Subject:  Re: Football Rules? |
Author:
Mike L.
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Date Posted: 20:25:27 02/03/03 Mon
In reply to:
Sandee
's message, "Football Rules?" on 13:25:28 01/30/03 Thu
I dont know where to really begin to explain american football. There are alot of rules, too many to try to explain in one spot.
The basics
The field is 100 yards long, with an additional 10 yard long endzones on each end of the field. The field is 30 or 35 yards wide, I cant remember the exact width but i think its 35. 11 men per team on the field at a time. The basic object is to move the ball towards your opponents endzone. If you get it into the endzone its worth 6 points, plus 1 or 2 depending on if you try a 2 point conversion (where you have one play to get the ball from the 2 yard line into the endzone) or an extra point (where you kick the ball through the goal post). If you are stopped from reaching the endzone you can elect to kick a field goal. Similar to an extra point, i.e., kick the ball through the uprights but you snap the ball from the farthest point you have advanced it too.
You are alloted 4 plays to try to pick up 10 yards. every time you advance the ball 10 yards you can pick up a new set of downs. Typically you have 3 downs, i.e., plays to try and get a fresh set of downs. If you dont make 10 yards in 3 plays you either go for it on 4th down or punt. Punting the ball basically means having one team member kick it as far as they can or at an angle to go out of bounds. The other team then takes over and trys to advance the ball into your endzone. If you were to try to go for it on 4th down, i.e., not punt it to the other team, and dont make it far enough to gain a new set of downs, the opponents takes the ball where you end your drive (or turn if you will).
The game is broken up into 4 quarters with each quarter being 15 minutes long (game time not real time). There is a coin toss at the beginning of the game to see who gets the ball first.There are many proceedural rules and penalties but i hope this gives you some idea. I'm not an expert but a huge fan. If you have a specific question about something or are confused on some aspect, ask and i will do my best to answer. A web site may be the best way to really start to learn about it. I would just worry about the basics and then try and watch a few games. If you just start reading rules its going to get pretty confusing.
I dont think the officials are biased but they do make mistakes. Especially with new rule changes and the speed of the game. They have to make alot of subjective calls at the drop of a hat.
My team is the Pittsburg Steelers....HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!!!! There isn't a best team to root for, you just pick a team or teams you like and root for them. Best players are highly subjective and likely to cause an arguement. Personal preference of offensive (Have the ball) or Defensive (stopping the opponent from advancing the ball) will contribute a great deal to your favorite players or team. One word of advice if you are going to pick a team, dont root for the Bengals or lions. They are consistently horrible.
The best matches occur in the playoffs, where only the best teams, in theory anyway, advance. They also try to forcast the best games of the week during the regular season and play them on monday night but its nearly impossible to forcast who the good teams are going to be and the schedule is made before the season starts so its kindof pot luck.
Hope this helps and didn't confuse you even more.
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