American Football Rules
American football is one of the biggest sports in North America. Whilst the game is played worldwide, the professional leagues in North America (such as the NFL) easily attract the best players in the world making its leagues the most competitive. The pinnacle of the sport comes in the form of the Super Bowl played out every year to millions of people around the world.
American football is an exciting game that is played between two teams. The teams consist of 11 players and they have to use their heads, hands, legs, and feet in order to play the game. There are many rules that help the team to win the game and those are explained below.
The game starts with a coin toss, and the winning team can choose the direction in which the game will be played. If the winning team throws the coin in the air then it will be a touchdown for them, if the losing team wins then it will be a touchdown for them.
The goal of the game is to score as many points as possible by making field goals and touchdowns. Field goals are when the ball is kicked from the 35-yard line, and the touchdown is when the ball is kicked into the end zone.
During the game, the ball is passed from one player to another until it reaches the end zone. After that the team that has the ball has five seconds to either run or pass it, otherwise, the other team will get a chance to do so. The team with the ball has a time limit in which they have to make a play. The team that has the ball also has a five-second rule that states that they can only pass it once in order to gain more yards.
If a player drops the ball, they will get penalized and lose a down. If a player is hit by another player, he is out of the game. If a player is called for a penalty and they refuse to pay the penalty, then they will be ejected from the game.
If a player commits a foul, then the other team gets a free play. If a player is kicked out of the game for any reason, then the team loses a down. A player cannot tackle someone if they are running or holding the ball, so they must wait until the ball has been passed.
The team with the most points at the end wins the game. If the two teams have the same amount of points, then the coin toss determines the winner.
The Field
The End Zones and the Field of Play are part of the field. A minimum of 6 feet wide along the end lines and sidelines will be the white border around the Field. An additional broken limit line 6 feet further outside this border is to encompass the Field in the non- bench areas, and such broken line will be continued at an angle from each 32-yard line and pass behind the bench areas.
A special area for coaches, behind which all players, except one player charting the game, must remain, can be found within each bench area with a yellow line behind the solid white border. There is no requirement for the broken restraining line to be added in the non-bench areas if the club’s solid white border is a minimum of 12 feet wide. The bench areas must be clearly marked if the appropriate yellow line is described above.
During the preseason or later period when football overlaps with another sport, a club may substitute a single 4-inch white line for the 6-foot solid white border if the League Office gives the go-ahead.
Conclusion:
American football is an exciting game that is played in various countries like Australia, England, France, and Canada. There are many rules that are followed during the game and it is important to know them. The goal of the game is to score as many points as possible, and in order to do so, the teams need to pass, run, kick, or drop the ball. The player who scores the most points will win the game.
Ball
The ball shall be made up of an inflated (12½ to 13½ pounds) urethane bladder enclosed in a pebble-grained, leather case (natural tan color) without corrugations of any kind. It shall have the form of a prolate spheroid and the size and weight shall be: long axis, 11 to 11¼ inches; long circumference, 28 to 28½ inches; short circumference, 21 to 21¼ inches; weight, 14 to 15 ounces.
The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications. A pump is to be furnished by the home team, and the balls should remain under the supervision of the referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game.
Game Timing
The length of the game is 60 minutes, divided into four periods of 15 minutes each. In the
event the score is tied at the end of four periods, the game is extended by an overtime period (or periods).
There are two sets of time intervals of at least two minutes between the first and second periods (first half) and between the third and fourth periods (second half).
During these intervals, all playing rules continue in force, and no representative of either team shall enter the field unless he is an incoming substitute, or a team attendant or trainer, entering to see to the welfare of a player.
The Head Coach may enter the field to check on the welfare of a player who is injured, but no assistant coach may enter the field.
Between the second and third periods, there shall be an intermission of 13 minutes. During this intermission, play is suspended, and teams may leave the field.
The Back Judge will count halftime. The stadium electric clock shall be the official time. The game clock operator shall start and stop the clock upon the signal of any official in accordance with the rules. The Side Judge shall supervise the timing of the game, and in case the stadium clock becomes inoperative, or if it is not being operated correctly, the Side Judge shall take over official timing on the field.
American football is an exciting game that is played in various countries like Australia, England, France, and Canada. There are many rules that are followed during the game and it is important to know them. The goal of the game is to score as many points as possible, and in order to do so, the teams need to pass, run, kick, or drop the ball. The player who scores the most points will win the game.
