Written by PayingForPlaying
It took me years of watching the game to learn even the tiniest bit about football. But what I have learned I am going to share with my sisters! Because let’s face it, your boyfriend will be blown away to hear you use the word “encroachment” the next time he gets a little too frisky (by the way, that means a player putting part of his body over the line of scrimmage or makes contact with a player from the opposing team).
After reading my guide, you’ll actually recognize that play-action pass (the quarterback fakes handing the football off, then passes) while you’re checking out tom Brady’s butt. The thing is ladies, our real reason to watch football is to see guys in tight pants, but it feels really cool to know what is going on too!
The Basics of the Game
A football game is divided into four quarters – each is 15 minutes long. After each quarter, teams switch ends of the field. So if you’re cheering on the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter as they advance down the field, remember they will be going the opposite direction in the second quarter. Halftime is held after the first two quarters are played. This is typically the time to go to the bathroom or grab a bite to eat – unless, of course, it’s the Super Bowl (in that case, you must watch the half-time show so that you will have something to talk about at work on Monday morning). For players and coaches, halftime is a break used to regroup. If the score is tied at the end of the first four quarters, the game goes into sudden death overtime. The overtime begins just like any other quarter, but the first team to score wins the game.
The Equipment
Like most females, you are probably terrified to watch a ball-carrier get squashed on the football field. It’s amazing to see a receiver jump up (especially while maintaining possession of the ball) after a big hit. Underneath those wonderfully tight uniforms are massive amounts of equipment – that helps. Each football player is equipped with a helmet, face mask, pads, a jersey and pants (and God bless the person who invented the pants – I honestly think it must have been a woman). Football helmets have air-filled pockets inside to help prevent concussions. The air can be adjusted to ensure the helmet fits tightly and will not move if a player gets hit. A chin strap keeps the helmet secure. Every football helmet has a face mask. Take a look the next time you are watching a game and you will notice that the amount of coverage of a face mask is different depending on a player’s position. A lineman’s mask has a lot of bars to protect his face from opposing players. Quarterbacks and receivers wear a more open mask so that they can see the field clearly (thus making it easier for us to get a better look at Matt Leinart – thank God). It is illegal in the game of football to grab a player’s face mask. This will be one of the easiest penalties (although sometimes missed by officials) for you to spot. There are intentional (grabbing a face mask to assist in brining a player down) and unintentional (a player basically getting his fingers caught in another’s mask). Football players wear pads to help absorb the jarring impact from hitting and being hit. Shoulder pads are the most important type of pad, as they protect the shoulders, chest and ribs. Players also wear thigh and hip pads, and some wear elbow and knee pads as well. The jersey is a snug, mesh shirt that helps keep a player’s shoulder pads in place. It also identifies each player – which team he is on, his number and his name. In the NFL, certain positions wear certain numbers. Kickers and quarterbacks wear 1 through 19 (although now some receivers wear lower numbers as well). Defensive backs and running backs wear 20 o 49. Linebackers and centers wear 50 to 59. Offensive lineman and defensive ends wear 60 to 79. Tight ends and wide receivers wear 80 to 89. Memorizing the number system proves very helpful because you can identify who is on the field and what position they play. If you get really good, you may even be able to read what kind of play the coach is calling! And finally the pants – the absolute best part of football! Football pants have always been tight – it’s actually for player comfort, not to make the ladies drool. It’s important that defenders have nothing to grab onto (although given an opportunity, I would probably grab a big handful of something). And this doesn’t mean that football players don’t grab – because at the bottom of a pile, players are grabbing things they ain’t supposed to be grabbing! If you’ve ever seen a runner cough up the ball at the bottom of the pile, that’s probably why. Footwear is also an important piece of a football player’s uniform. In fact, most players typically have several different pairs of shoes in their locker. The style of shoe depends on the field surface (artificial or grass) and field conditions. If conditions change during the game, a player will often switch his shoes.
The Coin Toss
A coin toss starts a football game. Three captains from each team meet an official at the center of the field. One captain from the visiting team calls the toss while the coin is in the air. The winner of the coin toss decides if his team wants to receive the ball or kick off.
The Kick Off
A kick off puts the ball into play at the start of a football game and after halftime, and after every touchdown and field goal. The receiving team lines up on the line of scrimmage. The kicking team’s place kicker puts the ball on a tee at his own 30-yard-line. The player(s) on the receiving team assigned to return the ball catch it and make a beeline to the opposing team’s goal line, or the returner will down the ball for a touch back (to start at the 20-yard-line).
