American Football LEVELED BOOK • Q a Reading A–Z Level Q Leveled Book Word Count: 960

American Football LEVELED BOOK • Q A Reading A–Z Level Q Leveled Book Word Count: 960

Connections Writing Do you think American football players should have to wear the football gear shown in the book? Why or why not? Write a persuasive essay using details from the book to support your answer. Social Studies Choose a football legend mentioned in the book. Research to learn more about him. Create a trading card for the football player that includes a picture American on the front and details about his life and football career on the back. Football

Written by Louanne Silver

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Many Kinds of Football Glossary Words to Know Tackle football is still very popular among championship (n.) a contest to decide a winner (p . 4) American championship platoons players of all ages . However, some forms of the defensive (adj.) relating to action intended to keep defensive quarterback game are just as fun and not as hard on the an opposing team from scoring (p . 9) end zone spectacular body as tackle football . In touch football, players Football end zone (n.) the area at the end of an American kickoff wide receiver only need to touch the ball carrier to stop him football field between the goal line offensive line or her . They may or may not follow the main and the end line (p . 4) rules of tackle (NFL) football . Flag football is Front cover: Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman (right) tackles San Francisco kickoff (n.) the kick of a ball that starts play in a 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice (left) in San Francisco in 2000. another form of the game . Players stop a ball sport, such as soccer and American Back cover: The Indiana Colts during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium carrier by grabbing a piece of cloth attached football (p . 12) in Indianapolis, Indiana to his or her waist . Whatever form of football Page 3: Georgia running back Todd Gurley (right) dives into the end zone offensive line (n.) the part of a football team that for a touchdown as Kentucky cornerback Jaleel Hytchye (left) defends fans play or watch, they are sure to have a great blocks the defense so the ball in a game in Athens, Georgia. time with this amazing sport . carrier can score (p . 9) Photo Credits: Front cover: © Andy Kuno/Reuters/Corbis; back cover: © PCN/Corbis; title page, page 7 (bottom left): © Gizelka/iStock/Thinkstock; page 3: © John Bazemore/ platoons (n.) groups of players on teams who AP Photo; page 4: © John Gaps III/AP Photo; page 5: © Brian Garfinkel/Icon work together for a specific SMI/Corbis; page 7 (top): © Everett Collection Inc/Alamy; page 7 (bottom right): © numb/Alamy; page 8: © Pongphan Ruengchai/iStock/Thinkstock; page 10: © purpose, such as offense or defense Aspenphoto/Dreamstime.com; page 11: © Timothy L. Hale/Zuma Wire/Zumapress. com/Alamy Live News; page 12: © Frank Jansky/Zuma Wire/Alamy Live News; in American football (p . 9) page 13: © Eugene_Onischenko/iStock/Thinkstock; page 14: © Greg Trott/AP Photo; page 15 (left): © Rachel Mummey/Zuma Press/Corbis; page 15 (right): quarterback (n.) the player in a football game who © Cameron Spencer/Photodisc/Thinkstock signals plays and throws the ball Written by Louanne Silver (p . 4) www.readinga-z.com spectacular (adj.) wonderful; impressive (p . 4) flag football American Football Focus Question Spectacular Sports Correlation wide receiver (n.) the player in a football game Level Q Leveled Book LEVEL Q © Learning A–Z whose primary job is to catch What is American football, and how did Written by Louanne Silver Fountas & Pinnell N the ball from the quarterback it become America’s favorite sport? All rights reserved. Reading Recovery 30 DRA 30 touch football and run with it (p . 4) www.readinga-z.com

American Football • Level Q 15 16 Words to Know Many Kinds of Football Glossary American championship platoons Tackle football is still very popular among championship (n.) a contest to decide a winner (p . 4) defensive quarterback players of all ages . However, some forms of the defensive (adj.) relating to action intended to keep end zone spectacular game are just as fun and not as hard on the an opposing team from scoring (p . 9) Football body as tackle football . In touch football, players kickoff wide receiver end zone (n.) the area at the end of an American only need to touch the ball carrier to stop him offensive line football field between the goal line or her . They may or may not follow the main and the end line (p . 4)

