Oh, we bet you’ll know about either NFL or American Football, if not both. Perhaps you are aware that the ball is egg-shaped and the truth is, there is drastically more throwing and catching of the ball in this show than titles might make you assume.
Often just referred to as football in the United States, ‘America’s game’ is occupied at the professional level by the sporting corporate name, the National Football League (NFL). Known as ‘football,’ with a short, explosive regular season that runs from September only to January and with only 17 games per team, professional sports fans, and sports memorabilia collectors have embraced football season, and with good reason: in recent years football has grown to become an international game as more and more teams travel to different countries – Mexico City, Munich and of course London to play annual games.
Thus, if you are an NFL novice or simply feel you have no idea what a sack and a snap are, let alone drive, this article will serve as an ultimate primer to understanding the basics of American Football.
What is American Football, and how did the NFL begin?
American football originated in the middle of the nineteenth century. Effectively it is a game of tackle, where one uses the hands to kick and carry an elongated ball and games are played over a conventional-sized football pitch of one hundred yards.
The sport is a book and has grown tremendously to the extent it can be arguably considered to be the most popular sport in America. Many people join the game for their own individual school or college team and then progress to a professional team such as the National Football League.
American football is loved wholeheartedly, and millions of viewers are eagerly waiting for their favorite football matches, for example, the first National Football League regular campaign attracted 26 million people! However, to better understand, you have to know when games are played or take place. In the NFL it was possible to get one game on Thursday which is called for some reason Thursday Night Football. Then again there are no games on Friday or Saturday while the complete gamut is played on Sunday.
The majority of games kick off at 6 pm, with a couple more around 9:05 pm and 9:25 pm, then one big matchup at 1:20 am. Monday night (again, very early hours Tuesday as it kicks off around 1:15 am) then holds the last and final game of that specific week, holding a night-time game similar to both Sunday and Thursday.
Indeed, there are hours in a week when there’s no American football to watch, which would certainly be somewhat strange for some supporters. But, wait a minute, everybody gets used to that at some time!
What is the aim of the game?
The main objective of the game is to get to the other team’s side and place the ball into the end zone. This can be done by directly passing the ball to a team-mate or by putting the ball into the ground and then running with it until the ball holder is taken to the ground. On the other hand, when one’s team is on the defensive, the objective is to stop the opponents from getting to the other team’s end zone by ‘taking them down’.
How do you score points?
The teams have to advance with the ball within a distance of at least 10 yards every time that an offense has a position; they get four shots at doing it, or else the ball is taken away and given to the other team.
And suppose they are lucky to run or pass their way down that field to make a touchdown. In that case, they get six points, although it is possible to gain one or two additional points with an ‘extra point’ attempt in which the ball is kicked for the goal posts, or ‘two-point conversion’, which in effect is a second try to make a touchdown when the ball is only two yards away from the end zone.
If a team cannot get to the endzone they can try and kick an additional three points on the ‘field goal’, another attempt at kicking the ball through the goalposts.
When a touchdown is not possible, the team will usually punt the ball back to the opposition from their territory for their offense to come onto the field.
Why Did The Whistle Blow? Penalties Explained
If the referee has noticed something or believes that there was a foul then he will blow a whistle and card entries will be made.
Offensive Penalties:
- False Start – Every member of the offense has to stop momentarily for three seconds before the play can begin. A false start is called when one of the members in the offense’s team moves before the ball is snapped to initiate play. When this occurs, the offense is penalized and is moved five yards back on the field.
- Holding – This is considered when an offensive player clings to any part of a defending player to hinder him/her from pursuing the ball carrier. There is a 10-yard penalty imposed to the side of offense.
- Offensive Pass Interference (OPI) – OPI is a foul that occurs when the receiving team’s player uses their hands to push off a defender, or makes a block, during a passing play. A 15-yard penalty and the loss of a down are called against the offense. A loss of down indicates that contrarily to other infractions where a yardage penalty is given while the down is played again on the next play (2nd down), OPI has the additional burden of the lost ground and one less shot at making up for it (3rd down).
Defensive Penalties
Just like the other side of the field in American football, the NFL has set penalties for the defensive side as well.
- Offside – This is when one or the majority of the defensive team starts at the side of the field as opposed to the line of scrimmage before the snap. A penalty of five yards is given to the side of the defensive unit.
- Holding – A holding penalty is given when a defender grabs an opposing player to prevent that person from receiving the ball (before it is passed) or prevent them from continuing their run to block below. A 5-yard penalty is given to the defense and to the offense they get a new set of downs.
- Defensive Pass Interference (DPI) – DPI occurs when a defender makes contact to a receiver and gains an unfair advantage by physically shoving the receiver during a passing play. The ball is relocated to the place of the foul and the offense acquires a new set of four tries (thus, DPI is a type of a ‘spot foul’.
Conclusion
American football is much more than a game; it’s a cultural phenomenon that captivates millions of fans worldwide. From understanding its rich history and fundamental rules to appreciating the strategic brilliance of the NFL, beginners have plenty to explore. Whether you’re tuning in for the excitement of a Sunday night game or delving into the intricacies of penalties and scoring, American football offers something for everyone. Now that you’ve got the basics down, grab some snacks, pick a favorite team, and enjoy the thrill of the gridiron. Welcome to the exciting world of American football!