How to Get a Down
The entire concept of football is for each team to make their way down the field toward their opposition’s goal line and score. The fashion in which players move down the field is called downs. A “down” is easier understood as a “chance.” So the offense has four chances (or downs) to advance the ball ten yards. If they get ten yards in four downs or fewer, they get another set of downs to get ten yards closer to the end zone. When the offensive team successfully completes their set of four chances (ten yards), they get a first down. As long as a team keeps making their downs, they can keep advancing down the field in their attempt to score. On the other hand, if the offensive team knows they can’t make ten yards in four downs, they often decide to punt the ball to the defenders on the fourth down. Punting means that the offense will kick the ball (without a tee this time) as deep as possible into the opposition’s zone so that the receiving team has a longer distance to travel before they can score. Once the ball has been received by the defenders, then their first set of downs begin. They then try to make their way down the field for a scoring opportunity.
During the game you will probably notice the announcers throwing out a bunch of numbers. They are actually describing the offensive team’s progress. For example, when the announcer says, “first and ten,” they mean that the offense is ready to take their first chance and needs to advance ten yards to complete the first down. When they say, “second and eight,” the announcers mean that the offense advanced two yards on the previous down and needs eight more yards to go (using their second chance) to complete their first down. Although this was the hardest concept of football for me to grasp, it’s actually simple – the announcer tells us what down it is, and how far the offense must g to get a first down and earn another chance to move down the football field.
How to Score
Now you know that teams use a series of downs to advance down the field, but how do they actually score? There are a number of ways to get points in football – touchdowns (6 points), point-after-touchdown (1 point), two-point conversion (2 points), field goals (3 points)
and safeties (2 points). A touchdown is awarded when an offensive player carries the ball and crosses the plane of the opposing team’s goal line. This means that if the player with the ball crosses the goal line in mid-air, and then is tackled and knocked back over the line, the touchdown still counts. As long as the ball crosses the plane at some point, no matter how brief, a touchdown is awarded. After a touchdown, another down is awarded to the scoring team to attempt a PAT (point-after-touchdown). To get the extra point, a kicker must kick the ball between the uprights of the goalpost and above the crossbar. This down begins at the two-yard-line. A two-point conversion occurs when the offensive team choose to carry the ball over the goal line or passes it into the end zone (like a touchdown), instead of kicking an extra point. Field goals are attempted when a team is driving for a touchdown but falls shorts with the opposition’s 30-yard-line. The attempt is successful when a place kicker kicks the ball (which is held by a teammate) through the uprights. If the field goal is missed, the team loses the ball. If the attempt was from inside the 20-yard-line, the the defense takes possession from the spot of the kick. Safeties are a bit more confusing. A safety is worth two points. When the defense forces the offense to down the ball in their own end zone, they get a safety. The ball is called “down” if the quarterback, running back, or receiver is tackled or if they go out of bounds.
Now you know a little more about football, but there’s still a game plan. In fact, there are zillions of strategies and formations that coaches use. To move the football up the field, a team can either run it or pass it. It’s safer to run the ball (less chance for a fumble). Passes may be completed, incomplete or intercepted. A pass is completed when the ball is caught. A pass is incomplete if the ball is not caught, is caught and then dropped or is caught out of bounds. The ball is then ruled dead and returned to the line of scrimmage. A pass is intercepted when a defender gains possession of the ball while it’s in the air. This is also called a turnover. Although running is preferred, a completed pass typically gains more yards than a run.
Football can be confusing, but if you are watching a game on TV, you will most likely have time t figure out what is going on. It’s almost impossible to miss the plays because there are so many cameras capturing the action on the field – so you get to watch replays from many angles, many times. So this allows you t find out what just happened while you enjoy all those hot bodies tumbling in slow motion over and over again. And don’t forget to keep an eye on the upper corner of the television screen. The box there will tell you what down it is, how much yardage the offense needs to gain to make a first down, how much time is left, and the score. Watch the line of scrimmage. The number of players on the line and positions they take will alert you on the upcoming play. Here are some specific things to keep your eye out for:
- If the defense seems to be creeping up to the line of scrimmage, they plan to either blitz the quarterback or rush into the running lanes to block a running play.
- If only three defensive linemen are lined up close to the line of scrimmage, the defense expects the offense to pass.
- If more than four defensive backs are on the field, the defense is prepared to prevent a pass completion.
- If the offense has a four receivers on the field, the quarterback will probably be throwing the ball.
The more you watch the game – be it at the stadium or on television – you will start to understand football more and more. And your guy will be impressed that you’re learning the game! So, girl, I now crown you a football babe!
Content provided by Associated Content
