coach lukk's football 101 - football basics

7/28/2019 Coach Lukk's Football 101 - Football Basics

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Copyright MikeRight Productions, 2015All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this work in whole or in part and in any form or by any

electronic, mechanical, or other means now known or hereafter invented including xerography,photocopying, and recording, and in any information storage and retrieval system, is forbidden without

the expressed written permission of the author.


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Football BasicsIn a game of football, one team of players tries to score points by putting the ball in their opponents' "end

zone" using any combination of "running plays" and "passing plays", or by kicking the ball over the crossbar

and through a set of upright "goal posts" at the back of that end zone. The opposing team tries to prevent

them from doing any of those things, and then regain possession of the ball for themselves so that they can

try to score points.Weve made this booklet of Football Basics for you, so that you can start to learn about all the cool things

that make football the fun and exciting game it is and so you can also start to become the very best

football player you can be!!

Here are some of the basics of the game of football:

Each team has 11 players on the field at any given time. They can be frequently exchanged with other

teammates who remain on the side of the field while not actually playing.

When a team has the ball in their possession, it is referred to as the "offensive" team, or "offense".

When a team does not have the ball in its possession, it is referred to as the "defensive" team, or

"defense".

A football field is just over fifty yards wide (53 1/3, actually!), and one hundred yards long between

end zones. Each end zone is 10 yards deep, making the field 120 yards long in total!

A regulation NFL football is 11-11.25 inches long and weighs 14-15 ounces. The football we play

with in Middle School Football is 10-10.5 inches long and weighs 12-13 ounces.


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A Pee-Weesize football is 7-7.5 inches long and weighs 10-11 ounces. Pee-Weesize footballs

are used by 6-9 year olds.

A Junior sizefootball is 8-8.5 inches long and weighs 11-12 ounces. Junior size footballs are

used by 9-12 year olds.

AYouth sizefootball is 9-9.5 inches long and weighs 12-13 ounces. Youthsize footballs are used

by 12-14 year olds.

Pee Wee

Junior

Youth

Wilson = K2

Wilson = TDJ

Wilson = TDY

A High School sizefootball is 10-10.5 inches long and weighs 13-14 ounces. HSsize footballs areused at the JV and Varsity levels of High School football.

High School

Wilson = TDS

Football Sizes


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College: A regulation NCAA football is 11-11.25 inches long and weighs 14-15 ounces.

National Football League: A regulation NFL football is 11-11.25 inches long and weighs 14-15 ounces.

Football Uniforms


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NFHS Field Markings

Length:360 feet (120 yards)Width:160 feet (53 1/3 yards)

Numbers:6 feet tall X 4 feet wide.(Bottom of numbers: 7 yards fromsideline, Top of numbers: 9 yardsfrom sideline)

Hash marks:53, 4 (17.7 yards) from sideline;53, 4 (17.7 yards) wide

Goal posts:23 4 (7.8 yards) wide

20 feet tall; crossbar 10 feet tall

NCAA Field Markings

Length:360 feet (120 yards)Width:160 feet (53 1/3 yards)


Hash marks:60 feet (20 yards) from sideline;40 feet (13.3 yards) wide

Goal posts:18 6 (6.2 yards) wide

30 feet tall; crossbar 10 feet tall

NFL Field Markings

Length:360 feet (120 yards)

Width:160 feet (53 1/3 yards)


Hash marks:70 9 (23.6 yards) from sideline;18 6 (6.2 yards) wide

Goal posts:18 6 (6.2 yards) wide35 feet tall; crossbar 10 feet tall

Football BasicsThe fields the game is played on

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FIELD

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL FIELD


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At each different level of football (recreational, middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional), the

rules of the game are basically the same. And, while there are some adjustments as you move from level to

level (such as: length of quarters, enforcement of penalties, width of the uprights, etc.), the basic goal of

playing remains the same - try to score points for your team, and stop the other team from scoring pointsIf your team is more successful doing this than your opponent is, your team wins!

