▲ goal

The goal of American football is to push the football into the opponent's touchdown zone. At the same time, get more points than your opponent within the specified time of the game.

▲ venue and players

American football field is often nicknamed barbecue grill, because the pattern of logo lines on the field makes the field look like a shelf that can help food bake on the fire. The competition was held on a field with a length of 120 yards (1 10 meters) and a width of 53 1/3 yards (49 meters). The longer boundary is called the edge and the shorter boundary is called the bottom line. The marking line next to the bottom line is called the score line, and the distance between the score lines is 100 yards. The area with a width of 10 yards between the bottom line and the score line is called the touchdown zone. Draw a code line (-{code line}-) every 5 yards on the court, and draw a number to 50 yards every 10 yards, or called the midfield area. There are two marking lines on both sides of the middle of the court, which are parallel to the two lines, and are called code marks (-{hash symbol}-). Any player must serve on the court or between courts. Erect two doorposts at the bottom of the touch area, with an interval of 18.5 yards. The doorposts are connected by cross bars, and the height of the cross bars from the ground is 10 yards. In order to shoot successfully, the ball must cross the crossbar and pass between two goalposts. In the competition, both sides sent 1 1 players to play. But during the game, some or all players on the field can be replaced at any time. In this way, each player has an exclusive task, and all 53 players in the team will be sent to play in each game. Therefore, the team divides players into three attributes, namely offensive players, defensive players and special players.

▲ Competition time

A standard competition consists of four quarters, each of which is 15 minutes (middle school competition is 12 minutes), including the intermission between the second and third quarters. In some cases, the timing of the game will be suspended, so the game time will often exceed the prescribed time by more than three hours. If after four quarters, the points are divided equally by both sides, and the game is extended by 15 minutes, the rule that the first scorer wins will be adopted. If no one scores, the game will be a draw. Overtime rules of college games are more complicated and different.

▲ attack mode

The attacking way of American football is similar to that of six-a-side football. The side with the ball (the attacker) has four offensive opportunities to advance ten yards (the touchdown zone of the defender), and each opportunity is called a fall. When the attacker successfully advances ten yards four times, he can get four chances to continue attacking. If the attacker can't move ten yards forward in four chances, he must give the ball to the other side.

Except kick-off, kick-off at half-time and kick-off after scoring, every attack should start in the same way: the offensive and defensive players are arranged on both sides of the kick-off line, facing each other. One of the attacking players, the center, passes the ball back between his legs to his teammates, usually the quarterback who catches the ball.

There are two ways for the attacker to move forward:

Running forward with the ball is called rushing.

Throwing the ball to a teammate is called passing. Passing the ball forward is the characteristic of American football. The attacker can only pass the ball forward once every attack opportunity and must pass the ball forward after the kick-off line. Horizontal and reverse transmission is not limited by this. Unlike other football, American football rarely crosses or returns.

Every attack opportunity ends in the following circumstances (called a dead ball). The Football Association will whistle to inform:

The player holding the ball is pushed to the ground, or the ball card thinks that its progress is blocked by the opposing player.

The ball passed forward is out of bounds or touches the ground before anyone receives it, which is called unsuccessful passing; Put the ball back on the original service line and start again at the next opportunity.

The player with the ball is out of bounds.

One of the teams scored.

Players and spectators usually need to know how many attacks they have and how many yards they have left before they can get four chances. For example, before an attack, TV or scoreboard will write: 1st, 10, which is the first chance, ten yards short. If an attack moves forward three yards, it will become: No.2 and No.7, which is the second time, seven yards short.

▲ Offensive and defensive reciprocity

The attacker can hold the ball until:

The attacking team didn't get four new chances. In other words, the attacker failed to advance ten yards in four chances. The defender can start to fight back at the end of the last attack. This simple ball is called a mistake.

An offensive touchdown or score. The attacking team then kicked off to the other team.

The attacker kicks the ball by throwing it down and kicking it away before it hits the ground. Usually, if the attacker fails to move the top ten yards in the first three chances and the distance is not close enough to shoot; In order to avoid giving the opponent a chance to start attacking there after the change of attack and defense, he will clear the gap with his kick at the fourth chance.

A player on the defensive side receives a pass from the attacker, which is called interception. Defensive players who intercept the opponent's pass can move to the opponent's baseline in real time until they are pushed down, out of bounds, or scored.

The attacker threw the ball to the ground and then conceded the ball, but the defender got the ball first. Like interception, defenders can counterattack in real time when they get the ball dropped by the opponent until they are pushed down, out of bounds or scored. The ball dropped and intercepted by the attacker is collectively called a mistake.

The attacker failed in his attempt to shoot. Defenders can start attacking from the last tee (in the NFL, where they shoot). If the shooting place is within the first 20 yards of the baseline, the defender starts from the 20-yard line.

The attacker is pushed down, out of bounds, or fouled on his own baseline. This is called safety. Safety balls are rare.

▲ score

The scoring methods of both sides are as follows:

Touchdown score (TD), 6 points. Touchdown score means that the player runs into the touchdown zone of the opponent with the ball or receives the pass in the touchdown zone of the opponent.

