Football is a sport that is played on a rectangular field between two teams. The team that scores more goals wins the game.
The game starts with a player from the offense taking possession of the ball (the ovoid ball). They then run and throw the ball to other members of the team to score points. The goal is to get the ball to the opponent’s end zone and cross over their goal line with the ball in the air or catch it and carry it into the end zone for a touchdown.
There are 11 players on each team. The offensive team consists of a quarterback, running back, and wide receivers. The defensive team consists of linemen and tacklers. The linemen protect the quarterback and defenders from any passes or runs by the opposing offense.
During the game, a referee oversees the play and marks the time with his arms. The game is divided into halves and a 15-minute break called halftime occurs between each.
The rules of the game are governed by the International Association of Association Football, and they vary slightly from country to country. Some countries, such as Argentina and Italy, have national leagues that follow international rules.
Offensive players line up, facing the defense at the point where the ball is thrown (the line of scrimmage). One of them is the center who snaps the ball between his legs and hands it to the quarterback, holder, or punter.
If the center fails to make contact with the ball, or if they lose it on the way, the ball is ruled out of play and another player from the offensive team can take it into play. The center then snaps the ball again and this is repeated until either the ball is in play or the defending team takes it into play.
After a touchdown, the team tries to kick the ball through the opponent’s goal post for 3 points or run or pass it into the end zone for a touchdown, which is worth 6 points. This can be accomplished by a number of different techniques.
A fumble is the act of losing the ball while being tackled by a member of the defense or running with it. If the defending team recovers the ball, it is then re-thrown to the offense and a new play begins.
There are also special rules for certain situations such as a sack or a pick six. A sack is the act of a defensive player tackling a quarterback with the ball behind his head, thus preventing him from making a pass.
On the other hand, a pick six is when a defensive player intercepts a pass and then runs with the ball into the opponent’s end zone, where they can kick it in for six points. This is a rare but fun situation that can happen during the course of a game.
In the United States, there are also professional teams in various leagues such as the National Football League. This is considered a major league in the world and it is one of the most popular sports around. There are also youth and amateur clubs who participate in the games.
