How To Play Football

Learning how to play football can be fun and rewarding. You don't have to play on a professional or organized team to have a good time. These are the major pieces of the game, however, they may vary depending on the level of competition as well as seriousness of the game.

1. Each touchdown (taking the ball past a teams goal line) is worth six points. Following a touchdown, the kicker has an opportunity to kick the ball between the uprights in order to add an extra point to his team's score. Regardless of the success of the kick, on the next play, the football is kicked off to the opposing team.
2. A field goal is worth three points. The game stops and the teams set up. After the ball is snapped, the kicker tries to kick the football between the uprights. Whether he scores or not, the ball is then kicked off to the opposing team.
3. There are several types of players on the football field. The major positions on the offensive team are the quarterback: the one that throws or passes the ball; the running back: the person who receives a hand off and runs with the ball; the receiver: the team member who catches a throw and runs with the ball toward the goal; the lineman: the protector of the quarterback. The kicker is just like it sounds. He is the person who kicks the ball off to the other team, kicks a field goal, or kicks the extra point.
4. Teams line up on the line of scrimmage, where the last play ended. Here, the offensive team's center snaps the ball to the quarterback. The quarterback steps back and has the opportunity to throw the ball to a receiver or pass the ball to a running back. Either way, the goal is to get as close to their team's goal line as possible. As this decision is being made, the linemen make sure to protect the quarterback from the defensive team. If the defense tackles the quarterback, the ball is down at the point where he was tackled.
5. Each team gets four downs or tries to move ahead ten yards. Once the football team has moved ten yards or more, the teams starts at first down again. Penalties, called by the referees, can cause teams to move backwards. Sometimes the first down is renewed and other times, a down is wasted. After the fourth down, the ball is kicked off the the opposing team.
6. The defense works to prevent the offense from scoring. They have to wait until the quarterback calls for the ball, but after that, they are able to attempt to get to the quarterback. Other members of the defense watch the other players, try to prevent them from getting the ball, and see if they can intercept or catch the ball and cause a turnover. The defense can also get possession of the ball if the offense fumbles or drops the ball. Learning how to play football is a challenge, but worth all of the effort.