In the US, Football (American Football), is the most watched sport on television. The regular season is shorter than any other sport, with each team playing 1 game per week. The NFL has not yet picked up much attention here on Scorum, and the season is around the corner. I thought I’d lay out the basics of American Football for those who don’t have a great understanding of the sport. Check out the quick 2 minute video below giving a super high level view of the sport, and keep scrolling to find out more about the sport, the league, and what’s going on this year.

Top plays of the 2017 season video at the bottom of the post. Check it out!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

American football is about trying to make points by passing, carrying, or kicking an oblong ball (with two pointed ends) into your opponent’s end zone. Football is a rough-and-tumble game with its own language, including some terms that are just strange. For example, a strong safety is a defender, and a regular safety is a play that scores two points — go figure. But knowing the lingo and the players, not to mention common penalties, can take you a long way toward getting a handle on this popular American sport.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

PLAYER POSITIONS IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL                   Source

When two opposing American football teams meet on the gridiron (playing field), the player positions depend on whether the football team is playing offense or defense. Football pits the offense, the team with the ball, against the defense, which tries to prevent the offense from scoring. Each side lines up facing the other with the football in the middle.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

AMERICAN FOOTBALL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS           Source

To understand and enjoy American football, get familiar with key terms and what they mean. Until you grasp basic football lingo, listening to announcers call a football game can be like listening to monkey gibberish. The following list fills you in on the basic American football terms you need to know:

Backfield: The group of offensive players — the running backs and quarterback — who line up behind the line of scrimmage.

Down: A period of action that starts when the ball is put into play and ends when the ball is ruled dead (meaning the play is completed). The offense gets four downs to advance the ball 10 yards. If it fails to do so, it must surrender the ball to the opponent, usually by punting on the fourth down.


Drive: The series of plays when the offense has the football, until it punts or scores and the other team gets possession of the ball.

End zone: A 10-yard-long area at each end of the field. You score a touchdown when you enter the end zone in control of the football. If you’re tackled in your own end zone while in possession of the football, the other team gets a safety.



Extra point: A kick, worth one point, that’s typically attempted after every touchdown (it’s also known as the point after touchdown, or PAT). The ball is placed on either the 2-yard line (in the NFL) or the 3-yard line (in college and high school) and is generally kicked from inside the 10-yard line after being snapped to the holder. It must sail between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goalpost to be considered good.

Field goal: A kick, worth three points, that can be attempted from anywhere on the field but is usually attempted within 40 yards of the goalpost. Like an extra point, a kick must sail above the crossbar and between the uprights of the goalpost to be ruled good.

Fumble: The act of losing possession of the ball while running with it or being tackled. Members of the offense and defense can recover a fumble. If the defense recovers the fumble, the fumble is called a turnover.

Handoff: The act of giving the ball to another player. Handoffs usually occur between the quarterback and a running back.

Interception: A pass that’s caught by a defensive player, ending the offense’s possession of the ball.

Kickoff: A free kick (meaning the receiving team can’t make an attempt to block it) that puts the ball into play. A kickoff is used at the start of the first and third quarters and after every touchdown and successful field goal.

Line of scrimmage: An imaginary line that extends from where the football is placed at the end of a play to both sides of the field. Neither the offense nor the defense can cross the line until the football is put in play again.

Offensive line: The human wall of five men who block for and protect the quarterback and ball carriers. Every line has a center (who snaps the ball), two guards, and two tackles.

Punt: A kick made when a player drops the ball and kicks it while it falls toward his foot. A punt is usually made on a fourth down when the offense must surrender possession of the ball to the defense because it couldn’t advance 10 yards.

Red zone: The unofficial area from the 20-yard line to the opponent’s goal line. Holding an opponent to a field goal in this area is considered a moral victory for the defense.

Return: The act of receiving a kick or punt and running toward the opponent’s goal line with the intent of scoring or gaining significant yardage.

Rushing: To advance the ball by running, not passing. A running back is sometimes called a rusher.

Sack: When a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of yardage.

Safety: A score, worth two points, that the defense earns by tackling an offensive player in possession of the ball in his own end zone.

Secondary: The four defensive players who defend against the pass and line up behind the linebackers and wide on the corners of the field opposite the receivers.

Special teams: The 22 players who are on the field during kicks and punts. These units have special players who return punts and kicks, as well as players who are experts at covering kicks and punts.

Touchdown: A score, worth six points, that occurs when a player in possession of the ball crosses the plane of the opponent’s goal line, when a player catches the ball while in the opponent’s end zone, or when a defensive player recovers a loose ball in the opponent’s end zone.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

AMERICAN FOOTBALL PENALTIES                                               Source

Encroachment: When a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and makes contact with an opponent before the ball is snapped. 5 yards

False Start: When an interior lineman on the offensive team moves prior to the snap of the ball, or when any offensive player makes a quick, abrupt movement prior to the snap of the ball. 5 yards

Offside: When any part of a player’s body is beyond the line of scrimmage or free kick line when the ball is put into play. 5 yards

Holding (Offensive): When an offensive player uses his hands, arms, or other parts of his body to prevent a defensive player from tackling the ball carrier. 10 yards

Holding (Defensive): When a defensive player tackles or holds an offensive player other than the ball carrier. 5 yards, Automatic First Down

Pass Interference: A judgment call made by an official who sees a defensive player make contact with the intended receiver before the ball arrives, thus restricting his opportunity to catch the forward pass. Spot of the foul, Automatic First Down

Helmet to Helmet Collision: When one player uses his helmet to hit into another player’s helmet. 15 yards, Automatic First Down

Horse Collar Tackle: When one player tackles another by grabbing inside their shoulder pads (or jersey) from behind and yanking them down. 15 yards, Automatic First Down

Face Mask: When a player grabs the face mask of another player while attempting to block or tackle. 15 yards, Automatic First Down

Roughing the Kicker: When a defensive player makes any contact with the punter, provided the defensive player hasn’t touched the kicked ball before contact. 15 yards, Automatic First Down

Roughing the Passer: When a defensive player makes direct contact with the quarterback after the quarterback has released the ball. 15 yards, Automatic First Down

Personal Foul: An illegal, flagrant foul considered risky to the health of another player. 15 yards

Delay of Game: An action which delays the game; for example, if the offense allows the play clock to run out. 5 yards

_______________________________________________________________________________________

In closing, American Football is an exciting sport with great competition. The NFL has been working year after year at expanding the sport internationally, and this year there will be 3 games played in London, and 1 in Mexico. Hopefully we will see further expansion in the near future!

TOP PLAYS OF THE NFL 2017 SEASON