Football is a team sport where players carry and pass the ball forward. There are many different positions on a football team and each has a specific job. There are big guys who serve as blockers, smaller guys who are in charge of catching or running with the ball and there are also kickers and punters.
The main goal of the game is to score points. A team can score points by running with the ball or throwing it to a receiver in the opponent’s end zone (a touchdown, worth six points) or kicking the ball through the end-zone structure, known as the goal posts (a field goal, worth three points). The goal of the opposing team is to prevent you from scoring by knocking you down or taking the ball away from you.
A game of football lasts 90 minutes, divided into two halves. Each half begins with the ball being kicked off by one of the teams. The game is played on a 100-yard field, with a 10-yard end zone at either end. Teams are allowed four attempts, called downs, to advance the ball 10 yards. The number of downs remaining is displayed on the scoreboard, with the distance required to advance to a first down labelled as “TO GO”.
If a team fails to make 10 yards in four downs, it must turn over the ball to the defense and begin a new series of downs. On each down, the quarterback must either run with the ball or throw it to a player to advance the ball. If a player tackles the quarterback while he has the ball in his hand, it’s considered a sack and gives the defensive team possession of the ball.
The game is very physical and requires a lot of running, jumping and tackling. It can be hard on the joints and muscles but it builds stamina and helps with muscle toning. Football also boosts cardiovascular endurance and can help improve mental health. It can be fun to play and watch and some people even develop rivalries with fans of other teams. The games can be watched at the stadium or at home, on television or in bars.
