In football, sometimes it just seems that quarterbacks get all the love and attention. It’s kind of been that way for a long time and it certainly doesn’t look like will change any time soon. However, on the field, on any given Sunday, there is one guy that has the most undesirable job out there. Well, to most of us, anyway. The other officials might think differently and have their eyes on the head referee’s job.
For the rest of us, we don’t tend to grow up idolizing the likes of Ed Hochuli or Mike Carey. We want the money, the fame, and the girls that come with it, so we tend to look more towards joining a team and winning the Super Bowl rather than donning the white cap and black and white stripes. That’s the way it works, for most. There are always exceptions to the rule, however, and some may grow up dreaming of being a ref.
Regardless of who does and who doesn’t, there is no doubt that football relies on the referee. Without a referee, not even the Super Bowl could go ahead. That’s a pretty scary thought. The reason why it couldn’t go ahead is that there would be no one to ensure that the rules and regulations of the game were being adhered to by both teams. Without rules, we have chaos. Well, it might sound fun to witness such chaos, right?
Football is perfect how it is and we need to keep it that way. Chaos is far from what we want, so let’s all take a little time out to respect the referees and officials who keep football as arguably the greatest sport on earth. Without rules, however, we wouldn’t need referees or officials. Let’s take a look at some of these rules and how they affect the sport of football. You might be surprised at how much you can learn, so strap in.
Not everyone is blessed to have been born in North America and play football school. Not everyone in the U.S., oddly enough, will play football in school. However, there are millions upon millions of football fans across the world. Football is one of the most popular team sports on earth and the Super Bowl – football’s showpiece – is a big deal on Earth. Still, not everyone is really sure how this great game works.
In this guide, we will break everything down to ensure that you, the reader, has a comprehensive grasp of how to play football. From the positions, to how to score points, we will cover everything in depth. While football might seem a complex sport to get the hang of, to begin with, once you have all of this information to hand, you will realize that things are actually a lot easier to understand than you might think.
You are probably aware that the object of the game is to score more points than the opposition. Sounds easy enough, right? If you are used to watching other team sports like soccer, basketball, or rugby, you will understand that the only way to score points is through an attack. In football, you can also score defensive points, which makes it a little different to many other sports.
In order to win a game, you must score more points than the opposition in the time allowed to play. The game is played on a field that is 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide. The team with the ball will have four downs (or plays) in order to move 10 yards, at least, up the field. Once they get to the defending team’s end zone (the area where they can score points). You will notice that there are also goal posts at both ends of the field where kicks can be scored.
The 10 yards are important in football. If a team can make 10 yards or more, they will make their first down. This will mean that they get another four attempts to move 10 yards or more, from the area on the field they made it to on their first down. Should the attacking team fail to make 10 yards during their four downs, they will lose the ball to the opposition, which is called a turnover on downs.
As we mentioned above, you can score points on offense and defense. With the former, a touchdown will earn a team 6 points, while a field goal is worth three points. A field goal is scored by kicking the ball through the goalposts on the end line. If a team scores a touchdown, they then have the chance to score a conversion. A field goal is worth 1 point while a readvance into the end zone is worth two (we will cover this in more detail, later).
Defensive points can also be scored in a game of football. These are called safety points, and they are worth 2 points apiece. Either team can score a safety, which earns points if the opposing team moves back into their endzone and is downed or steps out of bounds in the endzone. These points certainly make football an interesting game for the observer, as not many other sports award anything like safety points.
Like any other team sport, football is timed. Let’s take a closer look at how this worked out.
A game of football in the NFL, much like college football, lasts 60 minutes. There are four quarters in football, with each quarter lasting 15 minutes. To the uninitiated, this might seem like a very short game, when compared to soccer (90 minutes in total) or rugby (80 minutes in total). However, as any football fan knows, there are frequent clock stops and these can see games last hours.
The individual tasked with controlling the time of a game is the referee. Any play that ends up out of bounds, or incomplete passes, will see the clock stopped by the ref. Another factor that extends the time of play in football is the three timeouts per half (six in total) that each time is permitted to use, as they please. When plays are in motion, the clock will run down (except in the case of untimed plays).
Time can also be affected by the officials’ timeouts, which means the referee must restart the clock if it was running. The most common reasons for referee timeouts are penalties, injuries, or to measure distance on the first down. Officials’ timeouts can vary in length from game to game.
As you can see from the information above, the game clock plays a big part in football. There is also another clock, the separate play clock, that also contributes to how the game is run. This clock will count down the time that the offensive team has to start the next play. If the offense does not move within (typically) 25 seconds from the time the ref marks the ball ready to be played, then the offense will be penalized for delaying the game.
