The Fundamentals of Football

The first basic thing that you need to know is how many members per team are allowed to play inside the field. The answer is 11 players each: eleven for the offense (who mainly consists of a quarterback, wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs), and eleven for the defense team (who consists of the linebackers, defensive line, cornerbacks, and safeties). But actually, a team is divided into three units – the offense, defense, and the special teams; although the special teams only come in kicking situations like the punts, field goals, and kickoffs.

So, let’s get the ball moving here.

The game starts when the placekicker kicks the ball to the offense. This is called a kickoff. A man from the offense side will catch it and advance the ball by running. To advance the ball, the offense can either run, or throw it. When the quarterback hands the ball to the running back, the RB will then run and try to gain as many yards as possible as he tries to get away from the defensive players. The other alternative to advance the ball is to throw or pass it. The fact is any of the offensive players are allowed to pass (not just the QB), as long as the pass is done from behind the battling line.

On the other hand, if an offensive player who carries the ball was prevented by the defense from advancing it, and that player touches the ground, then that is called tackle. An offensive player is said to be tackled if both of his knees fell on the ground.

After knowing how more or less the game flows, now let’s talk about gaining points. There are actually four ways to score in football.

First is the safety which is worth 2 points. A safety happens when the offensive player with the ball is tackled behind his goal line. Next is the touchdown which is worth 6 points. In order to score, the ball must be handed across the goal to the end zone; the player drops the ball but recovers it in the end zone; if it is caught in the end zone; or if ball remains untouched and is recovered by the kicking team in the end zone. Next to touchdown is the extra point and the two-point conversion with 1 or 2 points respectively. Without more ado, after the touchdown, the player will place the ball into the opponent’s two yard line. And by doing so, the offense can either kick an extra point (which is 1 point), or can run or pass the ball into the end zone just like how to score a touchdown (which is worth 2 points). And lastly, the field goal, which is worth 3 points. A field goal is said to be good if the placekicker kicks the ball through the goal-post uprights and over the crossbar, while the defense tries block and prevent the ball from reaching the goal.

So now you know some of the basics that you ought to know about your favorite sport. These football players are indeed of great strength and stamina. But despite of the hard hitting action inside the field, still there are certain rules, and rudiments that these players always need to keep in their minds, in order the play the game in an honest and fair way.

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