Football is a sport played on a field with a round ball. The goal of the game is to have the ball reach the opponent’s goal. This is done by dribbling, passing, or running the ball towards the opponent’s goal. Once the ball is within the end zone, it is called a touchdown. A touchdown is worth six points and is the most important offensive goal.
In modern football, each team has a 10-yard end zone. This means the offensive team has four attempts to get 10 yards, whereas the defense has three. Each team can have 11 players on the field at any time. Teams may also have special teams that kick the play.
If the offense is unable to run the ball into the end zone, they can attempt an extra point. The goal of the defense is to stop the other team from gaining any more yardage. When the ball is pushed or kicked out of the end zone, the player who makes it back into the end zone is called a safety. Safety is worth two points.
In some situations, the offense may have a fumble. In a fumble, the defensive player picks up the ball, runs with it, and then runs with it until it is forced out of bounds. During a fumble, the offense can try to recover the fumble. They can then run with the ball, but can only regain control of the ball after the defense stops them from advancing.
For extra points, the offense can attempt to kick the ball through the opponent’s goal posts. An extra point is the same as a touchdown conversion.
Unlike other sports, the rules of football are not defined by a specific set of rules. Instead, the Laws of the Game are a collection of seventeen laws that are designed to apply to all levels of football. These laws are broad enough to allow for flexibility and are modified for certain groups of players.
The number of players on the field is determined by the number of positions. There are ten positions on the offensive and defensive side of the field, but a team can also use several other combinations.
Players can switch positions at any time. For example, a linebacker can cover receivers, a quarterback can rush the passer, and a wide receiver can pass the ball. But there are exceptions to this rule. To keep the game from becoming too fast, a ball carrier can hand the ball off to another player. And there are a number of other plays that can result in long gains and turnovers.
A play that ends up in a turnover is known as a “fumble”. When a player fumbles the ball, the play is restarted. Depending on the circumstances, the other team may be able to recover the ball. Some penalties also give the offense an automatic first down.
Another type of play is a “corner kick”. A corner kick occurs when the last defender touches the ball.