After the touchdown, the scoring team got a change. The ball will be placed on the opponent's three-yard line (NFL is a two-yard line). The scoring team can choose to shoot the ball into the goalpost, plus 1 point; Or run, pass, etc. , another touchdown, plus 2 points. In college and professional competitions, most of them score points by shooting. The success rate of professional competition score 1 is 94%, and that of universities is 93.8%. The success rate of adding 2 points is only about 43%. If the defender successfully stops adding 2 points, grabs the ball and reaches the array in real time, he can get 2 points (not applicable to NFL).

Get 3 points for FieldGoal (FG). The method is to kick the ball over the crossbar and between the two goalposts. When shooting, the ball must land first, usually a player is responsible for pressing the ball to the ground. Usually, when the attacker is close to the baseline but it is difficult to score a touchdown, he will choose to shoot rather than kick the clearance ball at the fourth attack opportunity, or choose to score when time is tight and other methods cannot score.

Safe, 2 points. This is a defensive player scoring. When the attacker is forced to retreat to his touchdown zone, and then pushed down or fell, the defender scores 2 points. Some attackers will also be awarded a safe ball if they foul in their own touchdown zone.

▲ Kicks and free kicks

Every half begins with kicking a ball. Kick when a team scores a touchdown or a goal. In professional leagues and college leagues, when playing football, put it on the tee of your 30-yard and 35-yard lines and kick it out. The opponent's catcher tried to catch the ball and pushed it forward as far as possible until it was intercepted. Then the attack team started a series of attacks from where he was intercepted. If the receiver doesn't want to push the ball, he can also wave his hand before catching the ball and choose to catch the ball safely.

▲ foul

When a foul occurs, the offending party will be punished. Most penalties are to return the ball to the touchdown area of the offending party for a certain number of yards, and some fouls by the defending party will give the attacking party four new offensive opportunities. If the number of yards sent back by the defender is enough for the attacker, the attacker will automatically get four new attacks. When there is a foul in the game, the referee will throw a small yellow flag near the foul place. After the game is stopped, the party without foul has the right to choose to accept the penalty or the result at that time. For example, when the attacker successfully advances 8 yards in the first attack opportunity, and the defender moves offside or ahead of time, then the attacker can choose to accept the penalty, that is, advance 5 yards and make the first attack again (still need 5 yards); Or choose to accept the result, that is, carry out the second attack (2 yards further).

Common fouls

The attacker moves ahead: The attacker moves in front of the tee except that a player moves parallel to the service line. Step back five yards.

Offside: The player crosses the ball position at the kick-off. Step back five yards. Similar fouls include: touching the opposing team before kick-off; Enter the neutral zone.

Blocking: Players unfairly block the opponent's chance to intercept or catch the ball by pulling the jersey, hooking or tacking. If the attacker fouls or the attack and defense are changing, back off 10 yards; If the defender fouls and retreats 5 yards, the opponent will automatically get 4 new attack opportunities.

Interference with passing: when passing, the defender pushes, hooks, pulls or knocks down the offensive player who has the opportunity to receive the pass; Or the catcher will deal with the defender in the same way to avoid being intercepted by the other side. If the defender fouls, the attacker gets four new attack opportunities at the foul place; If the attacker fouls, stand back five yards. If a player commits a similar foul before passing the ball, he will be sentenced to blocking or illegal contact.

▲ Player position

American football has many places for players with special tasks. In college leagues and American football leagues, most players only focus on offense or defense.

▲ attack group (attack team)

An offensive line consisting of five players, responsible for protecting the passer (usually the quarterback), blocking the opponent and making way for his runner. Except for the center, other attacking forwards usually don't touch the ball.

In most attacks, the quarterback will take the ball. Then, he can give or throw the ball to the running guard, pass the ball to the receiver, or charge with the ball himself.

The running forward is usually behind or beside the quarterback. They are best at charging with the ball. They can also block, catch and, in rare cases, throw the ball to their teammates.

The catcher is lined up near the sideline. They are good at catching the ball.

The tight end is listed on the front side of the attack line. They can receive the ball like a catcher, protect the quarterback like an offensive lineman or make way for the stormtroopers.

The above players will not play in every confrontation. Teams can choose how many outfielders, wingers and running guards to send in each confrontation.

▲ defense group (defensive team)

The defensive line consists of three to five players lined up in front of the opponent's offensive line. They are responsible for catching the other runner before the other runner charges or the other quarterback passes the ball.

A defensive defender consists of three players (usually two corner guards, a strong guard and a free guard). They are responsible for defending the receiver of the other side to prevent the other side from successfully receiving the pass. Sometimes they rush to the other quarterback.

The rest of the defenders are central defenders. They line up between the defensive line and the defender, and they can choose to rush to the other quarterback or help defend the catcher.

▲ Special group (special group)

Special groups refer to those players who are responsible for playing football. The special group includes full-time players, such as kickers who are responsible for kicking, kickers who are responsible for kicking off, shooting and scoring.