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An Introduction To American Football
American Football is a game played between two teams on a pitch 100 yards long. At each end of the pitch is an endzone. Points are scored by getting the ball into the oppositions endzone.
Each team can only have 11 players on the field at any time, although squad sizes can be up to 45.
The game is 1 hour long, split into four quarters where the teams change ends, although the clock can be stopped in many diffrenet ways. The game is played in three parts:
- offense
- defense
- special teams
When one team's offense is on then the other teams defense is on and vice-versa. Special teams are used at the same time and cover kick-offs, field goals and punting.
A team moves towards the opposition goal line in a stop start manner by a series of downs. The team in possession is allowed four downs to take the ball 10 yards. If they succeed they get another four attempts to travel the next ten yards. If they fail, the other team gets possession.
So the phrase "Second down and seven" means the team has moved the ball three yards forward and is making its second attempt with seven yards to go. N.B. If a team fails to make the ten yards on the first three downs then they will usually opt to "punt" - kick the ball from your hands - the ball down the field as far as possible, leaving the opposition with further to score.
Points are scored in four ways.A touch down is worth six points when the ball is taken over the opponents' goal line into the Endzone. The ball doesn't have to be touched down by a player as in rugby, but he must be in control of the ball. A player can catch the ball in the endzone or run the ball over the goal line.
After a touch down a team can gain an extra point with a conversion kick taken in front of the goals or can opt to run or pass the ball over the goal line for two points.
Field goals are worth three points and are taken from in front of the posts at the point that the team has advanced to on the field.
A saftey, worth two points is scored when an opposition player is trapped in his own endzone with the ball.
Offensive Skills: Stance
Offensive Skills: Blocking
Defensive Skills: Stance
Defensive Skills: Tackling
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