Football is a sport where teams of players take turns playing offense and defense. There are four 15-minute quarters in which each team plays. There is also a two-minute break between the 1st and 2nd quarter and a fifteen-minute break between the 3rd and 4th quarter.
Strategy is an important factor in football. Each team has a playbook of dozens or hundreds of plays, which they use throughout the game to move the ball forward for a score. Some plays are very safe, while others may have a chance for long gains but at a greater risk of loss of yardage or a turnover.
The offensive team tries to move the ball down the field by running with the ball or throwing the ball to another player. The team designs its plays to overpower or fool the defense. A quarterback is responsible for most of the offense’s plays.
Tight ends, wide receivers and running backs line up on the offensive line. They are responsible for protecting the quarterback and creating space for running backs. The running backs are responsible for gaining yards by running with the ball and rushing the defense.
Defensive players try to stop the offense’s progress by tackling or catching the ball. They can also sack the quarterback.
Offense and Defense
The team that scores the most points wins the game. The first goal of the offensive team is to score a touchdown, which is when a player runs or passes the ball across the opposition’s goal line. A touchdown is worth six points and is the most valuable point in a game.
After a touchdown is scored, the scoring team has a chance to score additional points by kicking the ball between the uprights (field goals) or by running or passing the ball into the end zone for two extra points. If a player is injured or falls down during a play, the team has the option of a penalty.
Each team gets four downs to gain 10 yards or more and the downs reset after each down. The team can either throw the ball or run the ball to make up these yards and if they do not pass the required 10 yards their downs reset.
During a down the offensive team hikes the ball from the center and passes it to a running back, wide receiver or quarterback. The running back then runs with the ball or hand the ball off to a teammate for another run or pass.
Once the play is over the ball moves to the next down. The down starts at the point where the previous player was tackled or went out of bounds.
On fourth down the offence can choose to punt the ball or try for a field goal. If they punt the ball they lose possession of it to the defensive team and must start the next down from the point where they punted.
The end of the season is marked by a Professional Championship game, which is contested between the winners of each conference. The winner of this tournament then plays for the Super Bowl, which is one of the most popular events in the world and is generally played on the first Sunday of February.