AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SPORT OF FOOTBALL

101FOOTBALL

Offence and Defence

Offence - When a team possesses the football it is called the offence. The objective is to move the ball down the length of the field into the other teams “End Zone”.

Defence - The team defending the ball is called the defence. The objective is to keep the offence out of their “End Zone.”

Essentials

Time: A football game is usually 1 hour long. It is divided into 4, 15 minute, quarters.

The game pauses after 2 quarters (Half-Time) for teams to make adjustments and give the players a rest.

Field Dimensions

A Canadian Rules football field is:

110 yards long.65 yards wide.Mid-Field is at the 55 yard line.

Sometimes it is marked with a “C”. (Centre line)

End Zones are the scoring areas and are 20 yards deep.

Field Dimensions

Down and Distance

In Canadian Football, the offence has 3 opportunities (or downs) to travel 10 yards downfield. If they are successful they get another 3 downs.

For example, if a team gains 5 yards on their first down, the new down and distance would be 2nd down and 5 yards to go for another “first down”.

If an offense fails to cover the 10 yards to gain a first down, the team usually PUNTS the ball to the other team, who then gets their chance to go 10 yards on 3 downs. A Punt is a free kick from the kickers hand and not a tee.

Down and Distance

A team can choose to “go for it” on 3rd down if it thinks it has a good chance to make the rest of the yards needed to gain a 1st down. If they are successful, they are awarded another 1st down and get to continue the drive.

If the team fails to “convert”, (gain enough yards to make the first down) the defence gets possession of the ball and they become the offence. They then get 3 downs to go 10 yards.

“Going for it” on third down is risky. If the offence is not past the 55 yard line, it is rarely done because the defence takes over closer to your goal line and has a better chance to score.

Following the Game

Don’t worry about keeping track of Down and Distance. The Field Team will do that for you. Just sit back and enjoy the game!

On the sidelines you will find a set of 3, typically orange markers. The two outside sticks are for first downs. They measure exactly 10 yards. The middle stick is used to mark the down. It marks the ball’s position on the field between the 10-yard sticks.

Terms You Should Learn

Line of Scrimmage - The starting point on every play is called the line of scrimmage.

Penalty – If a red flag is thrown on the field. It usually means there is a penalty and will cost a team 5-15 yards. (If it is against the offence, the ball will be moved 5-15 yards away back from the line of scrimmage. Against the defence, the ball will be moved 5-15 yards toward the first down marker.) The amount of yards penalized is determined by the severity of the penalty.

Scoring

Field Goal - On any down, a team can try to kick the ball through the uprights in the end zone. If they are successful it scores 3 points.

Touchdown - When the offence puts the ball across the plane of the defensive goal line it is called a touchdown. It is worth 6 points. This can be done by running or throwing a complete pass over the line.

Scoring

Point After Touchdown (P.A.T.) or 2-Point Conversion: The offence has two options to add points after a touchdown.

1. They can try to run/throw it into the end zone for two additional points.

2. It can try to kick it through the uprights for one additional point.

In the Mite, Atom and Pee Wee divisions the kick is worth TWO and the Run/Pass is worth ONE.

• Rouge - On any kick attempt, the ball must be advanced outside the end zone or the kicking team gets one point. This mostly happens on a field goal attempt when the kick misses the target.

Scoring

Safety:A safety is scored when the defence tackles the offence in their own end zone, or the offense fumbles the ball out of bounds while in possessing in their own end zone. This results in TWO POINTS for the defence. The Offence must then “free kick” the ball to the defence, who then takes over. This usually works to the advantage of the team scoring the safety because they get great field position and can immediately try to score again.

For example: The line of scrimmage is at the offensive two yard line. The QB fades back to pass and is tackled in his end zone. The Defence has scored two points!

Turnovers

1. Fumble – A fumble occurs when the ball is dropped by a player and is lying on the field. At this point, it is considered to be a “live” ball. This can happen any time the ball is being carried and either team can try to recover the ball. If the defence is successful their offence takes over. If the offence recovers they keep the ball unless it happens on 3rd down.

2. Turnover on Downs – This occurs when a team “goes for it” on 3rd down and fails to “convert” the down and distance back to 1st and 10. The defence takes over where the last play ended, usually resulting in great field position

Turnovers

3. Interception – An interception occurs when the QB throws a pass and the defence catches it. They can advance the ball until the offence tackles them.

4. A Blocked Kick - Any time a team punts or tries to add points by kicking a field goal, if the defence blocks the kick – the ball is live and is considered a fumble. The offence cannot advance the fumble but if the defence catches it they can try to score.

Positions on Offence

QB = Quarterback: The leader of the team. He calls the plays in the huddle, yells the signals at the line of scrimmage, and then receives the ball from the Center. Then he hands off the ball to a running back, throws it to a receiver, or runs with it.

C = Center: The player who snaps the ball to the quarterback. He handles the ball on every play.

RB = Running back: A player who runs with the football. Running backs also are referred to as tailbacks, halfbacks, and wingbacks.

Quarterback/Running Back/Centre

TE

Positions on Offence

FB = Fullback: A player who’s responsible for blocking for the running back and also for pass-blocking to protect the quarterback. Fullbacks, who are generally bigger than running backs, are short-yardage runners.

WR = Wide Receiver: A player who uses his speed and quickness to elude defenders and catch the football. Teams use as many as two to four wide receivers on every play.

TE = Tight End: A player who serves as a receiver and also as a blocker. This player lines up beside the offensive tackle to the right or the left of the quarterback (“tight” to the “end” of the offensive line).

In Canadian football there are 12 men allowed on the field. This allows for two TE’s.

Tight Ends/Wide Receivers/Fullback

TE

Positions on Offence

LG and RG = Left and Right Guard: The inner two members of the offensive line, whose jobs are to block for and protect the quarterback and ball carriers.

LT and RT = Left and Right Tackle: The outer two members of the offensive line. They protect against defenders that attempt to tackle the QB or the RB from the outside edges.

Offensive Linemen

TE

Positions on Defence

DT = Defensive Tackle: The inner two members of the defensive line, whose jobs are to maintain their positions in order to stop a running play or to run through a gap in the offensive line to pressure the quarterback or disrupt the play in the “backfield”.

DE = Defensive End: The outer two members of the defensive line. Generally, their jobs are to overcome offensive blocking and to meet in the backfield, where they combine to tackle the quarterback or ball carrier. On running plays to the outside, they’re responsible for forcing the ball carrier either out of bounds or toward (into) the pursuit of their defensive team-mates.

Defensive Linemen

Positions on Defence

LB = Linebacker: These players line up behind the defensive linemen and generally are regarded as the team’s best tacklers. Depending on the formation, most teams employ either three or four linebackers on every play. Linebackers often have the dual role of defending the run and the pass.

S = Safety: The players who line up the deepest in the secondary — The last line of defence. There are free safeties and strong safeties, and they must defend the deep pass and also the run.

Middle Linebackers/Safeties

LB

Positions on Defence

CB = Cornerback: The players who line up on the wide parts of the field, generally opposite the offensive receivers. Their job is to “cover” the Wide Receivers for the offensive team.

Cornerbacks

LB

Penalty Signals by a Referee

What do I do now?

Get to know the Parents around you.Get involved through Canteen and

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