.
• Blind Side Hit: A successful tackle by the quarterback from his blind side. The strongest lineman on offense must protect this side above all.
• Blitz is a defensive play. She tries to get through to the opposing quarterback by adding linebackers and defensive backs
• Blocking is the legal act of putting an opponent in the way
• Center is an important position on the offensive line to protect the quarterback
• Challenge: If the coach disagrees with a referee’s decision, he may request video evidence.
• Chain Crew displays the line to gain on the side of the field and the line of scrimmage.
• Complete Pass is a lawful toss of the ball from one team member to another.
• Cornerback is a defensive position.
• Dead Ball: When a ball is no longer in play, it is referred to as a dead ball.
• Defense tries at the beginning of a play to prevent the offense from winning a point. It’s the team that doesn’t have possession of the ball.
• Defensive Line is the first line of defense consisting of the defenders
• Defensive tackles and defensive ends. The goal is to attack the quarterback directly.
• Down is a play.
• Down by contact means that the player with the ball was brought down by an opponent, ending the play.
• Draw is a play: The quarterback fakes a pass and instead passes the ball to the running back or runs to the opposing end zone himself.
• Drive: A summary of all moves or the entire attack series
• The end zones are the two areas at the end of the field.
• Extra point: But reaching the zone and the touchdown is not enough. Each team has the opportunity to kick directly from the 15-yard line through the two goalposts. Then his team also gets an extra point.
• Facemask is not only the grille on the helmet, but also a foul. A player grabs the grid of another player.
• Fair Catch: A sign of a player not wanting to run forward before catching a punt. So it is not allowed to attack this player. However, if the ball is not caught, it is free and can be picked up.
• Fair Catch Kick: If the player succeeds with his fair catch, his team is allowed to attempt a field goal with the defense a full 10 yards away.
• Field goal is kicking the ball through the goal posts, which scores three points
• First down is the attacking team’s first attempt at a play
• Formation is the formation of a team. An illegal formation is when there are fewer than seven offensive players at the line of scrimmage when the snap occurs.
• Forward Pass is a forward pass that can only be performed once per turn.
• Fourth Down: The fourth and final attempt by the offense and if no point is scored, possession changes.
• Fumble happens when the ball falls out of the hands of the player with the ball. The ball is free and can be captured by either team.
• Goalline: The dividing line between the end zone and the rest of the field.
• Guards are players on the offensive linemen.
• Hand-off is passing the ball without a pass.
• Haily Mary: A very long pass to the end zone, which is also caught. If the team is behind on the ball, this is their last chance to get back into the game.
• Handoff: In this play, the ball is handed over and not thrown.
• Holding: If a player without the ball is held by his opponent, this is equivalent to a foul. Only the player with the ball may be stopped.
• Huddle is the gathering of players on the field before a turn.
• Incomplete pass occurs when the receiver loses the ball with their feet out of bounds or the ball otherwise touches the ground.
• Interception is the catching of a ball by a defender.
• Lateral pass is a cross pass that can be thrown as often as you like.
• Line of scrimmage is the line from which each play begins. It always runs where the ball-carrying player was last brought down. This line is displayed by the chain crew.
• Line to Gain: This approximately 10-yard distance must be covered for the attacking team to be awarded a first down again. This line is displayed by the chain crew.
• Live Ball is a ball that is still in play and teams can compete for it.
• Man in motion is the offense player who is the only one allowed to move in front of the line.
• Muff: The ball is not caught after a punt, but only touched lightly and is then free again.
• Offense is the attacking team.
• Offensive Linemen: These five players are directly in front of the quarterback: centers, guards, and tackles.
• Offside is a defensive offside situation when a player is in the neutral zone.
• Out of Bounds is the area outside the field of play.
• Pass is a ball toss to another player. At the beginning of a play, this is often the quarterback’s pass to another player. The receiver must catch the ball and not drop it. Also, NFL rules require both feet to be in the field. The receiver may fall to the ground when catching, but the ball may not touch the ground.
• Penalty Flag is a yellow cloth used by referees to indicate a rule violation. The location of the violation is marked and the clock is stopped.
• Play is a move.
• Play Clock is the clock that shows how much time can elapse between two turns. Depending on the game situation, it is always 40 or 25 seconds in professional games.
• Punt is a kick against the ball before it hits the ground. The so-called
• Punters are players who specialize in this task.
• Quarterback is an important player position, catching the ball after the snap and starting the play.
• Quarter: One of the four periods of a football match.
• Receiver / Reception: A receiver or wide receiver catches the ball after a pass, reception is the catch itself.
• Red Flag is a red flag thrown by the coach to signal a challenge.
• The red zone is from the 20 yard line to the end zone. If the offense has possession in this area, the probability of scoring also increases.
• Running backs are players whose primary role is to run (halfbacks, fullbacks).
• Sack: When the quarterback is knocked down behind the line of scrimmage at the start of a play.
• Safety is a special form of winning points and, as safeties, also a position to intercept passes.
• Scramble: When the quarterback runs with the ball himself.
• Snap is the passing of the ball from the center to the quarterback and thus the beginning of each play. The snap is most commonly performed one-handed, passing the ball off the ground through the center’s legs directly into the hands of the quarterback.
• Tackle is a legal knocking down of a player.
• Tackles are the farthest players on the offensive line.
• Time Out: Each team gets three time outs per half time (for two quarters), the clock is stopped for this. If a coach loses a challenge, the team will be deducted a time out.
• Touchdown: If the ball is captured or caught in the opponent’s end zone, or if a player runs into the opponent’s end zone with the ball in hand, this is a touchdown.
• Trick play are surprising moves that take your opponent by surprise.
• Try is an attempt, such as for a kick or a down.
• Turnover is a change in possession of the ball.
• Forward Pass or Forward Pass may only be played once per play. If the discharging player crosses the line of scrimmage, a forward pass is not allowed.
• Wide receiver is a player waiting on the sidelines of the field to catch a forward pass and then reach the end zone.