Timing Though the length of the game varies from level to level, the basics of how its run stays the same -

every game is divided into four quarters, with each quarter lasting a specific length of time. At the NFL and

collegiate (NCAA) levels quarters are 15 mintues long. At the varsity high school level, the quarters are 12

minutes in length (with JV quarters being 10 minutes each). We play 8 minute quarters at the middle school

and recreational levels. While these times sound short and it would seem that games would be over pretty

quickly, thats not really the case. The average NFL and NCAA game last from three to four hours (with two

to three hours for the high school level). This additional length is due to all the possible stoppages of play

that can happen during a game. The game clockstops anytime the ball goes out of bounds, a penalty is called, a

pass is incomplete, the ball changes possession, a team calls a timeout, or for any other official stoppage of

the clock. College and professional games are also stopped for media (or TV) timeouts. This means that there

are built-in game timeouts for the networks broadcasting the game to air commercials. These TV Timeouts

usually happen after either team scores, a quarter ends or when teams switch possession. In an effort to

keep the pace of the game going though, there is another clock that runs through the whole game this clock

is called the play clock. The play clock is used to time the space between plays. Under National Federation of

High School play (meaning rec, middle and high school also known as NFHS) the play clock is the 25 second

window from the time the officials spot the ball (mark the ball ready for play, and blow the Ready for Play

whistle) that the offense has to run a play. This play clock nearly doubles to 40 seconds at the NCAA and NFL

levels.

There is also another occurrence in each game that lengthens the total time, and this is called halftime.

Between the 2nd and 3rd quarters both teams get an extended break (halftime) in which players have anopportunity to rest up, take note of injuries and coaches have time to make adjustments to strategy and

personnel. During most halftimes, while the two teams are in their locker room (or down in the endzone),

there is usually some sort of exhibition or show that is put on by either by the home teams marching band or

cheerleaders (or some other entertainment group, like at the Super Bowl).

Another thing that can lengthen total game time is the fact that each team has the ability to stop the clock

three times in each half. This is done by taking a timeout. Either team may call a timeout at any time (as long

as the play has not already started). Timeouts do not carry over from the first half into the second half (or

from the second half into overtime, if there is overtime). Speaking of which

If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, the game is extended to an overtimesession. While the

specific overtime setup varies for each level, all overtime periods start with a coin flip (just as the beginningof a game) to determine which team starts on offense and which starts on defense. While NFHS gives each

state the option of how they want to resolve a tied game at the high school level, most states (including

Delaware) use the Kansas Tie Breaker (this method gives each team an opportunity to score). The team that

gains possession first (as determined with the coin flip) will start on the opponent's ten yard-line, which gives

them four downs to score points. The offense can either attempt to score a touchdown or field goal. At the

end of those four downs (barring penalties), their opponent then gets the ball at the ten yardline, and then

has a chance to score to either win the game, tie or lose (depending on what their opponent did). If at the end

of one overtime, both teams are still tied, a second overtime period will begin. Overtime periods will continue

until one team has more points. There is no overtime at the middle school level, though, so any of our games

that are tied at the end of regulation will end in a tie.

Football BasicsHow the game is played


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The game is further divided into plays. Each time the ball is snapped it is considered a play. Most of these

plays are considered scrimmage downs. A scrimmage down begins at the location on the field that the officials

determine to be the spotof the ball. This spot also establishes the imaginary line called the line of

scrimmage- this line is the dividing line between the offense and defense. This dividing space is the length ofthe football (tip to tip), and is known as the neutral zone. The offense must align seven players on the line of

scrimmage prior to the ball being snapped to have a legal offensive formation (and be able to run a legal

offensive play). No offensive player can have any part of their body in the neutral zone at the start of any

play (the exception to this is the center's hand). The offensive players must all become set (or not moving)

prior to the start of every play. (The only exception is when a man is in motion. The offense is allowed to have

one man moving at the start of the play but this motion man must move parallel or away from the line of

scrimmage nevertoward it, as that would be simulating the start of the play, and thats illegal). Defensiveplayers have much more flexibility when lining up. They do not have to be set at the start of the play, but

they cannot come across the line of scrimmage or be in the neutral zone when the ball is snapped.

The downbegins when the quarterback receives the snap from the center. Following the snap the quarterback

performs his assignment for the play called (handoff, run, pass). The down ends when the ball becomes dead.

