Kings Norton RFC 

© 2008 Redditch Arrows American Football Club 

Basics of American Football

This article attempts to provide some guidelines for those of you who may be new to the game of American Football, and to help you understand some of the basics of this exciting game. We hope that this will answer some of your questions, if not why not come along to a game and ask anyone from the Arrows.

The American Football field, known as the Gridiron, (because of the lines that cross the field every 5 yards) is normally 100 yards long plus two 10 yards "end zones". However here in the UK it is quite normal to see a 90yd pitch used. This is because of the availability of Rugby pitches. The main markings on the pitch indicate yardage from the centre of the pitch towards the two goal lines. In addition to the 5 and 10 yard lines there are the "hash marks", a series of lines marked at every yard down either side of the centre of the field. These lines are used by the officials for placing the ball down prior to the start of each play. The goalposts are set on the "end line", the line which donates the end of the endzone.

OBJECT OF THE GAME

The object of the game is simply to score more points than your opponents by either crossing your opponents end-zone with the ball, or by kicking field goals. In order to achieve this teams attempt to move the ball up the field either by carrying it, known as rushing, ir by throwing and catching it. A team keeps possession of the ball until either it fumbles it (drops it), fails to make 10 yards progress in 4 attempts or the ball is caught by the opposing team. Each team consists of three main line-ups each consisting of eleven men. The Offense (when they are in possession of the ball from the start of each play), the Defense, and Special Teams which are used at kick-offs, field goal attempts and extra point attempts. Both Offense and Defense can score because the the Defense may re-gain possession of the ball during play as the result of a mistake by the opposite offense.

The Offense and Defense line up at the "line of scrimmage" prior to each play. This line is where the officials place the ball after the previous play. The Objective of the offense is to gain a minimum of 10yards in four attempts (known as "downs"). If the offense makes the 10yards on any of the four plays it automatically begins another sequence of four downs to achieve 10 yards. This is known as "first down". If the Offense believes that it cannot make the 10 yards on fourth down it will punt kick the ball deep into the opponents territory and the opponents Offensive team takes possession.

The Offense uses a wide variety of "plays" to achieve its objectives using regular changes in team line up for "running plays" or "passing plays". At each play the defense seeks to prevent the yardage being gained or to take possession of the ball by creating a "fumble" (the offense dropping the ball) or an "interception" (where a pass is caught by the defender rather than the intended receiver). If a receiver does not catch a ball and it touches the ground, either directly or when knocked down by a defender, then the pass is ruled "incomplete" and the Offense keeps the ball for the next down at the same line of scrimmage from the previous one.

SCORING

The Method of Scoring is as follows

PENALTIES

In the game the Officials (nicknamed "Zebras" because of their striped shirts) can call a penalty by "throwing a flag", a yellow flag is carried in the back pocket of each man. When the flag is thrown the play is normally run and the penalty assessed after the play. Various penalties, normally 5, 10 or 15yards are enforced depending on the infringement. If the team who has been offended has gained more yards than would be enforced on the penalty then they can "decline" the penalty and take the yardage gained.

GAME DURATION

A game lasts for 4 periods of 15 minutes. At the end of the first and third quarters team change ends but possession and field position stays the same. The first and third quarters start afresh with a kick-off. Because the clock stops between certain plays, even though a game only lasts for 60 minutes it normally takes around 3 hours to complete. Each team also has 3 time-outs each half which they use to stop the clock to save time if they are losing, or to have a sideline conference to decide which play to run next

IF YOU ANY FURTHER QUERIES REGARDING AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AND WE WILL TRY AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.