Throughout history, various countries have played games that revolve around kicking a ball. The game of football is one of the most widely played sports in the world. It is played recreationally by youth teams and amateur clubs. Football has also been played in international competitions, such as the Summer Games. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) governs the game internationally. It organizes the FIFA World Cup every four years. Approximately 200 nations are members of FIFA in the 21st century.
The object of the game is to advance the ball across the goal line of the other team. The team that scores the most points wins the match. The scoring is done in several ways. A touchdown is the most common goal. A touchdown is scored when the ball crosses the plane of the goal line.
A touchdown is worth six points. A kick over the goal posts is an extra-point conversion. In the NFL, the conversion is attempted at the opponent’s 2-yard line. In most other leagues, the conversion is attempted at the opponent’s 3-yard line.
Each team has a playbook with dozens to hundreds of plays. Players spend most of the game in a specific position. However, teams can change their offense players at any time.
In a standard adult football match, two halves are played, each lasting 45 minutes. During each half, the teams try to gain points. The team that scores the most points at the end of the game is the winning team.
The game is officiated by a referee. The referee is assisted by two assistant referees. Each team has a goalkeeper. Goalkeepers are the only players allowed to play the ball with their hands in front of their goal. If a goalkeeper is ruled out for a play, the ball goes down. The team that regains possession is awarded first down.
The game is governed internationally by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The FA was formed in 1863. FIFA’s World Cup is the most popular international competition. The World Cup has the largest global audience, with more than twice the number of viewers of the Summer Olympics. FIFA regulates the competition and imposes a number of directives and rules on the game.
Each team has a total of eleven players. They are typically arranged in three groups: defense players, offense players, and special teams players. The number of offense players varies, depending on the style of play. In some leagues, a team may have to have a certain number of offensive players. In other leagues, the number of offensive players is determined by the competition rules.
The Laws of the Game were first codified in England by The Football Association in 1863. These laws are currently regulated by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). They contain seventeen laws, which may be modified for specific groups of players. The laws are also subject to various IFAB directives.
A player may not be able to run with the ball after an interception. If the ball is recovered, the player can run with the ball until he is tackled or out of bounds. An offensive player may be tackled or forced out of bounds if the ball is kicked out of bounds. In some leagues, a player may be tackled or forced out of the end zone if he does not have the ball.