American football: Difference between revisions
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'''American football''', known simply as '''football''' in [[North America]], is a sport that originated in the [[United States of America]]. The game is played on a 100 yard field with two [[endzone]]s that are 10 yards deep. The goal of the game is to score the most points in the alloted time, primarily by advancing the ball into the opponent's endzone. | |||
American football is a sport that originated in the [[United States of America]]. The | |||
The [[National Football League]] is the premier football league in the world, with all it's teams located in the United States. | |||
==Methods of Scoring== | ==Methods of Scoring== | ||
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On defense a player can score a touchdown by either catching a ball thrown by the offense and running it back into their endzone or by recovering a fumbled ball and running it into the opposing teams endzone. | On defense a player can score a touchdown by either catching a ball thrown by the offense and running it back into their endzone or by recovering a fumbled ball and running it into the opposing teams endzone. | ||
===Point After | ===Point After Touchdown=== | ||
After a team scores a touchdown, it has the option of kicking for a PAT. If the kicker gets the ball between the goalposts then the team is awarded 1 point. | After a team scores a touchdown, it has the option of kicking for a PAT. If the kicker gets the ball between the goalposts then the team is awarded 1 point. This is also refered to as an "extra point." | ||
===2 Point Conversion=== | ===2 Point Conversion=== | ||
Revision as of 10:22, 31 July 2007
American football, known simply as football in North America, is a sport that originated in the United States of America. The game is played on a 100 yard field with two endzones that are 10 yards deep. The goal of the game is to score the most points in the alloted time, primarily by advancing the ball into the opponent's endzone.
The National Football League is the premier football league in the world, with all it's teams located in the United States.
Methods of Scoring
There are many different ways in which a team may score in football. There are touchdowns, field goals, and safeties.
Touchdown
A touchdown is scored when a player has possession of the ball in the opposing team's endzone. When this is accomplished, the team that scored the touchdown is awarded 6 points.
- Offensive Touchdown
On offense this can be accompished when a player runs across the goalline with the ball in his hands or when a player throws the ball to another player in the endzone.
- Defensive Touchdown
On defense a player can score a touchdown by either catching a ball thrown by the offense and running it back into their endzone or by recovering a fumbled ball and running it into the opposing teams endzone.
Point After Touchdown
After a team scores a touchdown, it has the option of kicking for a PAT. If the kicker gets the ball between the goalposts then the team is awarded 1 point. This is also refered to as an "extra point."
2 Point Conversion
After a touchdown, the team that scored has the option of going for a 2 point conversion rather than a PAT. A 2 point conversion can be acheived in any of the same ways that an offensive touchdown is.
Field Goal
Field goals are accomplished on offense when a player kicks the ball over a set of goalposts. When this is accomplished, the team is awarded 3 points.
Safety
Safeties are accomplished on defense by tackling an offensive player in his own endzone. Safeties result in 2 points for the defense.
Positions
Standard American football is played with 11 players on offense and 11 players on defense.
Offense
- Quarterback
- Halfback
- Fullback
- Tackle
- Guard
- Center
- Tight End
- Wide Receiver
Defense
- Defensive Tackle
- Defensive End
- Outside Linebacker
- Inside Linebacker
- Cornerback
- Strong Safety
- Free Safety