American Football Rules
American football is a sophisticated and strategic game with an extensive set of rules that dictate how it is played. Here is a summary of the basic rules of American football:
Objective
The main goal of American football is to outscore the opposing team by either moving the ball into their end zone or kicking it through their goalposts.
Field and Equipment
The game takes place on a rectangular field that is 120 yards in length and 53.3 yards in width, with goalposts positioned at each end.
- There are 11 players from each team on the field simultaneously.
Players don helmets, shoulder pads, jerseys, pants, and cleats for their safety.
Scoring
A touchdown, which is valued at six points, is achieved when a player either runs with the ball into the opposing team's end zone or successfully catches a pass in that end zone.
- Extra Point: Following a touchdown, the team that scored has the option to go for a one-point conversion by kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts, or they can attempt a two-point conversion by running or passing the ball into the end zone once more.
- Field Goal: A scoring action worth three points, achieved by kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts during regular gameplay.
- Safety: Valued at two points, given to the defensive team when they bring down an offensive player holding the ball in that player's own end zone.
Gameplay
The game consists of four quarters, each with a duration of 15 minutes in professional football, and includes a halftime intermission between the second and third quarters.
The team that has the ball is known as the offense, and their goal is to move the ball down the field to score points.
The defense, the team playing against the offense, aims to stop them from scoring and to cause turnovers.
- The team on offense has four tries to move the ball forward at least 10 yards. If they succeed, they earn a new set of four downs. If they fail, the other team gains possession of the ball.
Positions and Gameplay
- The quarterback leads the offense, tasked with catching the snap from the center and then deciding to either pass it to a receiver, hand it off to a running back, or run with the ball themselves.
The offense can earn points either by handing the ball to a running back to carry it or by throwing it to a receiver further down the field.
- The defense strives to tackle the player with the ball, intercept throws, or cause fumbles in order to recover possession of the ball.
Penalties
Various penalties can be assessed for violations like holding, pass interference, offside, false start, and unnecessary roughness. These penalties lead to either yardage being given to or taken from the offending team. In certain situations, penalties may also result in automatic first downs or require the down to be replayed.