The play clock used by the NFL and NCAA lasts 40 seconds immediately after the previous play. By using the play clock, this helps the game to avoid any delays that would further extend the overall time of a game. More so than most other other sports, managing clocks is an important part of the game of football. There are other timeouts that can also affect the game, so it is important for clocks to be adequately managed.
A major part of how games such as football are managed when it comes to time relates to media and advertising. TV advertising, for example, is helped by media time-outs. Therefore, you will usually see time allotted to sponsors and advertisers to get their messages and product information across to fans who are watching at home, or at the bar etc.
There are also other in-game stoppages that can affect how clocks are managed. For example, when there is a change of position, kickoff, Successful Points After Touchdown (PATs) or an instant replay challenge. If any stoppages like these occur, then the referee will signal for a media timeout.
If you have ever watched an NFL game, you might have come across a time when an automatic timeout was called by officials. These typically occur when there are only two minutes left at the end of each half (in the second and fourth quarters). This is known as the two-minute warning. Stoppages also happen when teams change ends at the end of the first and third quarter of a game.
Some games just cannot be separated in regular time. If this is the case, then, after four quarters, overtime will commence. A coin toss will be performed in order to confirm who will take the ball first. If the team with first possession scores a field goal from the first play, then their opposition will be handed possession to score a field goal or better in order for the game to carry on.
If the team that takes possession first in overtime scores a touchdown, they win the game. This makes it interesting from a fan’s perspective, to see just how brave the team with possession are. One overtime period is played in the NFL regular season and each team gets two timeouts over the course of the 10 minutes of overtime. If teams can still not be separated, then the game ends a tie.
Things are different when it comes to the playoffs, however. Overtime is essentially played in increments of 15 minutes until a winner has been established. There is a delay of three minutes between the end of regular time and the beginning of overtime. The captain of the visitors will call on the coin toss and, if he wins, will decide whether to receive the kickoff or choose what side of the field that he wants his team to defend from.
The rules on overtime changed in 2010 and have been moderately amended since. The reason for the rules changing was down to the significant advantage that the toss-winning team would have in overtime.
In football, there are a number of players that contribute to plays in their own individual ways. In the developmental years of the game, there was no real emphasis on offense or defense specialists. These days, the game is so refined that it seems crazy to think of time where players would not be put into positions in line with their size, speed, or talent. Thankfully, that all changed and football became the game we know and love.
Positions in football, as we previously mentioned, fall under the category of offense or defense. Below, you will find every position on a football team with a brief explanation of how that position works (and the typical attributes required to play there).
Center – The center will be positioned in the middle of the offensive line. The major parts of their role are to snap the football to the quarterback and to block. This requires centers to be physically strong, tough, and large.
Left Guard – The left guard is also there to ensure the quarterback is safe. A major part of the role of a left guard is to block and create gaps and holes for their running backs. Much like centers, left guards are typically required to be physically strong, tough, and large.
Right Guard – The right guard, exactly like the left guard, keeps the quarterback safe. They too block and create gaps and holes for their running backs and must be physically strong, tough, and large.
Left Tackle – The role of the left tackle is very similar to that of the guards. They are in a strong position on the offensive line, ensuring that the quarterback – or any other player in possession – is protected. They are effectively in charge of outside defense. They are among the biggest players on the field, with heights of 6ft 4 and weighs over 300 pounds quite common.
Right Tackle – This role is exactly the same as the left tackle (see above).
Tight End – The tight end is an important position in football and requires players to be strong, quick, and to have great hands. The role is effectively a combination of an offensive lineman and receiver.
Quarterback – Perhaps the most important player on a football field. the quarterback dictates the pace of the game, controls the ball, and signals when to start plays. A great quarterback needs a lot of positive attributes, including great passing, excellent vision, game management skills, strength, courage, leadership, and responsibility.
Running Back – The main requirements of a running back is to execute rushes, to block by darting in front of another running back that is carrying, and depending on the role, be their team’s primary ball carrier (typically a tailback). In order to be a great running back, players must be fast, strong, have good reflexes, great vision and cut angles.
Wide Receiver – These guys are the specialist catchers (receivers) on the field. Their roles are to run routes in order to catch passes, although they can sometimes be required to block. Wide receivers are usually required to be fast, strong, with excellent vision and positioning, and be exceptional ball catchers.
Middle Linebacker – These guys are found in the heart of the defense. Middle linebackers are usually big, strong, and intimidating players who act like walls to the opposition and are often referred to as the “quarterback of the defense.”
Defensive Tackle – Defensive tackles play at the center of the line of defense and try to rush the passer and disrupt plays in the middle line. In order to be a successful defensive tackle, players must be big, tough, and capable of tackling.
