How to Read a Football Down Marker

Football, in its purest form, is a game about ground acquisition. The ultimate goal is to score more points than the opponent by getting into the end zone or kicking the ball successfully through the goal posts. But, in most cases, to be able to score points, the football team has to gain yardage in at least 10-yard increments within a set of four plays called downs. Football down markers alert players and fans alike how many plays have been made in the current set of downs and how many are left to go. Even the most novice fan can learn to read a football down marker.

Instructions

    • 1

      Locate a "1" on the down marker, which indicates one of two things: either the team that has possession of the ball has just gotten the ball back from their opponents through a punt, kickoff or turnover, or they have just completed a set of four downs successfully and are now receiving a new set of downs in which to gain at least 10 yards. On occasion, due to a penalty situation on the previous play, the upcoming play may be shown as a first down and five, first down and 15 or more situation, which indicates how many yards the team with the ball needs to cover within this set of downs to get a first down.

    • 2

      View a "2" on the down marker, which indicates that the upcoming play is the second in this set of downs. Notice where the yard markers are, which will indicate where this particular set of downs began, ends and at what position the ball currently rests. For example, if the ball is resting halfway between the yard markers and the down marker reads "2," that indicates that the upcoming play is a second-down-and-five play, meaning that the team with the ball has five yards to go to get a first down and three plays in which to do it.

    • 3

      Find a "3" on the down marker, which indicates that the team with the ball has run two plays and has yet to cover the required yardage, likely 10 yards, to be able to receive a new set of downs or score points. Locate the yardage markers which will indicate how many yards are needed to complete this set of downs. For example, if the ball is two yards away from the end yard marker in the direction that the team with the ball is going, and the down marker shows a "3," it means that the next play being run is a third-down-and-two play and the team has to gain those two yards in the next two plays to receive a new set of downs or score.

    • 4

      Locate a "4" on the down marker, which indicates that this is the final play for this set of downs. Find the yardage marker which will indicate how many yards the team with the ball has to gain in order to receive a new set of downs or score; depending on the amount of yards needed, the team with the ball will either opt to go for the yards via a running or passing play; make a field goal attempt to try and score three points on this set of downs; or punt the ball to the other team, initiating a change of possession.