A dead ball is defined by any of the following actions: 1) Ball carrier is downed, 2) an incomplete pass, 3) the

ball carrier scores by crossing the goal line, 4) a player receiving a kick signals for a fair catch, 5) a

touchback. Once the ball becomes dead, the ball is spotted at that point. Once the ball is dead, the official

nearest the ball whistles the play and all action on the field to stop. If the ball is dead outside of the hash

marks, the ball is brought back to the nearest hash mark and spotted there. This spot becomes the new line

scrimmage. If the ball is thrown, but not completed, the ball is placed back at the original line of scrimmage.

If an official accidentally or inadvertently blows his whistle, then the ball is dead exactly where it is on the

field when the whistle sounded. If that ball was in mid-air (on a pass), the down is replayed from the start.

Scoring -Points are scored via a touchdown, a field goal, or a safety. Points can also be scored after a

touchdown through an extra point attempt (point after try or PAT). If a team is tackled in its own end zonewhile in possession of the ball, then the team who made the tackle is awarded two points for a safety. A

safety occurs anytime a dead ball occurs in the offense's end zone. There a few penalties that can result in

safeties as well (like a holding call against the offense while the quarterback is in the endzone with the ball).

After a safety a free kick occurs, where the team that forced the safety receives the ball. Field goals are

place kicks from any where on the field. The kicker will try and kick the football over the crossbar and

through the uprights. If the attempt is good, then the team earns three points. If the ball goes into the end

zone, but does not go through the uprights, it is ruled a touchback in high school football and the ball is

spotted at the twenty yardline in the NFL, the ball is spotted from where it was kicked. If the ball is kicked

but does not go into the end zone and stays in bounds, then that ball is live and is treated just like a punt. If

the field goal is good, then the scoring team will have to kick the ball off to the opponent. Touchdowns are

worth six points. A touchdown is scored when any part of the ball breaks the plane of the goal line while in thepossession of a player on the scoring team. This can occur by a ball carrier taking it across the goal line or a

receiver catching the ball while in the endzone. After the touchdown the scoring team has the opportunity for

a point after try, or conversion. This conversion can be attempted one of two ways, either as an extra point

or as a two-point conversion. An extra point is like a field goal, except it is attempted from the three yard

line (in the NFL it is spotted at the two yard line). If an extra point is successful then the scoring team earns

one additional point. A team can try for two points by running or passing the ball to get it into the endzone

(like a touchdown) from the same spot as the try for point. (At the college level, if a turnover happens during

this two point try, the defense can return it to the opposite endzone and earn two points for themselves but

this is only at the college level, not high school or the NFL, as at these levels the ball is blown dead if the

offense does not score).

Football Basicscontinued


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Football BasicsFouls and Penalties

When a foul takes place, an official will indicate that by the tossing of a yellow flag onto the field, at the spot

of the foul. The officials will briefly confer to verify the foul and penalty. The result of the foul will then be

explained to the offended team's captain on the field who will make the choice of accepting the penalty, ordeclining it (if declining is applicable). The head official (Referee) will then alert both benches and the crowd

of the foul and resulting penalty, mark off the yardage and spot the ball.

General Fouls

Personal fouls:These foul occur when a player creates an unsafe situation with their conduct on the field of

play. Personal foul penalties are fifteen yards and an automatic first down at the NCAA and NFL level

(15 yards and a replay of down at the high school level). Listed below are a few specific personal fouls that

can take place. (Some of these fouls are defense specific, but weve placed them under Personal Fouls in an

attempt to make understanding these fouls simpler)

1) Roughing the Passeroccurs when a defender continues to attack or knock down the quarterback after he

has thrown the football. (Typically, a defender gets one step of continuation of his movement for no foul to becalled any more than that is usually flagged for roughing.) 2) Roughing the Kicker- same concept as

roughing the passer, just instead of contact with the quarterback, its contact with the kicker.

3) Roughing the Snapperoccurs on a punt, field goal, or extra point. The long snapper is allowed to regain his

balance and establish a defensive position after a snap, therefore the defenders are not supposed to make

contact with him until that point. 4) Facemaskingis one of the most common personal fouls, (where one

player grabs and twists another player's facemask, or gains control of or tackles him by pulling it.) At the

high school and collegiate levels there are also five yard unintentionalfacemasking calls, if a player grasps butquickly releases the facemask, with no twisting or pulling. 5) Spearing is an attempt to make a tackle or to

initiate contact with the top of the helmet. This is a VERY dangerous act, and should be avoided at all costs!!!

