What is American Football?
\ is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it is also one of the most popular sports to bet on, just check out Fanduel’s NFL sportsbook.
It is a tough, physical game that requires a wide variety of attributes including explosive power, agility, strength, speed, and both physical and mental toughness. There are huge collisions and intricate plays that are made by the 22 players on the field.
These games can take up to 3 hours, and may look rather complex, however, when you break it down it is not all that hard to understand, and it is a really easy sport to pick up on.
So, let’s give you a brief introduction to this epic sport so the next time you tune in to watch a match, you can enjoy it even more.
Understanding the NFL.`
The NFL, stands for the National Football League, and it is the absolute pinnacle of sport in the US. It is made up of 32 teams which are split into two conferences, the AFC and the NFC (American Football Conference and the National Football Conference). Inside each of these two conferences are four divisions, like on a compass they are; North, East, South, and West. Each of these divisions has four teams on it.
The high point of football season is the final championship game, ‘The Super Bowl’, which is played by each conference’s champion. This game is estimated to be watched by at least half of all the households in the US, and it is broadcast to around 150 nations around the world.
The NFL has also decided to spread outside of the US, operating a now defunct developmental league, NFL Europa, which had teams in five German cities and one in the Netherlands. And the professional Canadian Football League, who play under slightly different Canadian rules, but have the same basic principles.
Understanding the field.
Firstly, let’s understand the field. The field is 120 yards long and 53.3 yards wide. The most important parts are the end zones, which are located at either end of the field. The ten yards between the front and the back of the end zone are where touchdowns are scored. This knowledge of the field is the most basic understanding and is all you need to know.
What there is to know about the teams.
Each team will have specialists, some for defense, some for offense, and then special teams. However, no team will ever have more than 11 players on the field at any one time. In the NFL, there are allowed to be 46 active players on game day, which is why you will see so many players standing along the sidelines.
The offensive team is made up of the offensive line, which includes two guards, two tackles, and a center who will protect the quarterback and the running backs from being tackles. There are also two to four wide receivers who will catch the ball or block on running plays. There will also be one to two tight ends who catch the ball or block on particular passing or running plays. As well as one or two running backs who will run and catch the balls as well as blocking for the quarterback on some plays, and also the quarterback who passes, runs with, or may hand the ball to the running back.
In the defensive teams you will find the defensive line who will try to stop the opposition’s quarterback and running back from moving the ball. There will also be linebackers who will push forward and attempt to stop the running back, and will occasionally tackle the quarterback. Then there are the cornerbacks and safeties, who mainly try to stop the receivers from catching the ball.
Playing on the clock.
A game of American football is divided into four fifteen minute quarters, which are separated by a 12-minute break at halftime. There are also two-minute breaks at the end of the first and third quarters as the teams will change ends of the field.
Then at the end of the first and third quarters, the team who have the ball will remain in possession of it as they head into the following quarter.
Each offensive team will have 40 second from the end of any given play until they snap for the ball at the start of the next play, otherwise they are penalized.
In the game, the clock will stop at the end of incomplete passing plays, or when a player goes out of bounds, or if a penalty is called. When the ball is re-spotted by an official, the clock will start again.
If a game is tied at the end of 60 minutes, a 15-minute overtime period is played. In the NFL, the first team to score a touchdown wins. However, it is also possible that a field goal can win a game in overtime as well, but this is only possible if both teams have had possession of the football in this time.
