Football for Dummies. Can someone please give me a general rundown

[yvr girl]

on the rules of the game. I just got home and I'm watching the game. It would be more fun if I knew the rules.

I understand hockey and baseball, so I'm not a total sport idiot, but I've never actually seen a football game.

[Catch22Dem]

1. Each side gets 4 tries to move the ball 10 yards.

If they succeed they get 4 more tries to do it again. If they fail, they give the other team the ball at the spot where they failed. This is why they'll usually go 3 tries then kick it way downfield to the other team. A touchdown is when you get to the end of the field and it's worth 6 points. They get a chance to kick it through the uprights (big yellow "H") to get an extra point to make it 7.

[Sufi Marmot]

2. A team on offense has 4 plays (downs) to move the ball 10 yards...

...if they don't, the ball is turned over to the other team. On 4th down, most times teams punt the ball way down field to the other team, unless they're close to making the 10 yards and decide to go for it. If the offensive team gets 10 yards or more within 4 plays they get another 4 plays to make another 10 yards. Offensive teams can run or throw the ball - to score a touchdown (6 points) they have to run or pass the ball over the goal line. After a touchdown they get to try to kick for an extra point. If a team can't score a touchdown, if they're close enough they can kick a field goal (3 points, usually done on 4th down)...

Hope this is a helpful start...

-SM

[givemebackmycountry]

3. Eagles in green and Patriots in white.

First down means the team with the ball moved it ten yards.
They can pass the ball.
They can run the ball.
If they are close enough, they can kick the ball between the goal posts.
Those would be the two big yellow things.
Cross the goaline and you get six points.
Every team kicks an extra point after they score and then you get another.

Kick a field goal and you get 3 points.

The defense has to stop the offense which means they have to do three things.

Kill the quarterback.
Stop the running back. (Remember when I said you can RUN the ball? The running back does that)
Stop the receivers from catching the ball.

That's all you need to know.

[yvr girl]

5. Cross the goaline and you get 7 points is that different than a

touchdown? (with the 6 points plus 1 point)

[Sufi Marmot]

6. No, over the goal line is six...

...then you have the option of kicking for the extra point (1) or trying for a two-point conversion, where the ball is placed at the 5 (?) yard line I think and you have one play to run or pass the ball over the goal line for two points.

[Sufi Marmot]

4. P.S. to YVR girl...

...if you live in the Marpole area of Vancouver, that's me you can probably hear yelling obscenities at the television...

-SM, fretful Patriots fan...

[Berserker]

7. This may help

http://www.football.com/rulesabc/play_game.shtml

[yvr girl]

8. I'm a little north of you - Fairview knocking on the door of Kits

p.s. They can't hear you yelling at them - it doesn't help.

[Sufi Marmot]

9. Oh, they can hear me...I just know it... :-)

-SM

[OneBlueSky]

10. it's just a metaphor for warfare . . .

the objective is to infiltrate enemy territory and capture their headquarters (the end zone) . . . the more often you can accomplish this feat, the higher your score . . . the team that's most successful wins the game . . . that's really all you need to know . . .