Football is a sport in which two teams of 11 players battle for territory. Each team tries to advance the ball down the field by running or throwing it and then scoring in an area called the end zone. The game begins with a kickoff and a coin toss that determines which team receives the ball first.
During the course of the match each team has four chances, called downs, to gain 10 yards forward with the ball. If they fail to do this then the downs reset and they will again try to push forward. If they still can’t get over the required 10 yards after their fourth down then the ball will be turned over to the defensive team.
The game is very complex with hundreds of different plays that the teams can run. Each team has a quarterback who calls the plays for his or her team and then hands off the ball to other players. Each player has a specific role with some bigger guys serving as blockers and smaller guys who are either running the ball or catching it. There are also players who can both run the ball and throw it (wide receivers and tight ends).
In addition to these roles there are coaches who call the play for the entire team, and referees who enforce the rules of the game. Football is a very popular sport in America and there are many ways to watch the games. The best way is to sign up for a streaming service like YouTube TV. For $75 a month you will have access to local channels including CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC as well as ESPN and the NFL Network so you can watch all the action live.
At the start of each game the teams face off across from one another on an oval-shaped playing field that’s surrounded by a fence and lined with spectators. The teams are separated by a line of scrimmage that’s defined by the number of players on each side and extends to both sides of the field. During the play, no player from either team can cross this line.
To score a touchdown, the ball must cross the end zone and be touched by an opposing player. A touchdown can be scored by carrying the ball into the end zone or kicking it through the uprights. After a touchdown, the scoring team may kick a point through the posts for one extra point.
The game became very popular in America after World War II and in the early 1960s it made its official Olympic debut. It then spread worldwide through the work of the international governing body FIFA, which has now more than 200 member countries. It’s a game that can be played by anyone with the right equipment, but it requires excellent fitness levels and stamina to keep up with the fast pace of the game. It’s a good idea to stretch and exercise before a game to avoid injury.
