Football is a team sport where players compete to score points by kicking or passing a ball into a net behind the opposing team’s goal. The game also involves tackling or blocking other players and is played on a field up to 100 yards long. The teams are made up of 11 players on each side. The first team to reach 100 points wins the game. If the game is tied, overtime may occur.
The modern game of football was created in the 19th century in America by combining elements of soccer and rugby. In the beginning, college teams used inflated pig bladders because of their semi-round shape, durability, and accessibility. Later, they were covered with calveskin and laced tightly together. This gave rise to the famous hexagon and pentagon pattern of a modern football.
A football player must have good communication skills to play the game well. This is important because it helps them to work with other players to tactfully maneuver the ball into position to make a play. A player must also be able to read the other team’s defense and anticipate their moves. They must also be able to quickly regain possession of the ball if it is lost.
To start a play, an official places the ball on the field and lines up the two teams opposite each other along an imaginary line called the line of scrimmage. The teams then begin a play by having one of their players, called the ball carrier, run with the ball toward the line of scrimmage. This player can run, hand off to a running back or fullback, or throw the ball to a wide receiver for a pass.
As the ball carrier approaches the line of scrimmage, the defending team attempts to stop them by tackling them or pushing them out of bounds. The ball carrier can also fumble or drop the ball, which allows a defensive player to pick it up and run with it for a touchdown. The defending team can also score by tagging the offense’s player in their own end zone for a safety.
Besides a touchdown, scoring points in football is possible through extra points and field goals. A team can earn extra points by kicking the ball through the goal posts for one point, or they can run or pass the ball into the opponent’s end zone for two points. A team can also earn a field goal by kicking the ball through the goal posts from any point on the field.
To win a football game, a team must score more points than the other team by the end of the fourth quarter. If the score is tied, overtime will occur. The overtime rules vary depending on the league and the game type.