6) Unnecessary Roughnessis any action deemed, as the name indicates, unnecessary. This could include

tackling a player out of bounds, contact after a dead ball, extreme or over aggressive contact with a playerwho is nowhere near a play, etc.

Offside:If any part of an offensive or defensive player's body is in the neutral zone at the time the ball is

snapped it is a foul. The penalty is five yards and replay of down. There are a couple of scenarios that are

associated with offsides that can be confusing. One is if a defender is in the neutral zone and then comes out

of the neutral zone, before the ball is snapped, it is not illegal (but only at the NFL and NCAA levels). Also,

when this foul is called, play is not stopped. The play continues, and the offended team will have the choice at

the end of the play. A lot of times you will hear this referred to as a "free play" by commentators because

the offense has a fail-safe with the penalty, no matter what happens on the play. They will, at worst, gain 5

yards.

Game Officials:The guys in the striped shirts who officiate our games are the Game

Officials. The one is the white hat (who stands back behind the quarterback) is the

Referee, and he is the head official. The official who stands behind the linebackers iscalled the Umpire. The official who stands on the line of scrimmage on the side of the

field with the chain crew is the Head Linesman. The official who stands on the other end

of the line of scrimmage is the Line Judge (he also usually keeps the game clock).

In high school, college football and the NFL there are also three other officials who stand deep in

the defensive backfield: the Side Judge, the Back Judge, and the Field Judge.


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Substitution infraction:If a team has more than eleven players on the field, it is a foul. Five yards and

replay of the down is the penalty.

Illegal participation:This is a rare foul, but can happen. If twelve or more players are on the field and

participate in the play it is a foul. This penalty is fifteen yards. (Rare because a substitution infraction is

usually called before the ball is snapped.)

Holding:This foul occurs (usually on the offense) when a player holds on to or grasps and does not let go of

another player, prohibiting him from going to a certain spot on the field. The penalty is ten yards from the

previous spot, except if the holding occurred past the line of scrimmage. Then the penalty is enforced from

the spot of the foul.

Tripping:Pretty self explanitory. Ten yards in the NFL & NCAA, and fifteen yards at the high school level.

Unsportsmanlike conduct:This foul occurs when when a player, coach, or even sometimes a fan acts in a way

that is in poor conduct or intentionally harmful. The major difference between an unsportsmanlike and a

personal foul is that this foul contains no contact. (If there were contact, it would become a personal foul.)Unsportsmanlike conduct will be called on a player or coach who is taunting an opponent, or verbally harassing

the officials. The penalty is fifteen yards. In high school, if a player or coach receives two unsportsmanlike

conduct fouls in a single game, the result is an automatic ejection from the game.

Sideline Infraction:If a team or its members are outside of their designated team area on the sidelines, it is

illegal. At the college level, the first foul is five yards, and those there after are fifteen. At the high school

level the team receives a warning before they receive a penalty of fifteen yards.

NOTE: The following blocking fouls do not exist inside the Tackle Box. (The Tackle Box is the

imaginary area from offensive tackle to offensive tackle down the line of scrimmage extending three

yards across each side of the line of scrimmage basically a ten yard by six yard rectangle straddling

the LOS). Linemen are pretty much allowed to do anything they want inside this imaginary box!

Illegal block in the back:This foul is committed when a player makes any type of block from behind and

above the waist. The penalty is ten yards.

Clipping:Is the same thing as an illegal block in the back, except that it is below the waist. This penalty is

fifteen yards.

Blocking below the waist:If a block occurs from any direction below the waist of the player being blocked.

This is sometimes called a cut block. The penalty is fifteen yards. This foul is primarily at the high school

level. (Also occurs in a chop block, where one offensive player is in contact high on a defender while anotherplayer blocks him at or below the waist).

Offensive Fouls

False start:If a player who has become set in his stance, moves prior to the snap and it looks like the play is

starting, it is illegal. The penalty for a false start is five yards from the previous spot and replay the down.

Lets use the example of the ball being on a team's own 20 yard line, on first down. If the offense had a false

start or "jumped" then the ball would be moved to the fifteen. It would now be first and fifteen, not first andten.

