How do I Play American Football?

Whether it is watching a professional game on television or cheering on a child's team from school, football is a favorite pastime of many Americans throughout the U.S. The NFL, or National Football League, is an organization that oversees professional football games played between teams all over the nation. The rules of the game may vary only slightly between professional, college and amateur teams, but in general there are only small discrepancies. American football is a contact sport in the truest sense of the word.

Things You'll Need

  • Football
  • Field
  • Protective Gear
  • Goal Posts
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Instructions

    • 1

      Divide all players into two teams. Each team needs to have at least 11 players as this is how many are required on the field at once. Wear protective padding such as shoulder pads and closed-toed shoes.

    • 2

      Assign the player's roles in the game. Defensive players include linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. Offensive players consist of guards, tackles, wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, a center and a quarterback. The quarterback chooses the offensive team's plays, and he has control of the ball at the beginning of each play.

    • 3

      Conduct a coin toss to determine which team receives the ball first.

    • 4

      Kick the ball from the defensive team to the offensive team during the opening game kick-off. The offensive team is the one with possession of the ball on the field at any given time. Each team wants to gain possession of the ball and score. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

    • 5

      Transport the ball downfield to a portion of the field known as the end zone. This is the last ten yards on each end of the field. Throw the ball forward down the field to other team members to gain yardage, or run the ball downfield. Throw or pass the ball behind the line on which the play was started, known as the line of scrimmage.

    • 6

      Give each team a total of four plays to get the ball down the field. Call each finished play a "down." The first play is then called "first down." Turn the play count back to first down by gaining ten yards. Turn the ball over to the current defensive team if ten yards or a score is not made by the end of the fourth down.

    • 7

      Run the ball into the opposite team's end zone to score six points. Catch the ball in the end zone to score six points. Score an extra point after a touchdown by kicking the ball over the goalposts. Score two extra points after a touchdown by running the ball into the end zone. This is called a "two-point" conversion, and the play begins at the defense's two yard line. Kick the ball the ball over the defense's goalposts at any other point in the game to achieve a field goal, worth 3 points.

    • 8

      Tackle members of the offensive team to prevent their players from carrying or throwing the ball down the field in their attempt to score. Force the offensive player's knees to touch the field to complete a tackle. End a play when the player who is in control of the ball is fully tackled.

    • 9

      Play four quarters, which are each 15 minutes in length. Take a break in the game after the second quarter. This is known as half-time, which usually lasts 12 minutes.