| Football is a game played by many, but understood | | | | be on the playing field at any one time. Because the |
| by few. At any given game, half of the barroom or | | | | game is so complicated, most of the fifty players will |
| stadium will erupt in cheers on the cue of fellow fans, | | | | have the opportunity to play in every game. Each |
| without really knowing what just happened. This will | | | | team member has a specialized role, either offense |
| assist those of you who have yet to learn the game, | | | | or defense. Players wear systematically numbered |
| and act as a refresher course for those in the know. | | | | uniforms. Every football team also has special teams. |
| The object of football is to score as many points as | | | | It's hard to specify the duration of a football game, |
| possible. The team that scores the most points | | | | because coaches and players can be called on |
| within a given time period is the winner. That's the | | | | penalties and fouls that will extend the time of a |
| easy part. | | | | game. Important games, like the Super Bowl, can |
| Football rules can be confusing. When it's not called | | | | take hours to complete. Every call must be made |
| "football", the game is referred to as "gridiron", | | | | because there is so much riding on a game of this |
| because that's what the playing field is called. The | | | | caliber. |
| gridiron has markings that resemble a grill and is 120 | | | | Football rules dictate that each team tries to advance |
| yards long and 53-1/3 yards wide. The 120 yards are | | | | on the field and gain as many yards at a single time |
| split into five sections, each 20 yards in length. Yard | | | | as possible. The closer the advancing team is to the |
| lines are marked every five yards and are numbered | | | | goal line, the harder the opposing team must play to |
| from each goal line to the middle of the field, also | | | | stop a touchdown. When defensive players tackle |
| called the fifty-yard mark. Confused yet? Listen to | | | | and get the advancing runner to the ground, the play |
| this: a gridiron consists of sidelines and end lines, and | | | | is done and the ball is dead. |
| has field posts near each end zone. The end zones | | | | The point of football is to get touchdowns and field |
| are 10 yards wide, located just before the field post. | | | | goals, because that is what gets the points. The |
| Field posts are used to mark field goals; they are 18.5 | | | | team with the most points takes all the glory. If it's a |
| feet apart. | | | | championship game, the winning team will take the |
| That's just a description of the field. We haven't | | | | title as well. |
| even starting on football rules. A football game is | | | | Get points and win the game. If those are the basic |
| played between two teams. NFL teams typically | | | | football rules, maybe it isn't so confusing after all. |
| have fifty members or more, but only eleven may | | | | |