Illegal motion:If an offensive player in motion moves towards the line of scrimmage. Remember, one

offensive player can be in motion at the snap of the play, as long as his motion path does not move him any

closer to the line of scrimmage. The penalty is five yards and replay the down.

Football BasicsFouls and Penalties continued


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Illegal formation:If an offensive formation has less than seven players on the line of scrimmage (or five men

in the backfield), it is not a legal formation. In addition, any players wearing inelgible numbers (50-79) must

be lined up on the line of scrimmage only or it is an illegal formation. The penalty is five yards and replay thedown.

Delay of game:When the offense does not get the snap off prior to the play clock expiring, then this foul is

called. A delay of game can also be called on a player after a play. This happens if a player spikes the ball or

otherwise does something which impedes the officials from spotting the football directly. The penalty is five

yards and a replay of the down.

Ineligible receiver downfield:If a player is past the line of scrimmage by more than three yards, he is

considered to be downfield. If this player happens to be an ineligible receiver (a covered offensive lineman)

and he passed the line of scrimmage before the quarterback made a forward pass, he is illegally downfield.

On any pass play, the linemen must stay within whats referred to as the Tackle Box. The tackle box is an

imaginary box which extends between each offensive tackle down the line of scrimmage and three yards upand down the field over that area. If any lineman moves out of this box downfield prior to a pass being

thrown he is considered to be illegally downfield. The penalty for an ineligible receiver downfield is five yards

and replay the down. (The only passing play where a lineman is permitted to be moving through and slightly

beyond the tackle box is what is referred to as a screen pass, in which the ball is passed and caught at or

behind the line of scrimmage.)

Intentional grounding:If a pass is thrown purposely incomplete to an area of the field without any eligible

receiver nearby (in effort to avoid a loss of yardage or to stop the clock), it is a foul. (The exception is when

a quarterback spikes the football to stop the clock.) In the NFL the penalty is ten yards or what is called a

spot foul (this is determined by which penalty provides the greatest loss) and a loss of down. (Meaning, if it

was first down and the quarterback was called for this foul, it would then be second down after the penalty

yardage is added on. If the passer was in the endzone, it is a safety. If the foul occurs with less than aminute remaining in the first or second halves of the game, the penalty is a run off of ten seconds from the

game clock.) In the NCAA it is an automatic spot foul and a loss of down. At the high school level it is five

yards from the spot of the foul and loss of down. At the NFL and NCAA levels, if the passer has moved out

of the tackle box then there is no foul for intentional grounding, as long as the is ball thrown at or beyond the

line of scrimmage. This stipulation does not exist in NFHS rules, however.

Offensive pass interference:At every level football, both the defender and receiver have a right to a pass

that is in mid-air (like a jump ball in basketball). However, if an offensive player intentionally makes contact

with a defender who is trying to catch the ball, it is a foul. At the NFL level it is a ten yard penalty from the

previous or new spot. At the college level it is fifteen yards from the previous or new spot. At the high school

level it is fifteen yards from the previous spot (no longer a loss of down, as of the 2013 season).Illegal forward pass:This foul occurs when a passer tries to make a forward pass after he has crossed the

line of scrimmage OR if a forward pass is attempted after one forward pass has already been completed. The

penalty is five yards from the previous spot and a loss of down.

Football BasicsFouls and Penalties, continued


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Defensive Fouls

Encroachment:If a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and makes contact with an offensiveplayer (prior to the snap) OR a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and has a path to the

quarterback (known as unabated) it is a foul. The play is immediately stopped. The penalty is five yards from

the previous spot and replay the down. If (as with any defensive penalty) the yard awarded to the team fouled

creates a first down, then the first down is awarded to the offense.

Neutral zone infraction:If a defensive player is active in the neutral zone prior to the snap, and his

movement or presence in the neutral zone causes an offensive player to false start it is a foul against the

defensive player. The play is immediately stopped, the offense is awarded five yards and a replay of the down.

Delay of game:If a defensive player is impeding the spot of the ball and/or the start of the next play, it is a

delay of game foul against the defense. The penalty is five yards and replay of the down. (This includes

refusing to let an offensive player get up to realign, etc.)

Running into the kicker:If a defender makes contact with a kicker (field goal, extra point, or punt) and the

kicked ball had not yet been touched it is a foul. As long as the officials deem that the contact was not

flagrant, it is a penalty of five yards and replay the down.

