Here we go, Clever Girls. Undoubtedly, when you finish this post (I am breaking it up into three parts), you will feel as if hell has exploded inside your head, but fear not. All this information can be applied practically. As you watch games and listen to commentators (every dude in the room is a commentator), you will get a good sense of what is going on. The key is to pay attention. Listen instead of speaking. Don’t be afraid to ask questions- preferably during commercials, and try not to assert or declare unless you are prepared to back up your theory.The only thing worse than embarrassing yourself is embarrassing your date.
The Game
A football game is a match up between two teams, the goal of which is to score the most points by the end of regulation time (four 15-minute quarters with a 12-minute break at the half).
Before the game begins, the captain from each team (or a special guest) toss a coin to determine which 11 man team will have possession (opportunity to score) of the ball first (offense). The team without the ball is the defense. The winner of the coin toss gets to decide whether they want to kick or receive.
See below my own really crappy drawing of the field. The circles each represent a position- the position name is abbreviated in the circle.
The Field
The field is 100 yards long (300 feet) and 50 yards wide. A series of line markers help officials and players keep track of the movement of the ball. The center of the field is called the 50-yard line. In 10-yard increments (I have noted this in green), the numbers go down on each side of the 50-yard line (40, 30, 20, 10) until the goal line (noted above in blue) is reached. The extra 10 yards on each end of the field are called the end zones. Making it beyond that goal line and into the end zone is how the offense scores points. The set of up uprights (goal posts) in each end zone provide boundaries for field goals (three points) and extra point kicks (one point).We will discuss scoring later- and I don’t mean sex.
The Offense
(shown above in purple)
Note position abbreviations below in purple
The leader of the offense is the Quarterback (QB), he either hands off or passes the ball to advance it toward the end zone (the one they are facing, running or passing toward) to score points.
The Center snaps (hands or pitches) the ball to the QB and acts as a defender for him.
Two Guards and two Tackles act as a barrier between the QB and the defense.
Two to four (depending on the play) Wide Receivers (wide outs) are prepared to catch the ball thrown by the QB. OR, a Running Back (depending on the play, one or two will be on the field) takes the ball from the QB and run with it.
One or two Tight Ends (while most of their ends are tight, this is actually the name of the position) block the defense and can also catch passes.
The guards and tackles are not eligible to handle the ball from the QB.
The Defense
(shown above in orange)
Note position abbreviations below in orange
It is the singular role of the defense to stop the offense from scoring points. All eleven men work with the same purpose.
The Linebackers concentrate directly on that task. They try to bust up passes, stop runs and or sack (tackle with the ball) the QB.
The Defensive lines (Defensive Ends and Defensive Tackles) face off against the offensive line to stop them from protecting their own players.
The Corner Backs and Safeties try to defend the pass to the wide receivers and help stop the run.
Position Quick Reference
Offensive Positions
Quarterback (Q)
Center (C)
Guards (G)
Tackles (T)
Wide Receivers (WR)
Running Backs (RB)
Tight Ends (TE)
Defensive Positions
Line Backers (LB)
Defensive Ends (DE)
Defensive Tackles (DT)
Corners Backs (CB)
Safeties (S)
Special Teams
Are members of the offense and defense that come on the field during kicking situations only (punts, kick offs and field goals).
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