How to Record Rushing Yardage in Football

Rushing yardage is the number of yards a team gains on a running play that starts at the line of scrimmage. The total rushing yardage is an important statistic to keep track of because it often reflects which team is controlling the game.

Instructions

    • 1

      Write down the number of the player who carried the ball and the result of each play. If No. 40 runs for 10 yards on a play that started at the 20-yard line, write No. 40 + 10 to 30. The 30 refers to the yard line where the ball was placed after the run. If No. 40 loses 5 yards on a play that starts at the 20, write No. 40 - 5 to 15. Make sure you note which side of the 50-yard line the ball is on when the series of plays begins, or when a team advances past midfield.

    • 2

      Know the rules and be aware of how to record rushing yardage when there's a penalty. If a player runs the ball downfield for 20 yards and there is a holding or illegal block penalty along the way, he is credited only for rushing yardage to the point of the infraction. If there is a penalty behind the line of scrimmage or exactly on it, it does not count as a run at all.

    • 3

      Be aware of some special situations that can occur. For instance, if the ball is successfully passed downfield and then lateraled, the first part of the play goes as passing yardage and the part after the lateral goes as rushing yardage. If a player runs past the line of scrimmage and laterals the ball, the first part of the play goes as rushing yardage for the original runner. The second part goes as rushing yardage for the player who received the lateral.

    • 4

      Know that rushing yardage does not apply to kick or punt returns, or after a ball is fumbled. A team is credited with rushing yardage only to the point of the fumble if it recovers its own fumble and advances the ball.

    • 5

      Decide whether the play was intended as a run or a pass when a player, usually the quarterback, is tackled behind the line of scrimmage. If the player intended to pass, the tackle is called a sack and the loss is deducted from a team's passing yardage under NFL rules. If the play was a run, the loss is deducted from rushing yardage.