American football is an exhilarating sport to both watch and play, but it can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the rules and structure. The game’s main objective is straightforward: score more points than the opposing team. Points are scored by getting the ball into the end zone through passing and catching, running it in, or kicking it through the goalposts for a field goal.
The football field is 120 yards long and just over 50 yards wide, with two 10-yard end zones at each end. These end zones are the scoring areas. The line separating the end zone from the field of play is known as the goal line, and just beyond the end zones are the field goal posts. When the ball crosses the goal line through a pass or run, it scores a touchdown, which is worth six points. Following a touchdown, the team can attempt an extra point kick for one additional point or go for a two-point conversion from the 3-yard line (or the 2-yard line in the NFL) to score two points.
If a team is unable to score a touchdown within four attempts, known as downs, they can choose to kick a field goal on the fourth down, worth three points if it goes through the goalposts. Another way for the defense to score is through a safety, which occurs when they tackle the offensive team in their own end zone, earning the defense two points.
The game starts with a kickoff, where the kicking team is on defense, and the receiving team is on offense. The receiving team catches the ball and tries to advance it as far down the field as possible before being stopped by the kicking team. Alternatively, the receiving team may choose a “touchback,” which occurs when they catch the ball in the end zone and take a knee or if the ball is kicked beyond the end zone, starting their drive from the 25-yard line.
The offense has four chances, called downs, to gain at least 10 yards. If they succeed, they earn a new set of four downs to advance further down the field. If the offense fails to gain 10 yards in four downs, they have a few options: they can punt the ball to the opposing team, go for it to try to get the necessary yardage, or attempt a field goal if close enough to the end zone.
Each play begins with teams lining up on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage. The quarterback receives the snap from the center and can either hand off the ball to a runner or throw it to a receiver. The defense aims to stop the offense by tackling ball carriers, intercepting passes, or causing fumbles. On the fourth down, if the offense opts to punt the ball, they kick it downfield for the other team to recover. If they attempt a field goal and miss, possession changes to the other team.
The game is won by the team with more points when time runs out. If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, overtime is played, with specific rules varying depending on the level of play. A standard game consists of four 15-minute quarters, but due to frequent stoppages like timeouts, scoring, and other breaks, games typically last about three hours.
The clock stops for several reasons, such as incomplete passes, scoring plays, players stepping out of bounds, timeouts, penalties, and injuries. Each team has a defensive line, an offensive line, and special teams, with 11 players on the field at any time. Offensive players focus on gaining yardage and scoring points by running, throwing, catching, and passing the ball. The defense aims to stop the opposing team from advancing the ball or scoring, often by tackling ball carriers, intercepting passes, and causing fumbles. Special teams are responsible for kicking plays like kickoffs, punts, and field goals, as well as returning the ball after these kicks.
Understanding these basics helps make the game more enjoyable, whether you’re watching or playing. It offers a blend of strategy, skill, and athleticism that makes American football a unique and compelling sport.