Football 101 Football 101
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Football 101 Football 101 • A sport for old kids…. Football 101 … and young kids! (Liam Leslie @ 4 months) Football 101 • Football is a sport that was invented in the late 1860’s and which has evolved significantly over the last 140 years. Football 101 • There are a lot of terminology and rules within football. Rules are meant to encourage fair and safe play by all players on the field. • There are several different formats of football, with each having a few differenKang characterisKcs (size of field, number of players on the field during each play, etc.). The Football Field Scoring • Teams score points through two main methods: possessing the football in their opponents’ endzone (a touchdown), or kicking the ball through the uprights (a field goal) which is at their opponents’ endzone. • With points only being scored by advancing the ball into the other team’s end of the field, football is known as a “field posiKon game”, in which you oen make decisions to keep the ball further away from your own goalline. Scoring • A touchdown is scored when you possess the football in your opponent’s end zone. • Touchdowns are worth six points. • A touchdown is scored by: – Carrying the ball across the goal line (into the end zone) – Receiving a passed football within the end zone – Recovering a football that was loose in the end zone. Scoring • AOer a touchdown is scored, the offense is given an extra play from the five yard line to try and “convert” the touchdown. – This is also called a “PAT” (Point AOer Try) • If they successfully make a field goal on the play, they score two extra points. If the offense runs or passes the ball into the end zone, they score one extra point. – In football at the higher levels, kicked converts are only worth one point, with run/pass converts worth two points. Scoring • You can also score by kicking the football off the ground and through the uprights. These “field goals” are worth three points. • If the ball is kicked into the end zone (but not through the uprights) and the defense does not return the ball out past the goal line, the offense scores one point. – This is unique to Canadian football, and is called a “rouge”. Players and Substuons • In Canadian football, you can play with either 5, 6, 9 or 12 players on the field. The most common format is 12-man football. • The BC Lions play 12-man football • American football is played with either5, 8, 9 or 11 players on the field. • We play a mix of 5-, 9- and 12-man football • 5-man: Mini-Tyke and Spring Flag • 9-man:Tyke, Atom, JB Players and Substuons • SubsKtuKons are allowed between plays, so you’ll oOen see players rotang frequently. • To start a play, an official places the ball down on the ground and whistles the clock to start. The offense has a limited amount of Kme (less than 30 seconds) to line up and start the next play. Line of Scrimmage • The Line of Scrimmage (LOS) is a virtual line extending across the field, parallel to the goal lines, that runs through the point where the ball is placed to start the play. • Each team must start on their own side of the Line Of Scrimmage on each play. – The defense must be one yard away from the ball in Canadian football Downs • When your team is on offense, it gets a set of three plays (three downs) to move the ball forward a total of ten yards. • There are a set of sKcks along one sideline linked by a ten yard chain to mark off the distance for each set of downs. A third sKck shows which down is currently being played, and where that play starts. • If that ten-yard mark is exceeded by the end of the third play, then the offense gets a new set of plays (a first down) to move the ball another ten yards. Downs • If the ball has not been advanced ten yards by the end of the third play, then the defending team gets to go on offense from where you were stopped. • As such, if there is a lot of distance to make up on the third down, the offense may decide to kick the ball (called a “punt”) towards the defense in hopes of making them start the next play from further away. Penales • InfracKons of the rules result in penalKes that typically impact field posiKon. Serious infracKons for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness may result in players being ejected. • When an official witnesses a rule being broken, he will throw a yellow flag to indicate that an infracKon has occurred. Posions - Offense • Linemen – These are the most important players on the field, as they block the defenders to enable the backs and receivers to carry the ball down the field, or to protect the quarterback who is passing the ball downfield. • Backs – These players are lined up in the backfield (behind the LOS) and have a variety of roles. They handle the ball most frequently, and carry it downfield, or block for the other backs. They can also pass the ball forwards (once per play, from behind the LOS) and fake that they have the ball. • Receivers – These players primarily run downfield and catch passes. They also block on running plays – their blocks oOen determine if a touchdown is scored on a long run or not. Posions - Defense • Linemen – These players line up along the LOS, one yard away from the offensive linemen. Their primary job is to stop the backs from running the ball down the field or to tackle the quarterback before he can pass the ball. • Linebackers – These players usually line up three to five yards behind the linemen, and also stop the offensive backs. They also defend passes by either following receivers or defending a certain area of the field (called a zone). • Backs – Defensive backs are responsible for stopping long passes, either by covering receivers and prevenKng a catch, or by intercepKng the ball. They assist the linemen and linebackers in stopping long or wide running plays. Posi8ons – Special Teams • AOer touchdowns, the ball is kicked off by the scoring team towards their opponents. This is also how the game starts at the beginning and aer the half-Kme break. • AnyKme a play involves the ball being kicked, it is considered to be a special play. Most teams will have specific players on the field for these plays, with these groups of players being called the “special teams”. • Many of the skills and strategies used in kicking the ball, covering the kick, or receiving the kick are unique and oOen complex. Important Rules: Offense • Offenses must line up in a “legal” formaon – 9-man: 5 players must be on the LOS – 12-man: 7 players must be on the LOS – The two players on the end of the line are allowed to handle the ball (they are “eligible”) – The other players are behind the ball and are also allowed to handle the ball. These players can also move around in any direcKon. Important Rules: Offense • Forward passes can only take place once per play, and must be from behind the LOS. • Any eligible player can pass the ball. • The ball can be handed or passed backwards or laterally an unlimited number of Kmes during a play, and from anywhere on the field. Important Rules: Defense • The defense cannot be within one yard of the offense when the ball is snapped. • Unlike with the offense, there are no other rules limiKng where or how the defense has to line up. As such, there is oOen a lot of creavity of alignment and movement by the defense to try and confuse the offensive blockers and ball carriers. • When tackling (forcing the ball carrier to the ground), the defenders cannot grab the helmet or facemask. The primary point of contact when tackling is opKmally the top of the shoulders, but someKmes defenders are only in a posiKon to grab and drag a ball carrier down. Important Rules: Defense • The defense is allowed, and encouraged, to take the ball away from the offense. – When the defense catches a pass, it is called an intercepKon, and they are allowed to immediately start running the ball towards the offense’s endzone. – When a ball carrier drops the ball on the ground (or it is forced out), anyone on either team is allowed to grab and recover the ball (this situaon is called a “fumble”). Equipment Overview • The player and parents are responsible for ensuring that the football equipment provided is kept clean and funcKonal. • Throwing helmets on the ground is not tolerated, nor are they to be sat on. • Scratches and chips in the helmet and shoulder pads can affect the structural integrity of the equipment, and thus can endanger the player. • Do not throw equipment on the garage floor or have it rolling around the back of a pickup truck. Storing the equipment on a shelf or hanging rack at home is preferable. rchfc.hyackfootball.com .