Defensive End – Next to the defensive tackles are the defensive ends. Their jobs are to rush the passer and prevent any rushing plays making it to the outside. Physically, defensive ends must be strong and tough but also be pretty pacy and have good reaction times.
Outside Linebacker – There are two types of linebacker that can be used in a game. The strongside (who lines up on the same side as the offensive tight end) and the weakside (who lines up on the side without a tight end). The former’s role involves running back on pass plays and covering the tight end, while the latter generally rushes a quarterback or covers. These players are typically fast, strong, and great tacklers.
Cornerback – The role of the cornerback is to ensure the wide receivers are covered (and to stop them from catching passes). The cornerback will either swat passes away or try to intercept the pass from the thrower. These guys are usually quick, great jumpers, and have anticipation and vision to predict plays.
Safety – The safety is also a very important position, as it the last line of defense. There are two main roles for a safety (the strong safety and free safety). Both have their own individual roles, with the former generally stronger and positioned closer to scrimmage. The free safety is quicker and usually reacts to long pass plays.
Aside from offense and defense, there are also special teams that are used in particular kicking circumstances.
Kicker – The kicker takes care of kickoffs, field goal shots, and extra points. The kicker can sometimes also be used as a punter, but many teams will have a specialist in both positions. In order to be a kicker, a player must be exceptionally good at striking the ball, have good range, and of course, excellent accuracy.
Holder – The holder will keep the ball in place for the kicker to strike, especially when a kicking tee cannot be used (usually in poor weather conditions). The holder generally has good hands and can act as a second option to a quarterback or punter.
Long Snapper -Long snappers are usually centers who snap the ball back to kickers or punters. They typically have great hand-eye coordination, a great pass, and considerable accuracy.
Punter – The role of the punter is to kick the ball in the air once they have received it from the snap. This is commonly done on the fourth down, to hand possession back to the defending team as deep as possible.
Kickoff Specialist – The role of a kickoff specialist is something of a rarity. They are typically used if a team has no confidence in their punter or kicker to perform the kickoff.
In order to play (or understand) football, you must first become acquainted with the field and what the markings on a field mean. There are several areas and parts of the pitch that have specialist markings in order to separate where teams should be positioned, to indicate what parts of the field can be played on, and to know when penalties or dead balls have occurred.
In the NFL, you will find the field separated into lines. These include:
Yard marks and hash marks are very important in football. Hash marks – and where they are located on a football field – vary from the NFL to college football. In the latter, they are 60 yards from the sidelines. When a play stops, due to a tackle or out of bounds, then the play will resume from the closest hash mark to where it is spotted. In offensive plays, hash marks help keep the game in the middle of the field.
This is important for keeping football competitive, as, without this emphasis on playing in the center of the field, an attacking team could be restricted in the directions they could play.
During each play, both teams are only allowed to have 11 of their players on the field. Throughout a game, however, teams can use up to 40 players. Football is a game that is contested on plays (downs). In order for a game to begin, the referee must place (spot) the ball on the line of scrimmage before a play can begin. As we looked at above, this can be determined by a couple of factors.
The neutral zone is the area of the field where the snapper can only put themselves in or above prior to the snap. Both teams have an individual line of scrimmage, which is effectively an imaginary line that runs vertically from one sideline to another. Players might see it as a line passing through the area of the ball that is nearest to their goal line. Players will position themselves according to their positions.
Let’s first take a look at the offense, who will generally line up with:
Depending on the play, teams can switch it up, however, so you can expect to see the players on the pitch change, depending on what the attacking team has in mind. The most important player on the field is the quarterback, who is the general of the offense. They pass along a play to all players in the huddle and take charge of executing the play as the player with the ball in hand (in offense). They also handle the snap count.
The quarterback generally makes the decision to pass the ball to a running back or to throw the ball to an open receiver. They can also run themselves, although this is less common. The quarterback should always be protected by their offensive linemen (the left and right tackle, left and right guard, and the center). The latter is tasked with hiking the ball back to the quarterback, giving them an important role here.
The offensive line works in a couple of different ways, depending on the play. If there is a pass play, the line must protect the quarterback from the rushing defense. In the event of a run play, the defensive line is tasked with opening up holes for the running back to run into. The running back can take the ball from the quarterback or run into a position where they can catch a pass.
The tight end is another player that can have several tasks on the field of play. They can assist in the offensive line, block, run, or attempt to catch the ball. This gives the position of a tight end a certain air of prestige. With the wide receivers, they will typically make runs in order to attempt to catch the ball but can also be called to block, depending on the play.
