The game of football involves kicking and running with a ball in order to gain yards. It is played on a field between two teams of eleven players. The goal is to score points by putting the ball across an opponent’s end zone. This may be done by throwing and catching the ball, running with it or kicking it through the goal posts for a field goal. The rules of the game can be confusing to someone not familiar with them. This article will provide a general overview of the game, including the objective, scoring, timekeeping and positions.
There is some disagreement as to the origin of the name “football.” One theory is that it refers to a game in which players kicked the ball with their feet. This game was played in medieval Europe, and there is evidence of it being played as early as the 12th century. Another theory is that the name derives from the fact that the balls used in these games were made from the leather skin of a sheep or goat.
In modern American football, the ball is snapped to a center, who then hands it off to a quarterback. The quarterback can then throw or run with the ball. Each team gets four downs, and if they do not advance 10 yards during these downs, the other team takes over possession (a turnover on downs). The ball is spotted at the point where it became dead, and if it was spotted outside the hash marks, they are brought in on the nearest yard line to the hash marks to begin the next down.
Penalties are common in football, and many are called by the officials on the field. These penalties can result in loss of yards, or even a loss of downs. Common offensive penalties include false starts and holding, while defensive penalties often involve pass interference or roughing the passer. In addition to these penalities, there are also several personal fouls that the referee can call.
While paying for cable television was once the easiest way to watch NFL games, it is now possible to subscribe to multiple video streaming services that offer a wide variety of sports content. These services are cheaper than traditional cable, and they allow you to select which teams and games you want to watch. There are also devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire Stick that connect to your TV and give you access to local broadcast channels. In some cases, you can even find free broadcast channels through your Internet connection. If you’re looking for a simple solution to watch the NFL, this is probably the best option. However, you should be aware that these services are subject to change without notice.