Football Rules – How To Play Football? [A Complete Guide]

For an American, knowing every football rule is a normal thing. But there are a lot of rules they still have no idea about every rule. On the other hand, for someone who is new to American football or for someone new to this game, American football rules are very complex. So, if you are one of them, then this article is for you. Let’s begin.

Football Rules

You will find the basic rules of football, the flow of the game, and the scoring method. You may find that there is not every information about American football. But if you want to enjoy the game as a new watcher, then this article will definitely help you. If you are planning to play this game with your friends, then go through this article. 

The Game

First, begin with the basic rules.

• First of all, each team has 11 players on their side. And one team is on the offense side, and the other is on the defense side. 
• The second rule is that there is a 15 minutes quarters, and every match has four quarters to decide the winner. 
• In one match, there are a total of three “time-outs” for each team in a single half. And between two haves, there is a 12-minute interval. 
• The objective of the game is to move or carry the ball to the opponent’s end zone. You can either run with the ball or pass the ball to a teammate who later carries the ball to the end zone. And the opposition will try to tackle you or your teammate who has the ball at that time. 
• Though you can only watch that 11 players are playing on the field on each side. But a team has a total of 45 players on their side. And there are quick substitutions that a team can make. 
• In American football, the quarterback is the key player in a team. Because whoever is playing at the position they try to dictate the game and make all the major decisions.

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Downs

This part is a little confusing, but I have simply the rules so that you can understand the part better. 

• Downs are one of the parts of the game, and most new people get confused about it. But in reality, the rule is pretty much straightforward. 
• In the field, there are lines that tell the 10-yard forward line. When a team is in possession or the team is on the offensive side, they need to take the ball forward for a minimum of 10 yards. They get a total of four chances to take the ball forward.
• After they cross the 10-yard line, the chances or downs get reset. Then, after forwarding every 10 yards, the chances reset, and the team gets another for downs for forwarding further 10 yards.
• If the offensive team is unable to forward 10 yards within four chances or downs, then the defensive team gets the possession. And the defensive side gets the chance to be the offensive side. 
• If a team sees that they are down to their third down, then they try to get a field goal by kicking the ball. This trick helps them to get the point. It is better to get the point rather giving the possession to the opposition team.

Scoring

The ultimate objective of the game is to score more points than the opposition. The team with the most points wins the match. Here are the basic scoring rules.

• Touchdown

If a team is successful in scoring a touchdown successfully, then the team gets a total of 6 points. But how does a touchdown score? When a team crosses the goal line with the ball in their hand, a touchdown is scored. A touchdown also happens when a team collects or catches the ball. All they have to do is to reach the end zone.

• Field Goal

You may have seen that there are two upright posts in the end zone of each side. So, if a player is successful in kicking the ball through the upright posts, they get 3 points. When a player is close to the end zone, in those times, they try to kick the ball. But why do they go for 3 points instead of trying to get 6 points? 

When a team is on their fourth down, they try to get three points. Because instead of taking the risk of giving the ball to the opposition, it is safe to get three points. All they need to do is to kick the ball through the posts.

• Extra Point

There are a couple of rules where a team can get extra points. First, a team can score extra points by kicking the ball through the posts. But the team needs to kick the ball after a touchdown. If a team takes the ball in the end zone, then they get two extra points for that. But the trick is difficult, so teams try to get one point.

• Safety 

In this game, the defensive team also gets the opportunity to score. If the defensive team is successful in tackling a player from the offensive team, they will earn a total of 2 points. But the tackle must be done in their end zone. 

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football overtime rules

There are some basic overtime rules that you should also know.

• If the score ties, then there will be overtime. And the visiting captain gets the opportunity to call the toss for who will take possession.
• There will be a 10-minute overtime and a three-minute intermission.
• After three overtime, if the score still ties. Then there will be sudden death. And the first team scores will win.
• Every team gets two timeouts.

Final Words

I hope you have understood the basic American football rules. So, next time if sometime asks you about NFL rules, you will be able to tell them about these. And most importantly, you can enjoy the game with the knowledge of gameplay, points, and others. Please let us know in the comment section below if you want to know more.

Thank You.

Read Also:

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• How Long Are Baseball Games? A Complete Guide
• Rugby Rules: A Complete Guide To Basic Rules Of Rugby