The game of American football consists of a series of short, separate plays, outside of which the ball is considered “dead” or out of play. During a play, the following may be attempted:
• a passing play,
• a rushing play,
• a punt (kicking the ball),
• an attempt to reach the end zone,
• a free kick (putting the ball into play – kickoff).
Between plays, players are substituted, allowing the coach to select the best team composition for each specific situation. During a play, a team must have 11 players on the field. Each player is assigned a specific task for each play.
Objective of the game
The objective of the game is to score as many points as possible by carrying the ball into the opponent's end zone (touchdown) or kicking it into the goal from the field (field goal). The team with the most points wins.
The playing field
The field is 100 yards long and 53 yards wide. A yard is a unit of length equal to 3 feet or 91.4 cm. The edges of the field are marked with small lines every yard, which allow players, referees, coaches, and fans to track the movement of the ball.
The most important parts of the field are the additional 10-yard end zones on each side. This is where the points are scored! The offensive team in possession of the ball scores points when it carries the ball into the opponent's end zone.
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Playing time
In professional and college football, the game lasts 60 minutes. Playing time is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. In high school football, each quarter lasts 12 minutes.
The clock stops frequently, so the total duration of a professional game can exceed three hours. Time stops after an incomplete pass and any play that ends out of bounds. Each team has three timeouts in each half of the game, which they can use at their discretion.
The clock also stops during referee conferences. For example, to determine whether a team has earned the right to another attempt, the referees take measurements using a chain. After the measurements are complete, the referee signals for the clock to start. The referee may stop the clock to announce a violation and remove an injured player from the field.
Additionally, a second game clock is used to count down the time remaining for the offensive team before the start of the play. If the team does not manage to put the ball into play, it receives a penalty for delaying the game.
If the game is being broadcast during the game, additional timeouts may be called during which television companies show replays and the game score.
There is a break between the second and third quarters. Teams switch sides of the field after the first and third quarters.
In the NFL, two minutes before the end of the second and fourth quarters, the referees announce a “two-minute warning.” In amateur football, this warning may not be used.
Scoring in the game
Field goal - 3 points
A field goal (3 points) is scored when the ball passes between the goal posts behind the opponent's end zone after a kick from a stationary ball, a kick from a flying ball, or a kick after a free catch.
The most common method is to kick a stationary ball. To do this, after the snap, the ball is thrown to the holder, who places the ball on the field and holds it in the correct position with his finger so that it can be kicked. Three points are scored if the ball passes through the goal posts.
If the field goal attempt is unsuccessful, the ball is returned to the place of play (in the NFL - the place of the kick, in college and high school, to the 20-yard line if the ball was in the end zone, or to the place where the ball was stopped) or to the 20-yard line if the place of the kick was further from the end zone. Possession of the ball passes to the opposing team.
If the ball does not cross the boundary line, the opponent can catch it and try to go on the offensive, but this is usually not advantageous.
During the kick, the referees stand under the goalposts. If any of the field goal rules are not followed, the attempt is not counted. The referees signal a successful kick by raising both arms above their heads. The team that scored the field goal kicks off during the next play.
Touchdown - 6 points.
Extra point (points after touchdown) - 1 or 2 points.
Safety - 2 points.
Overtime
If the game ends in a tie after the fourth quarter, overtime is played.
In the NFL, overtime lasts 15 minutes and ends as soon as one team scores a winning score. A coin toss is held before overtime begins. The winning team can choose to return the opening kickoff or the half of the field on which it will defend.
During the regular season in the NFL, one overtime period is played. If neither team achieves a victory, the game ends in a tie. During the playoffs, as many overtime periods as necessary are played to determine the winner.
In college and high school, each team has a chance to score points. In college, each team is given the opportunity to score points from the 25-yard line.
The winner of the coin toss chooses the series of possession (first or second), and the loser chooses the side of the field (both series of scrimmages take place on one half of the field). The team that loses the coin toss uses the result of the first team's choice in the coin toss during each even overtime.
