Football is a team sport in which players try to move the ball down the field for a score. Players can run with the ball, throw it to a teammate, or both. Different strategies are designed to overpower or fool the defense into allowing the offense to advance the ball. These strategies are called plays.
The game starts with a coin toss to see which team will get the ball first. Then the teams line up on the field with one player from each team holding the ball in front of them. The center then hikes the ball to the quarterback, who attempts to pass or hand off the ball to a running back or wide receiver. The quarterback can also make a catch to score a touchdown.
Each team is given four attempts, called downs, to achieve 10 yards or more of progress. After achieving that amount, the ball is placed at a spot on the field known as the line of scrimmage for the start of the next play. The downs continue until the offense scores, the defense takes the ball, or time runs out.
There are several different types of football, such as association football and rugby. All of these games use the same general rules, but they may differ in some ways, such as the size and shape of the ball and the way players tackle each other. These differences can affect the quality of a game and the overall outcome.
One of the most important things to know about football is that play often stops for a variety of reasons. For instance, if a player goes out of bounds or is hit by another player, the referee will stop play and review the situation. Likewise, if a player throws a pass that is incomplete, the play will stop and the ball will be returned to the line of scrimmage.
The ball used in football is a leather covering with a bladder inside. There is a valve that protrudes through the leather and allows air to be pumped into the ball. The ball is usually filled with some kind of granulate, which gives it its distinctive elongated shape.
The game is played on a rectangular field with parallel sidelines and an end line that forms a 6-foot-wide boundary. Two 10-yard-wide areas on either end of the field are known as the end zones. The end zone behind a team is that team’s territory, while the end zone ahead of a team is its opponent’s territory. Each end zone has two pylons located at the end of the end line. A successful kick for a field goal can earn a team six points. A team can also earn points by tackling an attacking player in the end zone for a safety. This is known as a 2-point conversion. A punt in football is a long kick that transfers the ball to the opposing team. This is typically done on fourth down.