Can You Explain Football to Me?

Hey Ephie! You already got some great responses and I'm still learning so I won't go into the rules but I had to share my story b/c I was you a few months ago. the key for me was to get invested in a PLAYER. my husband loves the game and every time i asked him to explain it to me in a fit of ambition, my eyes would glaze over 2 minutes in. but THIS year, thanks to us weekly and people magazine, i got to know Tim Tebow (quarterback). Sadly he didn't make it to the SuperBowl but he is such an amazing guy! I really respected him for his values and how he stood up to everyone who mocked him so that made me WANT to know how the game was played so that I could cheer him on while watching him play. lol. So there you have it. Tebow played, I asked hubby to explain the game, I LISTENED (amazing!), and now I'm kind of into the game. I used to think it was just a bunch of men ramming into each other and having to start/stop every 2 seconds but now that I know what the goal is and what they're doing, it's a lot more interesting. We'll see if my interest blossoms or fades away with time :)

I get that way too. Tune out, even when I'm the one who asked what the rules are! The only way for me to learn is to play the game. So, my husband is teaching me the rules of hockey and football by playing his video games. It works! But, don't ask me too many questions. ;)

You are so cute, Ephie! Think about it this way. Each team gets 10 yards chance to go towards their goal. The chances are called downs. You get 3 downs, and then on the 4th down, there is too much chance of the other team taking the ball away from you too close to their goal, so they usually kick the ball far away so that the other team has to work harder to get to their goal. So then it's the other team's turn.

They keep doing it, over and over, until one gets a touchdown. In the middle of all of it, there are mistakes that can be made that they get in trouble for. Holding, clipping, facemask, fouls of various kinds. And there's being offsides which means somebody did something when they are all leaning over looking at each other's helmets or butts. And sometimes someone is standing in the wrong place or runs somewhere they aren't supposed to. All of that makes the referees run all over the place throwing yellow rags, which is called a flag on the play being called. That usually costs the offending team some yards.

Personally, I have trouble seeing the difference in holding and clipping when I'm watching a game. But that's okay. I just really love watching the passing plays - you see more of that in pro ball than college ball. If you get mixed up, just wait til the refs call the play, and then you can either say words of endearment, or yell about the inequity of it all!

Smiles!
Dawn

I once asked a guy to explain it to me. I said as far as I can tell it is two different groups of men trying to get from one end of the field to the other while inflecting as much pain on the opposing team as possible. I wasn't sure that possession of the ball was actually relevant.

He said I already understood it perfectly. :s

Start with the basics:
1) The object is to score the most points. There is a time limit (unless there is a tie when the time runs out, then there are special rules to address that) to the game.
2) Each time a team has possession of the ball, they get 4 tries to move the ball a minimum of 10 yards towards their goal (to score). If they succeed at any point during those 4 tries (either go 10 yards total forward progress, or further), then they get ANOTHER chance to try it again. This is called getting a "first down". So, if they get the ball and only go forward 2 yards, they refer to it as 2nd (2nd try, so "2nd down") and 8 (which means they are on their 2nd try and have 8 more yards to go or they lose possession of the ball).
3) If a team does NOT move the ball 10 yards forward during their 4 tries (downs), then the ball is turned over to the other team AT THAT POINT ON THE FIELD. So, what typically happens is that on 4th down, (their last try before turning the ball over to the other team then and there) they will punt the ball to the other team. Yes, they are essentially giving up their turn, but they get to make the other team start THEIR turn a lot further down the field (as far as their punter can kick it). Sometimes, when they are only inches from reaching their 10 yards and a new first down, they will opt to "go for it" and there will always be lots of talk by the commentators about this move. And fans watching the game. Because it can be very bold and smart, or very risky and stupid, depending on if they get the first down or not.

Once you understand those basics, you can add bits of knowledge as you go. There are so many special rules for special situations that I just ask as they crop up and learn from year to year. :)

Overtime rules were fun for me this year in the Giants last playoff game, lol.

Here's what you need to know about penalties: When a ref throws a yellow flag, it is a penalty. If they blow the whistle and throw the flag before the ball is snapped, it is ALMOST ALWAYS on the offensive team (the team with the ball). Different broken rules award different penalties. So holding might be 10 yards (the offensive team starts their down over again further away than they were and they have to gain back that yardage to earn a first down), pass interference is awarded at the spot of the foul (if I remember right), so this can be a doozy. Personal foul can range from 5-15 yards (a facemask is always 15 yards).
These can make it nearly impossible for a team to move the ball down the field towards their target: scoring, or getting the next first down, so that they can continue to get more turns.

