By Adam Richards
Last year, 111million people watched the Super Bowl; that’s almost a third of the United States, so why does it seem like so many Pioneers do not understand “America’s Sport.” There is no shame in being confused by the convoluted and sometimes chaotic rules of football. The rules of soccer are as easy as checkers and the rules of football more likely resemble the complexities of chess. So to prevent any possible future embarrassment or shaming, listen up and get the lowdown on America’s “greatest” sport.
Scoring
A touchdown is when a team has possession of the ball in the opponent's end zone, the far end of the field. Touchdowns score a team 6 points along with the option of a 1 point extra kick or a 2 point conversion. A team's kicker can kick field goals from anywhere on the field, but most can’t kick past the 45-yard line. A field goal gives the team 3 points. Safeties are when the player carrying the ball gets tackled in his own end zone, resulting in 2 points for the team on defense. Any score is possible in football except 1.
The Field
A football field is 100 yards with lines cutting across the field at 5 yard increments and sets of 1-yard hash marks running down the sides of the field. End zones are on both ends of the field and are 10 yards deep.
Downs
Teams have 4 downs to move the ball 10 yards down the field. Even though teams have 4 tries there is often a mindset that they must get all 10 yards in 3 downs, because if they try on the fourth and fail the ball is immediately turned over to the other team. Because of this, often on fourth down teams will bring out their punter and kick the ball down the field so that the opposing team has further to go to score a touchdown. If they are close enough they bring out their kicker and try to kick a field goal.
Offense/Defense/Special Teams
One complete football team has three different units of players: The offenses who move the ball down field with running and passing plays. The Defense, who try to stop the other team from scoring. And special teams, who take care of punting and kicking.
Interceptions/Fumbles
Besides a 4th down failure (not getting 10 yards in 4 plays) there are two other ways for the offense to “turn over” the ball, or allow it to go to the other team. The first is a fumble which is when an offensive player drops the ball before they are completely tackeled. Often a defender hits it out of their hands and all of the players around them fall on the ball to try and recover it for their team. The second is an interception, the most exciting of the turnovers, which is when a defensive player catches the Quarterback's pass before the QB’s own receiver can. Interceptions are exciting because after the opposing player catches it he can run towards the end zone to try and gain extra yards for their team or get a “pick six,” a touchdown on an interception.
Last year, 111million people watched the Super Bowl; that’s almost a third of the United States, so why does it seem like so many Pioneers do not understand “America’s Sport.” There is no shame in being confused by the convoluted and sometimes chaotic rules of football. The rules of soccer are as easy as checkers and the rules of football more likely resemble the complexities of chess. So to prevent any possible future embarrassment or shaming, listen up and get the lowdown on America’s “greatest” sport.
Scoring
A touchdown is when a team has possession of the ball in the opponent's end zone, the far end of the field. Touchdowns score a team 6 points along with the option of a 1 point extra kick or a 2 point conversion. A team's kicker can kick field goals from anywhere on the field, but most can’t kick past the 45-yard line. A field goal gives the team 3 points. Safeties are when the player carrying the ball gets tackled in his own end zone, resulting in 2 points for the team on defense. Any score is possible in football except 1.
The Field
A football field is 100 yards with lines cutting across the field at 5 yard increments and sets of 1-yard hash marks running down the sides of the field. End zones are on both ends of the field and are 10 yards deep.
Downs
Teams have 4 downs to move the ball 10 yards down the field. Even though teams have 4 tries there is often a mindset that they must get all 10 yards in 3 downs, because if they try on the fourth and fail the ball is immediately turned over to the other team. Because of this, often on fourth down teams will bring out their punter and kick the ball down the field so that the opposing team has further to go to score a touchdown. If they are close enough they bring out their kicker and try to kick a field goal.
Offense/Defense/Special Teams
One complete football team has three different units of players: The offenses who move the ball down field with running and passing plays. The Defense, who try to stop the other team from scoring. And special teams, who take care of punting and kicking.
Interceptions/Fumbles
Besides a 4th down failure (not getting 10 yards in 4 plays) there are two other ways for the offense to “turn over” the ball, or allow it to go to the other team. The first is a fumble which is when an offensive player drops the ball before they are completely tackeled. Often a defender hits it out of their hands and all of the players around them fall on the ball to try and recover it for their team. The second is an interception, the most exciting of the turnovers, which is when a defensive player catches the Quarterback's pass before the QB’s own receiver can. Interceptions are exciting because after the opposing player catches it he can run towards the end zone to try and gain extra yards for their team or get a “pick six,” a touchdown on an interception.