Defensive pass interference:If a defender physically prevents a receiver from catching the ball, without he

himself trying to catch it, it is interference. The only exception where contact is allowed, is if the ball had

been touched already (usually tipped by a lineman) by someone other than than quarterback. The penalty for

pass interference varies at the different levels. In the NFL the penalty is an automatic first down and the

ball is spotted at the spot of the foul. At the NCAA level its fifteen yards from the previous spot and an

automatic first down. At the high school level it is fifteen yards from the line of scrimmage (no longer an

automatic first down, as of the 2013 season).Illegal use of the hands:If a defender is using his hands in a manner that is unfair or unsafe it is illegal. The

penalty is five yards and an automatic first down in the NFL, five yards and automatic first down for the

college level, and fifteen yards and automatic first down for the high school level. There are different types

of illegal use of the hands fouls:

1) Defensive holding occurs when a defender grasps and holds an offensive player preventing him from

making a catch or performing a block.

2) Illegal hands to the face occurs when a defender makes contact with his hands to the helmet or head

of an offensive player.

3) Illegal contact occurs when the defenders makes contact with a receiver after five yards from the

line of scrimmage (This is an NFL foul, not NCAA or High School).

Football BasicsFouls and Penalties, continued


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Football BasicsGame Officials

Referee - This is the Head Official - he wears the white hat and stands in the offensive backfield (on the right side

if the quarterback is right-handed passer). The REFEREE gives signals for all penalties and is final authority for ruleinterpretations. If you ever need to speak to this official, please address him as Mr. Referee.

R

HL

LJ

Umpire - The UMPIRE stands just behind the linebackers, and his main job is to watch for any illegal actions betweenthe tackles across the offensive line. He wears a black hat. If you ever need to speak to this official, please addresshim as Mr. Umpire.

Head Linesman- The LINESMAN is located at the line of scrimmage on the side of the field where the chains anddown box are. He also wears a black hat. Together with Referee, the Linesman keeps track of number of downs and isin charge of mechanics of his chain crew in connection with its duties. If you ever need to speak to this official,

please address him as Mr. Linesman.

Line Judge- The LINE JUDGE lines up on the line of scrimmage across the field from the Linesman. He keeps the

time for the game and also watches for offside, encroachment, and actions pertaining to scrimmage line prior to or atsnap. He wears a black hat, too. If you ever need to speak to this official, please address him as Mr. Line Judge.

3

H L

R

L J

U

Visitors Sideline

U

Home Sideline

Line JudgeRefereeUmpire

S

F

BJ

Traditionally, there have been 3 additional officials for higher levels of football - the SIDE JUDGE, the BACK JUDGE

and the FIELD JUDGE, who stand further down the field and watch for fouls on longer passing plays.

Head Linesman


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3

HL

R

LJ

U

VisitorsSideline

HomeSideline

BJ

Football Officials Positioning & ResponsibilitiesUPDATED Chan es, Additions, etc.

NFHS (High School)- 5 man crew

In 2010, the NFL moved Umpires from behind the defensive front seven to behind the offensive backfield,

opposite the Referee.

In four games in the 2010 preseason, the NFL experimented with an eighth official, aDeep Judge, in the

defensive backfield opposite the back judge. Primary responsibility for this new position is the action ofreceivers, and it allowed the NFL to adjust coverage after the umpire was moved to the offensive backfield. Theexperiment was continued for 12 games in the 2011 preseason.The league has yet to implement such a system for

the regular season or the playoffs

Generally for regular season games there will be a 5 Man Crew, as shown. MPSSAA rules mandate a 6 Man Crew for

all MPSSAA state playoff games (replacing the Back Judge with a Side Judge and a Field Judge).

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HL

R

LJ

U

VisitorsSideline

HomeSideline

BJ

NCAA (College)- 8 man crew*

Beginning with the2014 season, the NCAA now allows any conference that wishes to use the eight official system to

do so, adding the position of Center Judge (C), who positions in the offensive backfield opposite the Referee (like

the Umpire now does in the NFL).

C

SJ

FJ

NFL- 7 man crew


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OFFENSEis when our team has the ball. Were trying to run and pass the ball down thefield and into the END ZONEto score points!

There are 11 players on the field on offense and each player has a certain POSITIONtoplay.

