The Basics of Football

A game of football involves two teams of 11 players – an offensive and a defensive team. In each team, a quarterback is the playmaker and the leader of the team. The quarterback throws the ball and outlines plays to the team. The defensive team, on the other hand, tries to force the offensive team to give up possession. When the team with the ball scores or forces the other team to give up possession, the players switch roles. The game usually lasts four quarters.

The offensive team has four chances to advance the ball on each play. If they fail to do so, they will be penalized. The offense has to advance the ball at least 10 yards each time on the field, and failure to do so will result in a loss of possession. A team may also intentionally punt the ball to the opposing team. Depending on the situation, the defense can have the ball back before the end of the game. The goal of the offensive team is to score, but the defense must score at least one point to win.

There are several penalties in a football game. Some of these penalties include intentional grounding and delay of game. Intentionally grounding occurs when the defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage prior to the snap and makes contact with an opponent’s face mask. Another common penalty is helmet-to-helmet collision, in which a player’s helmet hits the helmet of another player. Aside from tackling the ball carrier, other players may also be penalized.

During a football game, the field is approximately 120 yards long and 53 1/2 yards wide. On each side of the field, the goal line is the starting point of play, while the end zone marks are ten yards apart. In addition to the goal line, yardage markers are placed every ten yards up the field until the opposite goal line. The game is played between two teams of 11 players, one of which is always on offense and the other plays defense. As mentioned before, the offensive team has the power to score points even while the opposing team is on defense.

The biggest offensive goal in football is a touchdown. A touchdown occurs when the offensive ball carrier touches the goal line. This will be worth six points for the scoring team. If the offensive team scores a touchdown, they may try to score one or two extra points by either running or passing the ball into the end zone. Going for two points, however, is harder than kicking the extra point. The defense can advance the ball until the ball carrier is tackled.

A foul can result in a yellow card, or worse, a red card. Yellow cards are warnings, while a red card is a dismissal. Two yellow cards equal one red card. If a player is sent off, he cannot be replaced, and the ball must be thrown in, a goal kick, or a corner kick. This can cause a lot of evil. If you can’t see the foul, you may need to consider playing football in a different way.