Football Basics Starter Pack

Football knowledge level recommended for this article: 1 out of 10 Beginner

The Field is 100 yards long with an end zone on each end.
11 players from each team can be on the field at one time, for a total of 22 on the field at once.
The team in control of the ball is called the Offense and the team on the other side is the Defense.
The team called the home team wears their team colors (never white) and they are called the home team when they play at their home stadium in their city.
The team called the away team wears white and they are called the away team when they play away from their home stadium and city.

To start the game one team kicks the ball to the other team and the player catches it and runs as far towards the end zone as possible until tackled, this is called the Kickoff.
The Offense starts at the spot the player was tackled on the kickoff, say the 30 yard line. The Offense now has 4 tries/downs to move forward 10 yards to the 40 yard line, called a first down. Or they could score a touchdown, all the way to the end zone.
The Defense tries to stop the offense from getting a first down in 4 tries. If they do, their team will be rewarded the ball to be on Offense.
If the Offense gets a first down, they get 4 more tries/downs to get another 10 yards for a first down.
If the offense successfully makes it all the way into the end zone at some point, they score a touchdown for 6 points and then kick an extra point through the field goal posts for 1 more point.
Then the team that scored kicks the ball to the other team and the process starts over for the other team to try to score.

The Quarterback lines up directly behind the Center, either right up next to him or 3-5 yards behind him. He then gets the ball hiked to him to start every play by the Center player. He can then hand the ball or throw the ball to a Running Back, Fullback, Wide Receiver, or Tight End. The Quarterback may also run the ball himself.
The Running Back lines up usually three to five yards behind the Quarterback or to his side. He will get the ball handed to him on run plays; or block or go out to catch the ball on pass plays
The Fullback lines up in front of the running back. His job is usually to block other players from the Quarterback and Running Back.
The Wide Receivers line up on the outside edges of the field and start the play usually running down the field to get passed to on a pass play or run downfield to block on run plays.
The Linemen are the group of 5 whose only job is to block. The Center hikes the ball to the Quarterback as well.
The Tight End is a combination of a Lineman and a Wide Receiver. He lines up next to Offensive Tackle and either blocks or can run down field to catch a pass.

The Linebackers job is to stop the run and the short pass.
The Safeties and Cornerbacks job is to stop the pass by covering the other players and then also stop the run
The Ends and Tackles job is to stop the run on run plays and tackle the Quarterback before he can pass on pass plays.

A Touchdown is worth 6 points and is when a player runs or catches the ball into the end zone.
A Field Goal is worth 3 points and is when the Offense kicks the ball through the posts.

An Extra Point is worth 1 point when the Kicker kicks the ball though the posts and always occurs immediately after a touchdown is scored.
A 2 Point Conversion is worth 2 points and is an alternative option to an extra point but the team has to get in the end zone from 2 yards away.

Fumble: When a player drops the ball, the ball can then be recovered by any player
Interception: When the Quarterback throws the ball to the opposing team
Sack: When the defense tackles the Quarterback behind the line of scrimmage

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