The players in attack

Quarterback

This is the playmaker who catches the ball from the center player right after the snap. The quarterback usually implements the plays suggested by the coach, but can also make adjustments. A quarterback needs a high tactical understanding of the game, so they are usually experienced players. The quarterback doesn’t hold the ball for long and immediately passes it back to either a receiver or a running back.

Offensive Linemen

These five players directly in front of the quarterback protect him from the opposing team’s defensive players. The center is in the center, next to them are two so-called guards and two tackles on the very outside. Centers, guards and tackles also have the task of clearing any running paths. However, none of these five players are allowed to receive passes.

Running backs

are ball carriers whose job it is to grab the ball and run. There are halfbacks that are more agile and fullbacks that are a bit heavier, and they are also not that easy to bring down. However, a halfback can run faster, which is why the fullback often serves as a blocker for the halfback.

Receivers

The receiver or wide receiver is waiting slightly on the outside of the field for a pass from the quarterback. The idea for the ideal case is that he gets the ball and runs past the defense and scores a touchdown, which rarely happens. The wide receiver is usually the fastest player on the team.

The players in defense

Defensive linemen

The counterpart to the offensive linemen, mostly large and heavy players who should completely overthrow the quarterback or at least prevent him from building up the game. The center and the path for a running back of the opponent should also be blocked. The defensive tackles are in the middle of the line, the more agile defensive ends in the outer areas.

Linebacker

The quarterback equivalent stands behind the defensive linemen. Designed to stop running backs, this player is both agile and strong. Safeties and cornerbacks support the linebacker to block the attackers’ moves.

Safeties and cornerbacks

These player positions are the defensive backs with cornerbacks as a defense against a typical passing game. Behind it are the safeties as a kind of safety net to stop running backs breaking through the defensive line.

Offense and defense rights are swapped if a first down is no longer possible before a fourth attempt and no field goal is scored. The offensive team then kicks the ball from their own hands into the opponent’s court. The right to attack also changes when the attacking player drops the ball or the defensive team intercepts the ball (called interception).

Game start and game progress

Kick off

A coin toss determines who gets the ball first. The defending team kicks off from their own 35 yard line. The goal is to get the ball as far into the opponent’s half as possible.
The offense must catch the ball and carry it back towards the kick-off point. The defense must prevent this attack. At the point where the defense succeeds and the offense stops, the series of downs begins.

Series Of Downs

The offense must cover a distance of at least 10 yards or 30 feet within four downs. The football can be thrown to gain space or brought forward while running. During the run, other players from your own team ensure that the defenders are out of the way.