All players on offense (and defense!) need to be lined up onor behindthe imaginary linethat starts at the football and runs to both sidelines its called the line of scrimmage.

There are seven positions on the OFFENSIVE LINE. These OFFENSIVE LINMENstandust behind the LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, and their job is to BLOCK for the players behind

them (who will run and throw the ball!).

Football Basics: Offense

There are four positions in the OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD:

ENDS

GUARDS

TACKLES

CENTER

There are two GUARDS, and they line up on each side of the CENTER.

The CENTERlines up over the football, and he is in the middle of the OFFENSIVE

LINE (3 players to his right, three to his left!). He is the player who snaps the ball to

the QUARTERBACK.

There are also two TACKLES, and they line up next to each GUARD.

There are two ENDSwho must also be on the LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, too. They can line up close tothe TACKLES(this makes them TIGHT ENDS), or they can line up split away from the TACKLES(this makes them SPLIT ENDS) but, either way, they must be on the LINE OF SCRIMMAGE!

There must always be one ENDon each end of our OFFENSIVE LINE.

ENDSblock like the other OFFENSIVE LINEMENon RUNNING PLAYS, but on PASS PLAYS theyare allowed to run downfield to catch passes!! (All the other linemen cant!!!)

These players are usually know as LINEMEN(or together as the OFFENSIVE LINE). They may move ahead to block

defensive players on all running plays, but they must stay at or behind the LINE OF SCRIMMAGEon all PASS PLAYS(untilthe ball has been thrown across the LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, then they can run downfield to block!). They are also notallowed to catch (or even touch!) any FORWARD PASSES but they can recover any fumbles!!

QUARTERBACK

The FULLBACKis the running back who usually lines up behind the QUARTERBACK. He can take a

HANDOFFfrom the QUARTERBACK, and he can also BLOCKfor the other backs. The FULLBACKcan also go downfield to catch passes!

The QUARTERBACKlines up behind the CENTER(and takes the snap from him). The

QUARTERBACKhands the ball off to any of the other backs, or he can throw a pass or he canalso run the ball himself.

The HALFBACKis the running back who also lines up behind the QUARTERBACK, either next to

(or behind) the FULLBACK. He can take a HANDOFFfrom the QUARTERBACK, and he can alsoBLOCKfor the other backs. The HALF BACKcan also go downfield to catch passes!

The WING BACKis the running back who usually lines up behind the TIGHT ENDor TACKLE. He

can take a HANDOFFfrom the QUARTERBACK, and he can also BLOCKfor the other backs. The

WING BACKcan also go downfield to catch passes, too!

FULL BACK

HALF BACK

WING BACK


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The offensive team has 4 opportunities, or "downs", to advance the ball 10 yards

or more from the spot where they took possession of it. If it succeeds, it

receives 4 more chances (downs) to advance the ball another 10 or more yards.After a play, the officials measure how far the ball has been advanced and grant a

"first down" for 10 yards or more. The quest for a first down always begins from

where the ball was stopped during the previous play.

If an offensive team is less than 10 yards from the opposing team's end zone, it

only needs to reach the end zone to score. They do not have to advance the ball a

full 10 yards.

The offensive team will generally advance the ball by handing it off to a "runner"

or by "passing" (throwing) it to a "receiver." Doing either is called "running a play".The play begins when the ball is "snapped" and given to the "quarterback." It ends

when the player with possession of the ball is tackled ("downed") or if an official

blows the whistle to halt play. A series of forward plays run in succession is called

a "drive".

When a player in possession of the ball runs or falls out of the playing area, that

player is "out of bounds". Play (and the clock) is stopped, and the officials place

the ball back on the field at the point where it left. This is often used, especially

near the end of a half, as a strategy where a player will purposely go out of

bounds in order to stop play (and the clock!). This gains more time for his team torun additional plays and attempt to score.

Penalties are called, when observed by the officials, for infractions of the rules.

Penalties are common, and generally take the form of loss of yardage, or loss of a

down. This often results in a team will having to gain more than 10 yards to make a

first down. Another way that teams find themselves in that situation is if a

quarterback, runner or receiver loses yardage by being tackled behind the "line of

scrimmage" (the imaginary line through the spot of the ball at the point from

which the play was started).

