The Basics of the Game
If you're new to football, watching the game might feel a lot like seeing chaos unfold on the field. Once you know the basic rules, though, you'll start to understand the motions, and it'll look a lot more like organized chaos. Whether you're a newbie to the game or just need a quick refresher, we've got you covered. Here are five key rules about football you need to know.
1. Downs & Yardage
Each team has four downs (i.e., plays) to advance with the ball by 10 yards. These downs are made up and organized by the players, and there are a plethora of ways they can unfold on the field. If the team succeeds in getting 10 yards, they keep their possession; if they don't, the ball is turned over to the opposing team.
2. Scoring
A touchdown is worth six points and can be scored by either carrying the ball to the end zone or catching the ball at the end zone. Field goals—a kick made from anywhere on the pitch—are worth three points, and a safety—when the defensive team successfully tackles an attacking opponent in their own end zone—is worth two.
3. Game Structure
Each game lasts 60 minutes, which are divided into four 15-minute quarters. A coin toss and a kickoff start the game; the coin toss allows the winner to gain first possession and choose an end zone of their choice, and the kickoff is when one team punts the ball as far as they can to maximize the distance the other team has to run back with.
4. Possession
Maintaining possession is crucial in football. Even though each team has four downs to make 10 yards, if they fumble, get intercepted by the defense, or fail to gain enough yards on their fourth down, the opposing team can take away the ball.
5. Turnovers
To follow up on the previous point, a turnover is any instance when the offensive team loses possession of the ball. This can happen through fumbles (when the ball is dropped) or interceptions (when the defending team catches a ball thrown by the offensive team). Turnovers also automatically happen when a team fails to advance 10 yards on the last down.