The throw pass is executed by the quarterback; he takes a few steps back and then throws the ball to a teammate (pass). This teammate (receiver) must catch the ball before it hits the ground.

The next down occurs at the point where the run player was stopped.
If at least 10 yards are successfully rushed, the offense team gets four more down attempts.

Scoring

The aim of the American Football game is to score more points than the opposing team during the playing time. A team can gain points in different ways.

• Touchdown: Here the ball is transported over the field by a run or a pass over the opposing end zone. The touchdown scores six points. The team that scored by touchdown gets a new try from the 3-yard line.
• Point after Touchdown or Extra Point: As a touchdown bonus, the offense team has the opportunity to kick the ball between the two posts of the goal post. The distance is around 10 yards. 1 point
• Conversion: Another touchdown after a try brings 2 points.
• Field Goal: If a third try does not result in a first down or a touchdown, the offense team is free to score a field goal. This must be attempted on the fourth try. The kick must propel the ball into the top half of the goal. Pro players create a field goal from distances of about 40 to 50 yards. 3 points
• Safety: If the offensive player is stopped in the opposing zone, points are awarded to the defense team. The ball must be kicked back to the attacking team from their own 20-yard line. 2 points

Referee

In American football, there are four to seven umpires in each game.
The head umpire (whitecap) stands behind the offense, administering penalties and overseeing the four downs.

The umpire is either between or behind the linebackers on the middle of the defensive line. His job is also to position the ball for the next move.

The linesman oversees the correct execution of the line to gain by the chain crew, and the line judge oversees the forward movement of the offense toward or over the line to gain.
Back Judge, Field Judge and Side Judge operate at the back of the field. They monitor the validity of passes and also possible fouls.

Fouls and Penalties

If a violation of the rules or a foul is determined, the referees signal this with a yellow flag. However, fouls are only dealt with after a current play.

Examples of fouls include pinning an opponent without possession, offside, facemask, clipping, and chop block. The latter means that a player may only be tripped in a small clipping zone below the waistline. The region from the knee down is a taboo zone. A chop block means that one player is attacking below the waistline and another player is attacking above it at the same time. Spearing is also a clear major foul. Here, a player uses his helmet and throws himself outstretched like a spear at an opponent.

Fouls are usually penalized with a loss of space of 5, 10 or even 15 yards. Further penalties are the assignment of a new first down (four attempts to attack), loss of the right to attack or even the expulsion of the fouling player. In the case of fouls, the accused team can contest a referee’s decision and the play can be valid or repeated (challenge).

When was American football invented?

American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of soccer and rugby. The first American football match was played on November 6, 1869, between two college teams, Rutgers and Princeton, using rules based on the rules of soccer at the time.

Who invented American football?

Walter Camp is considered the “founder” of American football. Camp was an accomplished rugby player from Yale University who began to transform the rules of rugby for a more ‘modern’ style of play, which eventually developed into the sport of football during the 1880s.

Where did American football originate?

On November 6, 1869, players from Princeton and Rutgers held the first intercollegiate football contest in New Brunswick, New Jersey, playing a soccer-style game with rules adapted from the London Football Association.

What shape is an American football?

A football, however, owes its two-dimensional origin to the ellipse rather than the circle, giving the pigskin its prolate spheroid shape, which has a polar axis that is greater than its equatorial diameter. Thanks to its elongated nature, a football will spiral when thrown properly.

Who won the first American intercollegiate football game?

Rutgers and New Jersey (later known as Princeton) faced off in what is considered to be the first American football game ever played on Nov. 6, 1869. The game took place in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with an audience of about 100 on hand, according to Rutgers. Rutgers won 6-4.

Who was the first African American football player?

In 1920, Fritz Pollard became the first African-American to play in the NFL during its formative years.

Paul Fallen, microsoft co-founder: which American football team?

Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, owns the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

What British game did American and Canadian football grow from?

Rugby football was introduced to North America in Canada by the British Army garrison in Montreal, which played a series of games with McGill University. In 1874, the United States’ Harvard University hosted Canada’s McGill University to play the new game derived from rugby football in a home-and-home series.

When did American football start?

September 17, 1920, Canton, Ohio, United States

What is the alliance of American football?

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) was a professional American football minor league. The AAF consisted of eight centrally owned and operated teams in the southern and western United States, seven of which were located in metropolitan areas with at least one major professional sports franchise.