Football is one of the world’s most popular sports. It is played by people of all ages, from all corners of the globe, and it can be a thrilling sport to watch. However, if you are not familiar with the game, it may be confusing to understand its rules and scoring. The goal of the game is to score points by getting the ball across the opposing team’s end zone either by throwing and catching it or by running it in. There are two teams, 11 players on each, and they play each other.
The ball is a round leather ball with an inflated rubber bladder. A three-ply synthetic lining sewn inside gives it its distinctive elongated shape. The lining is connected to a valve, which allows air to be pumped into the bladder, giving it its distinctive feel. The quarterback, the player in charge of the offense, passes or hands off the ball to the running back and wide receivers. The center snaps the ball to the quarterback at the beginning of each play.
Each team gets four tries, known as downs, to advance the ball at least 10 yards down the field. If they fail to make this progress within the allotted number of plays, they will turn the ball over to the other team.
When the ball is in the air, defensive players try to intercept or sack the quarterback. When a defender intercepts a pass, he is able to run with the ball until he is tackled or forced out of bounds. A player who recovers a fumble can also run with it until he is tackled or forced out-of-bounds.
A successful field goal is worth 3 points and happens when the kicker puts the ball through the uprights of the goals. A successful two-point conversion is worth 2 additional points and involves running a play from the opponent’s 2-yard line.
A touchdown is worth 6 points and is scored when the ball crosses the opposing team’s end zone. A successful point after touchdown (PAT) is worth 1 additional point and involves the kicker kicking the ball through the uprights of the goal posts from the 2-yard line. In addition to these basic rules, there are a number of other important things to know about the game, including timekeeping, positions, and order of play. It is important to learn these details in order to understand the game better. It is also helpful to have an understanding of the different types of penalties that can be called during a game. Some of the most common include a false start and holding. The latter is a penalty that occurs when a defensive player touches the offensive player during or after the quarterback throws the ball. Other common penalties are roughing the passer and pass interference. These are personal fouls and may result in a penalty of 5 or 10 yards, respectively. In some cases, the penalty may even result in a turnover.