American football has a long history that the National Football League traces back to 1869 when it developed out of Rugby. e rules were officially written in 1876 by Walter Camp, the father of American football, at the Massasoit Convention. The first professional football player was William Heffelfinger, who was paid $500 to play in a game in 1892. As the game became more popular across the country, the rules and teams kept evolving. Modern football really started in 1932 with the NFL playoff game. It increased in popularity even more a er the 1958 NFL Championship Game, which is called “Greatest Game Ever Played.” Now football is one of the most popular sports in America, and you certainly don’t have to be a professional to play.
- The first step is to and a 100-yard eld and enough people to make two teams.
- The goal of the game is to take the ball over the opponent’s goal line into the end zone.
- The ball can be moved by carrying it, kicking it or throwing it.
- At the beginning of the game, there is a coin toss to decide which team has the ball first.
- Whoever has the ball has four chances (downs) to move the ball at least 10 yards down the field.
- If they gain less than 10 yards in four attempts, the ball goes to the other team.
- e team without the ball can stop the other players from moving the ball down the eld by tackling and blocking the player carrying the ball.
- If you don’t want to tackle, you can also play flag football.
- When the player carrying the ball is tackled, the game pauses.
- Wherever they were tackled is where the players line up to start again.
- When the football makes it to the end zone it is a touchdown, which is worth six points.
- After a touchdown, a team can kick the ball from the two-yard line. If it makes it through the goal posts it is one point.
- Carrying or passing the ball to the end zone is worthtwo points.
- A field goal is when the ball is kicked through the goal posts. is is worth three points.
- A safety, worth two points for the defensive team, is when the player holding the ball (offensive) is tackled in his own end zone.