Also, there are rules about certain things that can or can't be done-- a quarterback has rules that govern his field position when he throws a pass. He can only throw it forward down the field if he is behind the line of scrimmage (where his team lined up on the ball at the start of the play). If he has run out from behind his linemen (due to pressure from the opposing team getting past them) and runs forward beyond the line of scrimmage (if I understand this correctly) he can ONLY throw the ball sideways or behind him (a lateral pass) or a flag will be thrown and a penalty given.

If a quarterback is sacked (tackled with the ball) in his own endzone, the opposing team earns 2 points. If a foul/penalty is called on the offense when the quarterback is in the endzone with the ball, it is also 2 pts for the opposing team. These are called getting a safety.

So... your team always needs to move the ball a minimum of 10 yards forward within 3 plays (or they will kick it away). And they need to avoid penalties and protect their quarterback. These things will go a long way.

If your team can throw (has good receivers and good line protection for a quarterback with a decent throwing arm) AND run (good running backs that can gain yardage running it not throwing it) it is a really good thing. Not just because it gives you more ways to effectively move the ball and your one good guy doesn't get worn out. But also for the strategy involved: the other team has to "protect" against ALL OPTIONS you might use. That's why the get in the huddle to tell the next play to their teammates. The other team can't know what they plan to do or they can defend against it better.

There is a lot more, but this is just a good, general basic outline.
Hope it helps you enjoy Sundays game!
Go Big Blue!

Start stop, start stop. Fat guys running into each other. Stop. Start. Ball dropped. Stop. Start. flag. Back up. Stop. Start. The more athletic guy catching it. Stop. Start. Someone gets a touchdown, stupid celebration. Start/ Stop. More touchdowns...maybe. Field goals. Oops...the fat guys are offside. More flags. Starting. Stopping. Someone wins. The end...HOURS later.

That's what football is to me. There is no flow. It's starting and stopping and ramming for HOURS.

Yes.

Football is this game that comes on TV, on Sundays, Mondays, Thrursdays, Tuesdays, Saturdays (???)
Its really loud, there are a million time outs. When my husband says there is 4 minutes left, it means an hour.
For some reason, while its on, it makes my husband stick to the couch and even eat on it when he knows thats not allowed.
It makes magical things happen!!

Huh?!
Are we supposed to get more out of football than the spandex pants part? Whooops, my bad!

I'm going to try:

The team who first gets the ball has 4 chances (downs) to move the ball 10 yards. If that make it across that 10 yard marker, they get another 4 chances. They keep going as far as they can to try to cross into the end zone and get a touchdown (worth 6 points). If they get a touchdown, they can kick for an extra point, or try to run/throw it into the end zone again for another 2 points. They may get close to the end zone but not close enough for a touchdown and decide to kick it through the goal posts for 3 points.

If during their turn with the ball, they ever fail to move the ball 10 yards during their 4 chances (downs) then they kick it far back to the other team, who then starts their 4 chances to move the ball.

All along, there are defensive players who are trying to stop the guys with the ball from moving, by tackling and blocking and trying to catch the ball instead (interception). If they can get the ball, it's automatically their turn again.

hope that helps!

You cuss when you lose the ball or your teammate throws it to the wrong team (interception). You get excited when your teams catches the interception or scores.

You get 4 tries to get from point A to point B. I.e. first and four, second and four. If you make it to point B then you get 4 more tries until you reach the end of the field. A touch down is 6 points, you can then kick it in for 1 more point or try to run it in for 2 more points. A field goal is 3 points and can be kicked from any where as long as it goes through the goal post.

That's all I got for ya Babe!

I just go shopping when football is on. The stores here are really dead during a football game.

When a team gets the ball they bring out their players who specialize in going on the offense - trying to get a touch down or a field goal. They get 4 attemtps to move the ball 10 yards. (1st down, 2nd down, etc.)Let's call them the red team. The other team (blue team?), meanwhile, has their defensive players on the field trying to stop them. So the red team has their offensive line on the field trying to move the ball towards their endzone and the blue team has their defensive line on the field doing everything they can to stop them.

The main ways to move the ball up the field is either by running with it or by throwing it to a reciever. Inthe example above the red team's quarterback "calls the play" in the huddle - telling hte team which of the memorized plays they're going to attempt. When the quarterback gets the ball he tries to either throw it (pass) or hand it off to someone who'll run with it. If the red team can't get 10 yards in 4 attempts, or if the blue team intercepts the ball, then the blue team gets the ball and both teams change their line on the field. Now the red team would be on the defense and they bring out their defensive line - the linebackers who are big huge guys who try to stop the blue team.

