Football is a team sport in which players try to move the ball into their opponent’s end zone. They can do this by running or throwing the ball. Once they have done this they are awarded six points. They can also score extra points by kicking a field goal. A successful kick must go through the uprights.
The game is played on a field 100 yards long and 160 feet wide. It has two 10-yard-wide end zones at each end of the field. There are also lines called hash marks that run the length of the field, marking each single yard interval.
Each team has 11 players on the field. Each player must wear a helmet, uniform, and shin pads to protect themselves from injury. Only the quarterback and designated receivers are allowed to touch the ball with their hands. Anyone else who touches the ball with their hands must be tackled by a defensive team member or get a penalty. The quarterback, also known as the “QB”, calls all of the plays for his team during a play. He must also be able to read the defense and make decisions quickly to execute the play.
Offensive players gain yards by runs, throws, and catches. There are 4 offensive linemen – left guard, left tackle, center, and right tackle – that start on the line of scrimmage at the beginning of each play. They block the opposing team’s defenders to give the quarterback time to pass or run. There are 3 wide receivers (WR) that catch the balls thrown by the QB, and 2 tight ends that block the defenders and can also catch passes.
After each play, the officials determine how many yards the offense has gained or lost. If a team fails to advance 10 yards in four downs, it must punt the ball to the other team. If the offensive team does not punt and decides to “go for it,” they must reach the end zone by the end of the fourth down or else surrender the ball to the other team.
The defensive players’ primary goal is to stop the offensive team from scoring by tackling the ball carrier or intercepting a pass. They also must protect the quarterback from being sacked by the offensive linemen or getting hit by other defenders. They can also prevent the wide receivers from catching passes by covering them. The cornerbacks, also called the safeties, back up the linemen and cover the receivers on some plays. They also help to prevent other players on the opposing team from catching the ball by blocking them or breaking up passes from the QB. They can also tackle the QB and other offensive players who have the ball. They can also recover fumbles and return touchdowns.