Front cover: Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman (right) tackles San Francisco rules of tackle (NFL) football . Flag football is 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice (left) in San Francisco in 2000. kickoff (n.) the kick of a ball that starts play in a another form of the game . Players stop a ball sport, such as soccer and American Back cover: The Indiana Colts during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana carrier by grabbing a piece of cloth attached football (p . 12)

Page 3: Georgia running back Todd Gurley (right) dives into the end zone to his or her waist . Whatever form of football for a touchdown as Kentucky cornerback Jaleel Hytchye (left) defends offensive line (n.) the part of a football team that in a game in Athens, Georgia. fans play or watch, they are sure to have a great blocks the defense so the ball Photo Credits: time with this amazing sport . carrier can score (p . 9) Front cover: © Andy Kuno/Reuters/Corbis; back cover: © PCN/Corbis; title page, page 7 (bottom left): © Gizelka/iStock/Thinkstock; page 3: © John Bazemore/ AP Photo; page 4: © John Gaps III/AP Photo; page 5: © Brian Garfinkel/Icon platoons (n.) groups of players on teams who SMI/Corbis; page 7 (top): © Everett Collection Inc/Alamy; page 7 (bottom right): work together for a specific © numb/Alamy; page 8: © Pongphan Ruengchai/iStock/Thinkstock; page 10: © Aspenphoto/Dreamstime.com; page 11: © Timothy L. Hale/Zuma Wire/Zumapress. purpose, such as offense or defense com/Alamy Live News; page 12: © Frank Jansky/Zuma Wire/Alamy Live News; page 13: © Eugene_Onischenko/iStock/Thinkstock; page 14: © Greg Trott/AP in American football (p . 9) Photo; page 15 (left): © Rachel Mummey/Zuma Press/Corbis; page 15 (right): © Cameron Spencer/Photodisc/Thinkstock quarterback (n.) the player in a football game who Written by Louanne Silver signals plays and throws the ball www.readinga-z.com (p . 4) spectacular (adj.) wonderful; impressive (p . 4) American Football flag football Focus Question Spectacular Sports Correlation Level Q Leveled Book LEVEL Q wide receiver (n.) the player in a football game © Learning A–Z What is American football, and how did Written by Louanne Silver Fountas & Pinnell N whose primary job is to catch it become America’s favorite sport? All rights reserved. Reading Recovery 30 the ball from the quarterback DRA 30 www.readinga-z.com touch football and run with it (p . 4)

American Football • Level Q 15 16 Teams have many special plays, or plans of action, for moving the ball down the field . The quarterback tells his or her teammates which play to use each time the teams line up .

The defensive team has several ways to try to stop the offensive team from scoring . Defensive players try to knock down the ball carrier, which is called tackling . They can also “The Tackle” is one of the most dramatic moments in Super Bowl history. get the carrier to drop the ball, or they can catch a ball meant for a player on the other team . Six Seconds to Go

Football Gear The date is January 30, 2000 . The Tennessee Titans and the St . Louis Rams are playing in helmet chin strap Table of Contents the Super Bowl, American football’s greatest shoulder pads Six Seconds to Go ...... 4 game . With the Rams ahead 23-16, the Titans jersey gloves Jerry Rice Joe Montana are at the Rams’ 10-yard line . There are only America’s Favorite Sport ...... 5 six seconds left in the game . Titans quarterback hip pads Football Legends Football in Other Countries ...... 6 Steve McNair passes the ball to wide receiver pants thigh pads Kevin Dyson, whose outstretched arm comes Two of the greatest players in American A New Sport Is Born ...... 7 up just 1 yard (0 .91 m) short of the end zone . knee pads football history were Jerry Rice and Joe Playing the Game ...... 9 The crowd goes wild as the Rams win their Montana . They played for the San Francisco socks first Super Bowl championship . 49ers in the 1980s . Rice was the best wide Football Legends ...... 14 Special pads under receiver in football history . Montana was With exciting game endings like this, it isn’t players’ uniforms Many Kinds of Football ...... 15 shoes (cleats) help them avoid probably the best quarterback ever . Together hard to see why the spectacular sport of getting hurt. they led the 49ers to three Super Bowl wins . Glossary ...... 16 American football is something to cheer about .