There are all kind of rules concerning how the players can touch and grab the other team's players. They can't tackle a guy who doesn't have the ball, except in certain circumstance, they can't grab their facemask,. Therea re other rules about being out in front of the ball on the field, there's rules about false starts, etc.

I never cared about football until my son began to play in2nd grade. He's played for about 6 years and I enjoy it to some extent. But I had to learn about it. There are alot of things I don't understand about it and my husband doesn't have the patience to explain. But I hope this helps a little.

have fun - and remember not to ask too many questions in the midst of the game it will be really annoying to your DH. ;o)

lmao... sorry...

You sound just like my husband! After 6 years, this past season he has finally listened enough to get the main idea... but still has a ways to go. Maybe by our 12 yr anniv he will totally get it ;)

lol - my idea of football is... 2 teams of men, each trying to get the ball to the other side with lots of technical rules!

That's how I learned about baseball Ephie...after years and years of being a baseball widow, I was determined to learn.

I like the shiny pants myself lol

Its basically a game where you have to get the pigskin over your goal line which the other team is going to "defend" it as in, they will throttle you to the ground to stop you from crossing the goal line. When you have the ball, you are the "offense" and you can go down the field 10 yards at a time and you get 4 chances to do so (downs) at a time. You can get the pigskin down there any way you want - running it or throwing it. If you don't get past your 10 yard, the ball goes to the other team and then you have to defend your goal line.

If you get your ball across the goalline, you get to do a fun dance and then run into the stands and have your fans give you a few pats on the back.

Oh and I have to warn you...the 2 guys in the middle on offense have to be best of friends or else it would make for an awkward game.

This is why I watch hockey. Get the puck, put it in the goal on the other side of the ice, defend your own goal from the other team. That's it ;)

I could begin to explain football, but I think you'll be even more confused. Just cheer when your husband does, and curse when he does, keep the beer and snacks flowing, and you'll be fine!!

Great question! Can I just say ... I was a high school cheerleader and still don't know the game, hahaha! I much prefer basketball. Fast paced and easy to understand. I'll be reading your answers. My eyes also glaze over when I've asked my husband for the low down on the game ...

Hi ephie-

I think it really boils down to men...and their fascination with 'balls'...

LOL

michele/cat

PS

It took me about 5 minutes to 'understand' the game once I had kiddos playing...

I know you have the two girls...but I had a daughter play for a season as well...so ya never know!

Friday Night Lights

Myself... I prefer to learn EITHER via osmosis when my brain has shut off, there's nearly no other way to jumpstart it. I can't hack, but I can appreciate movies with hackers in them, and I've learned to be able to speak with my son (hax0r in training) halfway intelligently by watching flicks about these people who see numbers the way I see words.

OR

Doing it myself. I've never been much of a spectator. I didn't get football (or rugby, I really prefer rugby) until I joined the military. When you have the option to beg off work to go play in the mud and then have a cold beer, or to stay and man the shop... well you can guess where I went! I'm still not exactly too straight on the rules (the guys I played with were pretty fast and loose with them... downs weren't a part of the equation...ROFLMAO actually, JoW's description fit pretty perfectly for usmc pick up rules! I had to watch FNL to finally go "Ahhhhhh. Now I see.") but I've got the general idea of them and can go "Ooooh!" in the appropriate places now :D

It's the whole kinetic learning thing I've got going on. I am NOT an audial learner.

I had a basketball player boyfriend at one point who DID teach me that sport via pure excitement/inundation in a mostly verbal way, though there was a lot of visual aspects to it as well. We'd watch games at home, I'd watch practices, we'd watch training stuff... and the whole time he'd be doing a running commentary. There was NO antipathy on his part, but a whole lot of laughter. He thought it was really fun to be able to explain stuff to me, and his teammates were really awesome / joined in on "fixing my problem". His teammates also did a lot of volunteer work with kids in the off season... so they were used to the clueless-but-willing.

Looks like you got some really great answers! Don't worry about what positions are except for the QB and the running back (the guy the QB hands the ball to who runs as far as he can before he's tackled)...and the receivers (the guys the QB throws the ball to and then they run as far as they can).

Once you understand the four downs and how that works they game really starts to make a lot of sense. One thing I did notice missing below is if the they say this is 3rd down and four...it means that this is the third attempt to get 10 yards and out of that 10 years they need four more to start all over for 10 more yards.