Football is a team sport and there are 11 players on the field from each team at any given time. Each player has a specific role and each team works together to try and score points against the opposing team. To be successful in football you need to understand the rules of the game and how to play your position well. There are a few different ways to learn the game including reading books or online guides, watching games and listening to commentary, playing the Madden video games (if you’re a console guy/girl), and training with your teammates on a regular basis.
The first step in learning football is to identify which position you will be playing. There are 3 positions; Running Back, Wide Receiver and Quarterback. The running back is the main ball carrier and runs the ball along the ground while trying to get to the end zone for a touchdown. The Quarterback is responsible for completing passes to the Wide Receivers and has to be in good contact with them to gain yards. The Wide Receiver is the main target of any defensive team so he must be fast and have great hands.
A successful scoring play is a Touchdown and this is worth 6 points to the team. To score a touchdown the ball must either a) Run into the oppositions end zone or b) catch the ball in their own End Zone. A kicker can also score a field goal which is worth 3 points and if the attacking team manages to kick the ball between the upright posts then they will receive 2 extra points.
Fouls in football can be costly to a team and it is down to the referee’s discretion to issue yellow or red cards depending on the severity of the foul. A yellow card is a warning to the player and a red card is an immediate dismissal.
The aim of the game is to score more goals than your opponent within a 90 minute period. The match is split into 4 Quarters and 2 Halves with the teams taking a 15 minute break called Half Time after the second Quarter. It is possible to extend the playing time by adding additional periods called Quarters but this is at the discretion of the Referee. Injuries and player availability are considered when extending the playing time. During this time the Referee will also take into consideration whether any additional players need to join the game. If this is the case then the Referee will consult the captains of each team before making a decision.