American Football • Level Q 13 14 American Football • Level Q 3 4 Teams have many special plays, or plans of action, for moving the ball down the field . The quarterback tells his or her teammates which play to use each time the teams line up .

The defensive team has several ways to try to stop the offensive team from scoring . Defensive players try to knock down the ball carrier, which is called tackling . They can also “The Tackle” is one of the most dramatic moments in Super Bowl history. get the carrier to drop the ball, or they can Six Seconds to Go catch a ball meant for a player on the other team .

The date is January 30, 2000 . The Tennessee Football Gear Titans and the St . Louis Rams are playing in Table of Contents helmet chin strap the Super Bowl, American football’s greatest shoulder pads Six Seconds to Go ...... 4 game . With the Rams ahead 23-16, the Titans jersey are at the Rams’ 10-yard line . There are only gloves Jerry Rice Joe Montana America’s Favorite Sport ...... 5 six seconds left in the game . Titans quarterback hip pads Football in Other Countries ...... 6 Steve McNair passes the ball to wide receiver Football Legends Kevin Dyson, whose outstretched arm comes pants thigh pads A New Sport Is Born ...... 7 Two of the greatest players in American up just 1 yard (0 .91 m) short of the end zone . knee pads football history were Jerry Rice and Joe Playing the Game ...... 9 The crowd goes wild as the Rams win their Montana . They played for the San Francisco first Super Bowl championship . socks Football Legends ...... 14 49ers in the 1980s . Rice was the best wide Special pads under With exciting game endings like this, it isn’t receiver in football history . Montana was Many Kinds of Football ...... 15 players’ uniforms hard to see why the spectacular sport of shoes (cleats) help them avoid probably the best quarterback ever . Together Glossary ...... 16 American football is something to cheer about . getting hurt. they led the 49ers to three Super Bowl wins .

American Football • Level Q 3 4 American Football • Level Q 13 14 Nations of the International Federation of American Football Teams can score in several ways . Let’s say America’s Favorite Sport Team A is playing offense . Team A can score American football is the most popular sport six points with a touchdown by running or in the United States . More fans attend football NORTH EUROPE AMERICA ASIA passing the ball into Team B’s end zone . Team games and watch football games on TV than ATLANTIC OCEAN A also tries to score extra points right after a any other sport . About seventy thousand fans AFRICA Equator touchdown by kicking the ball between the attend each National Football League (NFL) PACIFIC SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN AMERICA OCEAN goalposts (one point) or running or passing game . The NFL’s championship game—the AUSTRALIA the ball to get to the end zone (two points) . Super Bowl—is one of the biggest sports Another way for Team A to score is a field goal events in the world . (three points) . To get a field goal, a player kicks the ball between the goalposts . Team B—the Football in Other Countries defense—can also try to take the ball from The offense (Northwestern Wildcats, left) is ready to try to move the ball Team A and score points . against the defense (Notre Dame Fighting Irish, right). About seventy countries around the world have American football teams . The sport is not The game begins with a kickoff to the as popular as some other sports, but interest in offensive team . That team moves the ball the game is growing . toward the other team’s end zone and must Canada has had its own form of football gain at least 10 yards (9 1. m) . The offensive for more than one hundred years . Canadian team has four chances—called downs—to football is like American football . However, either gain those 10 yards or cross the goal line the field size, number of players, and some and score . As long as the team gains at least of the rules are different . 10 yards within those four downs, it keeps the ball . Then it earns the chance to gain another Arena football, an indoor version of 10 yards . But let’s say the offensive team can’t American football, has been around since move the ball 10 yards within the four downs . the 1980s . Its fast games take place on a small A North Carolina State quarterback (number 12) dives for the The Philadelphia Eagles are entering the field to play against the St. Louis end zone in a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Then the other team gets the ball . Rams at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. playing field .

