Football for Dummies

Please keep in mind that the following information is meant for those with little to no knowledge or understanding about football.

The game can be confusing if you don't understand the rules, but the basics are simple. First off, the object of the game, like most games, is to score. There are different ways to score in football, but first you'll need to understand the basic terms of the game.

The Field

• The football field is 120 yards long and 160 feet wide. The actual playing field is 100 yards.
• There are stripes that mark every five yard intervals.
• The hash marks, are the shorter lines that mark one line intervals.
• The end zone extends ten yards; there is one on each side of the field.
• There is a goal post in the back line of each end zone.
• The goal line is the spot where the end zone and the playing field meet.

The Players

Each team consists of:

Offense

• Halfback: Usually responsible for carrying the football on running plays.
• Fullback: Usually responsible for run blocking for the halfback and pass blocking for the quarterback.
• WideReceiver: Responsible for catching passes from the quarterback.
• TightEnd: Used as a blocker and receiver
• OffensiveTackle
• OffensiveGuard
• Center: lineman who hikes the football to the quarterback at the beginning of every play.

Defense

• Defensive End: Keep the running back on the outside of running plays. He will, also, rush the quarterback on passing plays
• Defensive Tackle: Stop the running back on running plays, get pressure to the middle of the field for passing plays, and occupy the blockers so that the linebacker can be free.
• NoseTackle: Stop the run and occupy the offensive lineman to keep him from blocking the linebacker.
• Linebacker: Act as the second line of defense.
• Cornerback: Cover the wide receiver
• Safety: Help the cornerback pass coverage.

Special Teams

• Gunner: Race down field in order to tackle the kick or punt returner.
• Holder: Catch the football and put it into a kicking position
• KickReturner: Catch the football after kickoff and attempt to return to the other direction.
• LongSnapper: Makes long snaps for punts
• Placekicker: kicks the football on kickoffs
• Punter: Catch the long snap from the center and kicks the football
• PuntReturner: Catch the ball after it's punted and run toward the punting team's end zone

• Touchdown (6 points)

The player must carry the ball across the other team's goal line, or he must catch a pass in the end zone.

• Extra Point Conversion (1 point)

One extra point to the team who scored to touchdown. The point is granted if the team can kick the ball through the goal posts from the two yard line.

• Two-Point Conversion (2 points)

After scoring a touchdown, if the team decides to go for 2 extra points, they will line up at the two yard line and make one attempt to run or pass the football into the end zone.

• Field Goal (3 points)

In a fourth- down, the team can attempt to kick a field goal between the goal posts in the other team's endzone.

• Safety (2 points )

Tacking an opponent who has the football in their end zone.