Football is a popular sport and is played by teams of football players. Teams comprise of offense players and defense players. Special teams perform specialized roles. On offense, players attempt to advance the ball through passing, rushing, or kicking plays. On defense, players attempt to stop the other team from advancing the ball. During a defense possession, defense players may make a sack of the quarterback or an interception. Special teams may also run with the ball until they are tackled, forced out of bounds, or score.
In football, most players are highly specialized. In college, most players specialize in one position. On offense, the offensive line consists of five players who block the defense and protect the quarterback. Those on the offensive line include guards and tackles. They do not handle the ball. While defensive linemen and center players may make a play, they do not play a crucial role. Instead, they work together to create space for the offense to advance the ball.
The referee, who is also the timekeeper, controls the game. Other assistants monitor the field to signal when a player is offside or when the ball goes out of play. A football game is divided into halves, with halftime lasting 15 minutes. During this time, the referee can stop play and call a restart to continue the game. In case of an injury, the referee can extend the game for a few minutes.
Football has evolved from a simple mob sport to a team game. A game’s downs system consists of four opportunities for the offense to move the ball a certain number of yards. If it takes four attempts to make it that far, the team is considered to be on fourth down. The next down will begin when the offense fails to move the ball more than 10 yards. If it fails to do so, it will have to give up possession of the ball.
American football fields are roughly 100 yards long and 60 yards wide. A ten yard end zone separates each team. The other side of the field is marked with five-yard stripes and shorter lines called hash marks. The field is about 160 feet wide. The goal of a game is to score as many points as possible with a team’s offensive strategy. The game is widely popular around the world and can be played almost anywhere. Its simple rules and minimal equipment allow it to be played by anyone, regardless of age, skill level, or location.
In England, the practice of paying players for professional play reached crisis proportions in the 1870s when the FA expelled two clubs for using professional players. By the time the FA sanctioned payment, many clubs had already begun using this practice. As a result, the professional system became more lucrative for northern clubs and helped them attract better players. However, the amateur system still remained in place in England. It is a pity, because it is a reflection of the social and economic disparity between the developed and developing worlds.