American Football • Level Q 11 12 American Football • Level Q 5 6 Nations of the International Federation of American Football America’s Favorite Sport Teams can score in several ways . Let’s say American football is the most popular sport Team A is playing offense . Team A can score six points with a touchdown by running or in the United States . More fans attend football NORTH EUROPE AMERICA ASIA games and watch football games on TV than ATLANTIC passing the ball into Team B’s end zone . Team OCEAN any other sport . About seventy thousand fans AFRICA A also tries to score extra points right after a Equator attend each National Football League (NFL) PACIFIC SOUTH INDIAN touchdown by kicking the ball between the OCEAN AMERICA OCEAN game . The NFL’s championship game—the AUSTRALIA goalposts (one point) or running or passing Super Bowl—is one of the biggest sports the ball to get to the end zone (two points) . events in the world . Another way for Team A to score is a field goal (three points) . To get a field goal, a player kicks Football in Other Countries the ball between the goalposts . Team B—the defense—can also try to take the ball from The offense (Northwestern Wildcats, left) is ready to try to move the ball About seventy countries around the world Team A and score points . against the defense (Notre Dame Fighting Irish, right). have American football teams . The sport is not as popular as some other sports, but interest in The game begins with a kickoff to the the game is growing . offensive team . That team moves the ball toward the other team’s end zone and must Canada has had its own form of football gain at least 10 yards (9 1. m) . The offensive for more than one hundred years . Canadian team has four chances—called downs—to football is like American football . However, either gain those 10 yards or cross the goal line the field size, number of players, and some and score . As long as the team gains at least of the rules are different . 10 yards within those four downs, it keeps the Arena football, an indoor version of ball . Then it earns the chance to gain another American football, has been around since 10 yards . But let’s say the offensive team can’t the 1980s . Its fast games take place on a small move the ball 10 yards within the four downs . The Philadelphia Eagles are entering the field to play against the St. Louis A North Carolina State quarterback (number 12) dives for the Rams at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. playing field . end zone in a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Then the other team gets the ball .

American Football • Level Q 5 6 American Football • Level Q 11 12 Playing Positions American Football Field

Offense The goalpost is 18.5 feet (5.6 m) across and 10 feet (3 m) Defense QB quarterback tall in college and pro football. Kicking the ball above S S A New Sport Is Born the bar and between the uprights is one way to score. C center CB CB G guard In the late 1860s and early LB LB LB T tackle 1870s, students at several sideline DE DT DT DE TE tight end The end zone is 10 yards line of scrimmage WR wide receiver (9.1 m) wide. The ball North American schools Walter Camp is the “Father RB running back must be carried into, WR T G C G T TE of American Football.” Defense started playing two games or passed and caught QB DT defensive tackle from England . Soccer, which in, this area to score WR a touchdown. DE defensive end RB is also called football in parts of the world, was 160 feet (48.8 m) LB linebacker RB Offense CB cornerback mainly played with the feet . Rugby (short for 1-yard hash marks S safety rugby football) was played with hands as well as feet . 5-yard line Playing the Game Yale, in Connecticut, was one of the schools During a football game, two teams try to that played rugby . Walter Camp, a Yale student 50-yard line: This line move the ball into the other team’s end zone marks the middle of from 1876 to 1881, suggested changes to the the field. The number to score points . Each team has two platoons of m)360 feet (109.7 indicates that it is game’s rules . Over time, modern American eleven players each . (Teams also have a third A West Virginia University quarterback is ready to pass the ball. 50 yards (45.7 m) He wears a towel to wipe off his hands so he can grip the ball well. football was born . from either end zone. platoon for kicking .) The offensive line, or platoon, tries to score, and the defensive platoon To move the ball toward the end zone, Pigskin tries to stop the other team from scoring . The players can run with it or pass (throw) it to a Some people believe that early American two platoons take turns playing . When Team A teammate . The ball must be carried to the end footballs were probably rugby balls that were modern 10-yard line: The made of inflated pig bladders stuffed into pig rugby ball arrow points in the has control of the ball, its offensive unit plays zone or caught there . If a teammate catches hide casings. The balls were oval but were difficult direction of the closest end zone. Team B’s defensive platoon . When Team B has the ball, the pass is completed . If a player on to throw. Over time, the bladder was eliminated goal line end line and more pointed footballs were developed. control of the ball, its offensive platoon plays the other team catches the ball, the pass is Today, we use leather footballs made of Team A’s defensive platoon . A quarterback is intercepted . If no one catches the ball and it modern cowhide that some people refer American football gets its nickname— American to as pigskins. “gridiron”—from the pattern of yard the leader of each offensive platoon . falls to the ground, the pass is incomplete . football lines and hash marks on the field.

