Football Basic Rules

Aim

• The purpose of American football is to move the ball towards the opposition’s end zone and ultimately into their end zone (a touchdown).
• This is achieved by either running with the ball until tackled, or throwing the ball down field to a team mate.

Downs

• Downs are the most fundamental part of NFL play. The offensive team moves the ball forward in sections of at least 10 yards. They have four chances (or downs) to gain those 10 yards. Each time the ball is advanced at least 10 yards within their four chances, another first down is earned, with four more chances to go a further 10 yards.
• If the offensive team fails to move 10 yards within four downs, possession is surrendered. However, the ball is usually punted to the defending team on fourth down.

Teams

• There are 11 players from each team on field at any one time

Timing

• Four 15min quarters
• Three time-outs per half for each team
• 12min half-time
• 15min sudden-death overtime if scores are tied

Scoring

• A touchdown is worth six points, and is scored when a team crosses the opposition’s goal line with the ball, or catches or collects the ball in the end zone.
• A Field goal is worth three points. Field goals are usually attempted on fourth down if the kicker is close enough to the end zone to kick the ball through the posts.
• An extra point is earned by kicking the ball through the uprights after a touchdown. The team can go for two points by taking the ball into the end zone again.
• Two points is awarded to the defensive team for a safety when a member of the offensive team is tackled with the ball in his own end zone.

Related Pages

Old Comments

Commenting is closed on this page, though you can read some previous comments below which may answer some of your questions.

• Miss_Yotsuba (2016)
  “If the offensive team fails to move 10 yards within four downs, possession is surrendered. However, the ball is usually punted to the defending team on fourth down.”… So what happens when it’s not usually punted to the other team? Can the attacking team run with the ball again?
• Jason Weber Miss_Yotsuba (2017)
  On fourth down the offense can choose whatever play they like, but if they don’t get across to the yard stick thingy which gives them a first down, then it’s a turnover and the other team gets the ball. And they can’t punt it.
• Dilshan Fernando Miss_Yotsuba (2016)
  although it is usually punted, if it is not then the play is the same as the previous three plays, where the offending team will run the ball and attempt to get past a 10 yard mark, the attacking team does not get another 4 downs unless they pass a 10 yard mark
• Countypants Trey (2016)
  its not football, Its AMERICAN football
• Football is Life countypants (2016)
  It’s just football
• Josh Football is Life (2016)
  no its american football football is what you call soccer and you Americans where too lazy to name it something else football (soccer) is the real football your football is american football. football (original one) was created in 388 bc and american football was made in 1896
• Nicole josh (2017)
  Actually no, we call the original football soccer, like come on! It’s 2017, not 1888! Soccer is soccer and football is football, just deal with it! We don’t have to be so exact, like dude you can call it what YOU W but the rest of us can call it what WE want
• AJ Nicole (2017)
  I love you trying to point out how stupid he is when you have mistakes in your reply. Check yourself before you wreck yourself!
• Daddy josh (2017)
  its just called football. Plus soccer isnt call football its futball. Look up your facts before posting anything.
• Joseph Hughes Daddy (2017)
  How is Football called Futball? Who says that?
• AJ Joseph Hughes (2017)
  A lot of people do! It’s a weird way to call it but however that’s what it was originally called so we call it futbol.
• Jacob Cunha AJ (2018)
  Thats the spanish way of saying soccer except there’s an accent mark on the “u”. And for mon ami assisi its no just britain its all over the world in all continents except for antarctica.
• Mon ami assisi Jacob Cunha (2018)
  I didn’t say it was only called that in Britain…
• Swanny Joseph Hughes (2017)
  what are you talking about…. what you call soccer is football played (believe it or not) with your feet!!! dont know where you got futball from…. you bloody fool, check ya facts.
• AJ Daddy (2017)
  Look up at the reply above! If you want to be exact then it isn’t futball it’s futbol, so as you said “Look up your facts before posting anything.”
• Dom josh (2016)
  Actually the football league was made in 1888 and the first codified version of football was made in 1876 so american football is only 20 years younger. The version of football is the cambridge rules which was the first civilised version ever made. Before this there was no pitch and there was only one rule no murder, google it.
• Martin Bean Football is Life(2018)
  Brits call “soccer” football because the game is actually played by kicking the ball with the foot. Unlike American “football” where the majority of the game, players run around with the ball in their hands.
• Lucyblue cuntypants (2020)
  American Football is also called gridiron in other countries.
• Cupcake cuntypants (2016)
  OMG… there’s no need to be so precise….. especially since we ALREADY KNOW THAT!!! DUH!
• Anonymous_xtxtxt Cupcake (2016)
  American handball is more appropriate.
• AJ Anonymous_xtxtxt (2017)
  What’s handball?
• Mike mies (2015)
  what is the role of a corner back and a defensive tackle
• Jacob Cunha mike mies (2018)
  defensive tackle is for defending the run and or sacking the qb. While the corner back is literally what the name is it guards the corner zone were the offensive receiver are. Although, when no receivers are in the zone they help their teammates out by moving to a different zone.
• Yacoub Sy (2017)
  It’s hard for me to understand it. I don’t even know they mean by down. Soccer is more understandable than Americans football.
• Lucyblue Yacoub Sy (2020)
  ‘down’ is just the name for an attempt, basically. So you get 4 downs (attempts/chances) to get a first down (moving the ball ten yards or more)
• Tacio (2016)
  If the team decides to convert two points after a touch down instead of a kick, how many yards from the end zone is the point of scrimmage?
• Leassah (2015)
  is there a difference between american football and rugby?
• Lucyblue leassah (2020)
  Yes, absolutely
• Rob Admin leassah (2015)
  American football evolved in the United States from the sport of rugby, but it is now a very different sport.
• Angelo Petrino (2018)
  I’m getting into american football, this was very useful, thank you
• Timothy Wahl Angelo Petrino (2019)
  I’m coming out with a book: “Footballogy: Elements of American Football
  for Non-Native Speakers of English.” This August. Hope this can help
  people learn about this fun spectator sport and about its heritage and
  traditions.
• RUFFSTER ROBLOX (2017)
  football is way better then soccer
• Viktor Skov Thomsen 7A Hirtsha RUFFSTER ROBLOX (2019)
  Every thing is better then soccer
• Kimor (2017)
  thanks i needed these for a P.E. thing. thanks!!!!!
• Pancakez and Gamez //P&G (2016)
  What are some of the consequences and penalties for the offensive and defensive team?
• Nadi (2014)
  Thanks, needed some basic football rules for a school project
• Iplaytheguitar (2014)
  Thanks – this made stuff clearer. Wish I could be better at the sport.