FootballHow to play

America’s version of football

The Field • 100 yards long (91.44 meters)

between the goal lines • 160 feet wide (48.76800

meters)• Both sides have a 10 yard

area after the goal lines called the end zone.

• Divided into 20-5 yard sections

Length Of The Game • Total 60 minutes • 4 Quarters –15 minutes

• 3 timeouts

• Short break after each quarter –5 minutes

• Halftime-between 2nd and 3rd quarters – 15 min.

Start of the Game

• Coin toss– Decides who gets the ball first• Winner chooses to get the ball at the start of the

1st half of the 2nd half

• Each half starts with Kickoff

Objective• The objective of the game is to score more points

than the opponent during the allotted time• The offense tries to move forward the ball down the

field-by running with the ball or throwing it – Scoring points by crossing the goal line and getting into an area

called the end zone.

• Defense tries to stop the offensive team and make it give up control of the ball. – If the team with the ball does score or is forced to give up

control, the offensive and defensive teams switch roles

• And so on, back and forth, until all four quarters of the game have been

played.

Scoring• TOUCHDOWN = 6 POINTS

– To score a touchdown, the ball must be carried across the goal line into the end zone, caught in the end zone, or a fumble recovered in the end zone

• EXTRA POINT and TWO-POINT CONVERSION = 1 or 2 POINTS– Immediately following a touchdown, the ball is placed at the

opponent's two-yard line, where the offense has two options

• FIELD GOAL = 3 POINTS– For a field goal to be "good", the kicker must kick the ball through

the goal-post uprights and over the crossbar. The defense tries to block the kick and stop the ball from reaching the goal post.

SAFETY = 2 POINTS– A safety occurs when the offensive ball carrier is tackled

behind his own goal line.

Turnovers • While trying to advance the football to the end zone, the

offense may accidentally turn the ball over to the defense in one of two ways:

Interception• An aggressive defense can regain possession

of the ball by catching (intercepting) passes meant for players on the other team.

Both fumble recoveries and interceptions can be run back into the end zone for touchdowns

Fumble • When the ball carrier or passer drops the ball• Any player on the field can recover the ball by diving

on it or he can run with it. • The team that recovers a fumble either gets-or

retains-possession of the ball

Players

OL

QB

OL OL OLWR WROLTE

RB

FB

DL

LB

DL DL DL

CBCB

LBLB

S

S

50 50

Offense• Quarterback(1)-Throw• Offensive Linemen (5)-Block• Running back (1)-Run• Fullback(1)-Block/Run

• Wide Receives(2)-Catch• Tight End (1)–Catch/Block

Defense • Defensive lineman (4)

– Stop the RB when he has the ball– Tackle the QB before he can throw (sack)

• Linebackers (3)– Stop the RB when he has the ball– Tackle the QB before he can throw (sack)– Cover RB/TE?WR when QB is passing

• Cornerback (2)– Stop the RB when he has the ball– Tackle the QB before he can throw (sack)– Cover RB/TE?WR when QB is passing– Catch the ball while covering (interception)

• Safety(2) – Last line of defense– Does all the things above

4 Downs 4 Downs

1st

2nd

4th

3rd

Special Teams • Kicker (1)-Kicks field goals • Holder (1)- Holds the ball for the Kicker• Punter-Punts(kicks) the ball • Punt/Kickoff returner- catches the ball and

runs to advance the ball as far as he can

4th

Penalties

• Holding-10 yards • Pass Interference-Spot of the foul• Roughing the passer-15 yards• Off sides-5 yards • False Start-5 yards• Face mask-15 yards

Key Terms • Down• First Down• Line of Scrimmage• Tackle • Sack• Interception• Fumble

• Touchdown• Field Goal• Punt • Handoff • Pass • Extra Point• End zone