American Football • Level Q 9 10 American Football • Level Q 7 8 American Football Field Playing Positions

The goalpost is 18.5 feet (5.6 m) across and 10 feet (3 m) Offense Defense tall in college and pro football. Kicking the ball above QB quarterback A New Sport Is Born the bar and between the uprights is one way to score. S S C center In the late 1860s and early CB CB G guard LB LB LB T tackle 1870s, students at several sideline The end zone is 10 yards DE DT DT DE TE tight end (9.1 m) wide. The ball line of scrimmage WR wide receiver North American schools Walter Camp is the “Father must be carried into, RB running back of American Football.” WR T G C G T TE started playing two games or passed and caught Defense from England . Soccer, which in, this area to score QB DT defensive tackle a touchdown. WR DE defensive end is also called football in parts of the world, was 160 feet (48.8 m) RB LB linebacker RB mainly played with the feet . Rugby (short for 1-yard hash marks Offense CB cornerback rugby football) was played with hands as well S safety as feet . 5-yard line Playing the Game Yale, in Connecticut, was one of the schools During a football game, two teams try to that played rugby . Walter Camp, a Yale student 50-yard line: This line marks the middle of move the ball into the other team’s end zone from 1876 to 1881, suggested changes to the the field. The number 360 feet (109.7 m)360 feet (109.7 indicates that it is to score points . Each team has two platoons of game’s rules . Over time, modern American 50 yards (45.7 m) eleven players each . (Teams also have a third A West Virginia University quarterback is ready to pass the ball. football was born . from either end zone. He wears a towel to wipe off his hands so he can grip the ball well. platoon for kicking .) The offensive line, or Pigskin platoon, tries to score, and the defensive platoon To move the ball toward the end zone, Some people believe that early American tries to stop the other team from scoring . The players can run with it or pass (throw) it to a footballs were probably rugby balls that were modern 10-yard line: The two platoons take turns playing . When Team A teammate . The ball must be carried to the end made of inflated pig bladders stuffed into pig rugby ball arrow points in the hide casings. The balls were oval but were difficult direction of the has control of the ball, its offensive unit plays zone or caught there . If a teammate catches closest end zone. to throw. Over time, the bladder was eliminated goal line end line Team B’s defensive platoon . When Team B has the ball, the pass is completed . If a player on and more pointed footballs were developed. Today, we use leather footballs made of control of the ball, its offensive platoon plays the other team catches the ball, the pass is modern cowhide that some people refer American football gets its nickname— Team A’s defensive platoon . A quarterback is intercepted . If no one catches the ball and it American to as pigskins. “gridiron”—from the pattern of yard football lines and hash marks on the field. the leader of each offensive platoon . falls to the ground, the pass is incomplete .

American Football • Level Q 7 8 American Football • Level Q 9 10