Formation is very important in football. Offensive players must group into a formation behind their line of scrimmage, according to a particular set of rules. These rules determine that seven players must line up on the line of scrimmage with four behind the line. This creates six potential receivers who can take a forward pass, in play. The running back, wide receivers, right end, and fullback are all permitted to do so.
There are now five linemen left who will not handle the ball during play. It is important for officials to be able to differentiate between the players that can handle the ball and cannot. College football, for example, has resorted to ensuring that players who are eligible to handle the ball wear particular numbers, such as 1 to 49.
While there are rules for offense formation, defense formation is not as strict. Providing all players ensure that they stay behind the line, there is no particular structure that must be adhered to. In defensive formations, defensive linemen will line up opposite offensive linemen. In the middle is the defensive tackle (or tackles), with others outside of him (or them).
As we looked at previously, a defensive lineman is tasked with pressurizing the opposition team’s quarterback. They do this by rushing the offensive line. The defensive line also acts like a wall that has to be broken down before any runners can hope to get through, so a defensive lineman is pretty much an integral part of any team’s first response to an attack.
Linebackers are the players who sit behind the defensive linemen. They have varied roles, which can include a number of tasks like rushing the quarterback, covering wide receivers or tight ends, and much more. However, it is the cornerbacks that are usually tasked with covering wide receivers. The safeties are the furthest back in the defensive formation and they will typically help cover the wide receivers.
The snap is what initiates the scrimmage down. The center will pass or hand the ball back to the quarterback, or in rarer cases, another back. From here, the quarterback will either throw, hand the ball to a back, or embark on a run. When there is a dead ball, the down ends. As we covered above, the ball will then be spotted where it went dead, or if it went dead outside the hash marks, on that yard line, and on the closest mark.
The next play is then initiated from the spot, which in effect, becomes the line of scrimmage. There are a number of ways to determine if a ball has gone dead in a game of football.
Any time play stops, it will be classed as a dead ball. Officials will need to signal play can continue in order for the game to restart. Players are not permitted to make contact during dead balls, either. To understand what constitutes a dead ball, simply see it as an indication that play has stopped.
The referee will always blow their whistle to indicate a dead ball and to let both teams know to head to their scrimmage lines and take formation. When the next play starts – and the ball has been placed down – the offense can initiate the new play. Just like in regular play, there are dead ball fouls that can occur when the ball is deemed to be dead.
As you might have guessed, football is a sport that comes with a lot of contact. In order to ensure that the playing field is even, there are a number of rules to keep players from cheating or gaining unfair advantages. Of course, with such contact comes the need for additional safety and precautionary measures to help players play the game with incurring serious injuries.
In order to keep things respectful and civilized, penalties and fouls have been introduced over the years. These have been modified and refined as the game has progressed throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Of course, there is a balance that needs to be found to be maintained in order to keep the game flowing and to ensure that football doesn’t lose it’s appeal to spectators and sponsors.
A high foul count can also prove to be decisive in a game. Football is a sport where small margins really count, so it can be crucial to cut down on fouls and errors, from a coach’s perspective. Of course, some fouls are more severe than others and will carry tougher punishments for the player who has committed them. It really does come down to how serious an infraction is.
One of the most significant advantages the NFL has held over many other sports leagues over the years is the use of instant replay. Particular rulings can be looked at by officials and challenged by teams who are not confident that the right decision has been made. A coach who asks for a challenge to a play has to throw a red flag to indicate that this is the case. The flag must be thrown before a new play, too.
Coaches are restricted to two challenges in each game (in the NFL) and can be awarded a third, but only if the first two have been judged to be successful challenges. If a coach makes a challenge that is unsuccessful, they will lose one of their timeouts in the game. If a team has run out of timeouts, they will not be able to make any challenges. There are also rules regarding what can be challenged, and what cannot be.
For example, any plays within overtime or the two-minute warning cannot be challenged. College football allows coaches to one challenge in each game following the request of a timeout. If they do not, then all plays will be observed by the replay official in attendance at the game. This official will confirm their decision to the referee, who will, in turn, declare the result of their review.
It is unlikely that you will need to consider any of this if you are arranging a leisurely game of football down the park following Thanksgiving dinner. Nonetheless, if you are a novice fan of football, this information might come in very handy one day. Especially, if you enjoy betting.
That being said, the kids are the future, and the young players cutting their teeth in high school and college football will one day be representing the greatest franchises in the world. Getting them off to a good start is crucial for the development of football and to keep it, well and truly, our favorite sport.
As a fan, understanding how each position works and how every player contributes to the glory of teams and franchises can really enhance the spectator experience. Even from a betting perspective, it can help us to understand the finer details that can really be the difference in a game. Not everyone likes rules, but when it comes to football, they are a good thing.
