Superbowl first timer? A rookie's guide to American Football

Tomorrow Sunday 4th Feb is Super Bowl Day.
Aired 11:30pm UK Time.
The biggest event in the American Football Calender.

It is a HUGE event watched by millions around the world.

The teams have fought it out throughout the season and one team will lift the Vincent Lombardi Trophy and receive their Super Bowl rings.

It's not all sport, the Super Bowl half-time show is highly anticipated, from revealing the act(s) who will perform to the actual show. The half-time show has featured, Lady Gaga,  Michael Jackson, Coldplay, Paul McCartney and Beyoncè to name a few. This year it is Justin Timberlake.  Let's hope he doesn't repeat the escapades of Super Bowl XXXVIII IN 2003 where Janet Jackson got "exposed"

As American Football continues to grow in the UK and around the world, I have put together a beginners guide to the Sport of American Football. It won't teach you everything, however, if at work, on the morning commute or chatting on Facebook someone mentions the Super Bowl, this guide will help you talk back like you know what you are talking about, or at least understand some of the words being said!

 The guide

American Football is played on a field 100 yards X 53 yards with 2 10 yard END ZONES.

There are 2 teams of 11 players on the field at anyone time, but the team is made up of a squad of 53.
The squad is made up of three areas: OFFENSE, DEFENCE and SPECIAL TEAMS.
Each takes turns on the field.


The aim of the game is to move the ball into the opponents ENDZONE to score a TOUCHDOWN.

TOUCHDOWN = 6 POINTS

You can also get extra points after a touchdown

♡ 1 EXTRA POINT for kicking the ball between the upright posts (Point after Touchdown P.A.T)
♡ 2 EXTRA POINTS for passing or running the ball into the end zone (2 POINT CONVERSION)

A TOUCHDOWN can be achieved by moving the ball down the field in a series of plays known as DOWNS
This can be done by:
♡Passing the ball through the air from the QUARTERBACK to a RECEIVER
♡The RUNNING BACK rushing the ball along the ground

The OFFENSE must move the ball at least 10 yards down field every 4 DOWNS to keep possession of the ball and earn another 4 DOWNS to head towards the ENDZONE.

If the DEFENCE prevent the OFFENSE making these 10 yards, the OFFENSE must either
♡PUNT (kick out of hands) the ball towards the opposition towards their endzone (This option is done to put the opposition at a disadvantage as they will have more yards to make to get to their endzone)
♡ Attempt to score a FIELD GOAL (Kicking the ball between the upright posts).
 FIELD GOAL = 3 POINTS

IF neither of these options are taken the ball is given to the opposition (TURN OVER ON DOWNS)

NOTE: A FIELD GOAL can be attempted at anytime in the game.

The game has four 15 minute QUARTERS, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Some key words to help your American Football chat...

FUMBLE - When a ball carrier drops the ball. When this happens,  any player on the field can recover the ball by diving on it. The team of the player who recovers the ball gets possession.

INTERCEPTION - THE DEFENCE can gain possession of the ball by catching or intercepting passes.

NOTE: FUMBLES and INTERCEPTIONS can be ran into ENDZONES for TOUCHDOWN

SACK - When the defence tackles the QUARTERBACK whilst he has possession of the ball. This is detrimental to the OFFENSE as a DOWN is wasted and usually results in a loss of yards.

INCOMPLETE PASS - When a pass intended for a reciever hits the ground first or is thrown out of bounds. This also wastes a DOWN. Play is restarted from the spot of the last DOWN.

PENALTY - If a player breaks one of the rules the referees will throw flags down onto the field. They will determine who made the foul and how many yards the player at faults team will be penalised.

CHALLENGE - When a coach disagrees with a decision on the field they will throw a red flag onto the field challenging the referees decision. When this is done, the previous play is reviewed. If the CHALLENGE is successful the ruling on the field is reversed. If UNSUCCESSFUL the ruling on the field stands and the coach forfeits one TIMEOUT.

TIMEOUT - When the team wants to stop the clock to take a break or regroup or change tactics, they call a TIMEOUT. TIMEOUTS last 60 seconds and a team has a maximum of 3 TIMEOUTS per half. There is a 12 minute break at half-time.

Jasmine

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