American football rules

American Football Rules

American football is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. This article provides an overview of the fundamental rules governing the game of American football.

The Field

The standard American football field is 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide. The field is marked with yard lines every 5 yards, and hash marks are used to denote each individual yard. At each end of the field is an end zone, which extends 10 yards beyond the goal line. The goalposts are located at the back of each end zone.

The Game

A standard game of American football consists of four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes, with a halftime break after the second quarter. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, overtime periods are played to determine the winner.

Scoring

Points can be scored in several ways:

• Touchdown: Worth 6 points, a touchdown is scored when a player carries the ball into the opponent's end zone or catches a pass in the end zone.
• Extra Point: After a touchdown, the scoring team can attempt a kick through the goalposts for 1 additional point, or attempt a two-point conversion by running or passing the ball into the end zone from the 2-yard line.
• Field Goal: Worth 3 points, a field goal is scored by kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts during a play from scrimmage.
• Safety: Worth 2 points, a safety is scored when the defensive team tackles an offensive player with the ball in the offensive team's own end zone.

The Teams

Each team consists of an offense, a defense, and special teams. The offense is responsible for advancing the ball and scoring points, while the defense aims to stop the offense and take control of the ball. Special teams handle kicking plays.

The Play

The game begins with a kickoff, where one team kicks the ball to the other. The receiving team then attempts to advance the ball as far as possible. The offensive team has four downs (attempts) to advance the ball at least 10 yards. If successful, they are awarded a new set of four downs. If they fail, the opposing team takes possession of the ball.

Penalties

Penalties are called for rule infractions and result in a loss of yardage or downs. Common penalties include:

• Offside: A player is on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
• Holding: Illegally grabbing an opponent to impede their movement.
• Pass Interference: Illegally contacting an opponent to prevent them from catching a pass.

Equipment

Players wear protective gear including helmets, shoulder pads, and other padding to protect against the physical nature of the game.

Conclusion

American football is a complex sport with a rich set of rules designed to ensure fair play and safety. Understanding these rules is essential for players, coaches, and fans alike.

See Also

• History of American football
• List of American football positions
• National Football League

References

• Official Playing Rules of the National Football League
• American Football Coaches Association