Football is the most popular sport in America, but it’s also quickly becoming a global phenomenon. While there are many elements and rules to the game, it’s important to understand some of the basics before attending a game or watching one at home. This article will cover the basic rules and scoring of American football, so you can get up to speed in no time!
The main goal of a football team is to score touchdowns, which are worth six points. A touchdown can be scored by carrying the ball across the opponent’s goal line or by catching a pass in the end zone. The first team to score a touchdown wins the game. Teams can also earn extra points by kicking field goals, which are worth three points.
A typical football field is rectangular and either natural or artificial. The length and width of the field are determined by the league or organization that is playing. In most cases, the field will be 105 yards long and 68 yards wide. The sidelines are marked with a white line, while the center of the field is divided into two sections by a shorter line that’s called the hash mark. There are also lines that indicate the end zones.
Each team is allowed a maximum of 11 players on the field at one time. During a play, no player may touch the ball with their hands unless they’re trying to intercept it. Otherwise, the offense will be penalized. The defensive team can also score points if they tackle a player in the opposing end zone.
In the early 19th century, the sport of football became popular in England, mainly among working class citizens. By the end of the century, professional clubs began emerging, and it became necessary to establish proper rules of the game. Attempts were made to do so, but it wasn’t until the late 1880s that the first formalized regulations were put into place.
During a football game, teams are given four chances – known as downs – to move the ball at least 10 yards upfield. If they fail to make it that far, the downs count resets and they’ll have four more chances to advance the ball another 10 yards. If they’re unable to do so, the ball will be turned over to the opposing team. Teams may also kick a field goal to gain three points, or try for a safety by tackling a player in their own end zone. During the course of the season, teams compete in a series of division and conference championship games before advancing to the Super Bowl. The winner of the Super Bowl is crowned champion of the NFL. In addition, some teams are ranked by their win-loss record. These records are used to determine a playoff seeding, which is then used to determine the match-ups in the championship games. This allows the best teams to face each other in the Super Bowl.