Nail the Basics of the NFL
If you’ve never watched football before, it’s almost like the announcers are speaking another language. Oh, a player you’ve never heard of just caught a Hail Mary on third down and ran it into the endzone. Did any of that make sense? It’s okay, we’re here to help! Come with us as we explore a few basic football terms you should know before the next big game.
1. End Zone
Picture a football field. You see the lines and numbers along the edges, which mark the yards players run, and then you see the two zones on each end of the field. Those zones are called the “end zone,” which is simply where players need to reach to score a touchdown.
2. Blitz
Football isn’t just about the offense; it’s also about strategic defense! A blitz is a pretty risky move that applies pressure on the quarterback; teams send more players than usual to tackle him in the hopes that he fumbles or throws it away in a hurry, which can lead to an interception.
3. Down
Downs merely refer to the period of time when a ball is officially in play. It starts when the ball is snapped or kicked and ends when the play is completed or the ball is ruled dead. Teams get four downs to try and move up ten yards. If they fail, the ball goes to the other team.
4. Fumble
Fumbles can happen for any number of reasons, but they usually occur after a nasty tackle forces the ball from a player’s hands. Opposing teams can then pick it up and try to score on their end.
5. Kickoff
Kickoffs refer to the free kick teams get to restart (or start) the game. You have the opening kickoff, which begins play, and you also have kickoffs after a touchdown or a field goal. Kickoffs also occur to start each half.