Offensive Stuff to Remember

Did you know?

That American Football running back position names evolved from the names of rugbypositions? In the late 1800s, as rugby became more sophisticated, backs positioned atdifferent depths behind the forwards were labeled for those distances, giving rise to

the names back, back, and full back, in England and Scotland or quarterback, halfback, and fullback in the Ireland!


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DEFENSEis when the other team has the ball. Were trying to stop them from running andpassing the ball down the field and into the END ZONEto score points!

There are 11 players on the field on defense and each player has a certain POSITIONto play

All players on defense (just like offense!) need to be lined up onor behindthe imaginary linethat starts at the football and runs to both sidelines its called the line of scrimmage.

There are six positions on the DEFENSIVE LINE. These DEFENSIVE LINMENstand justbehind the LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, and their job is to TACKLEthe player on the other teamwho has the ball!

Football Basics: Defense

There are three different types of positions in the DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD:

DEFENSIVEGUARDS

These two players line up directly across from the OFFENSIVE GUARDS (the players on each

side of the center!). If we have just one lined up over the CENTER, hes the NOSE GUARD.

There are also two DEFENSIVE TACKLES, and they line up next to each DEFENSIVE GUARD

(and directly across from the OFFENSIVE TACKLES).

There are two DEFENSIVE ENDSwho line up next to the DEFENSIVE TACKLES(and usually right

across from the TIGHT ENDS).

LINEBACKERS

LINEBACKERSline up behind the DEFENSIVE LINE(usually at about three yards) and can be

stacked behind DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, gapped in between them, or a combination of both.LINEBACKERShave both run and pass defense responsibilities, and can also BLITZ to put added

pressure on the QUARTERBACK on passing plays.

CORNERBACKSline up on the edges of the defense, usually directly across from any offensive

players (SPLIT ENDS, FLANKERS and/or SLOT RECEIVERS) spread out away from interiorOFFENSIVE LINE (CENTER, GUARDS, and TACKLES), and anywhere form two to six yards deep.

CORNERBACKSalso have both run and pass coverage responsibilities (in both MAN-TO-MAN andZONE PASS COVERAGE).

SAFETIESusually line up from six to twelve yards behind the DEFENSIVE LINE(three to nine

yards behind the LINEBACKERS), and are usually aligned over a TIGHT END, WINGBACK, orSLOT BACK. Like CORNERBACKS, SAFETIESalso have both run and pass coverage

responsibilities (in both MAN-TO-MAN and ZONE PASS COVERAGE).

DEFENSIVEBACKS:

- Cornerbacks- Safeties

DEFENSIVETACKLES

DEFENSIVEENDS

REMEMBER: ALLplayers on defense can recover fumbles and return interceptions!

Zone Defensemeans stay in your zone (area) until the ball is thrown then defense the pass if its

thrown into your zone (or run toward the person its thrown to outside your zone) and tackle any

receiver who catches it!

Man-to-Man Defensemeans follow and guard your man wherever he goes on the football field, and

do your best to keep him from catching the ball if its thrown to him. Dont stop guarding your man

until you know the ball has been thrown to someone else then go tackle that person as quick as you can!!


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- The defensive team tries to stop the offense from advancing the ball.

Defensive players may tackle any player that has the ball, or try to prevent a

thrown ball from reaching its intended target. They cannot physically interferewith an offensive receiver to prevent a player from catching it, but they can

tackle or hit that player hard enough to make them drop it before they have

the ball under control. They may also attempt to cause a "fumble" by knocking

the ball out of any offensive player's grasp.

- The defensive team has a tremendous number of alignment combinations that

can be used. The most common way to identify these defenses is by counting

the number of defensive linemen and linebackers that are on the field in that

defense. For example, if there are four defensive linemen and three

linebackers, this is referred to as a 4-3 defense. If there are three defensivelinemen and four linebackers, its a 3-4. Other combinations are the 5-3, 4-4,

6-2, etc.

- To determine when a play ends, a ball carrier must be considered down. To

determine a downed player, one of a few things must happen. A player can be

down by contact, which means that if the ball carrier is taken to the ground

by the act of grabbing, pulling, pushing, or running into by another player, he is

down. If the ball carrier's body touches the ground (except the hands and

feet) by the act of falling or slipping, he is down. (In the NFL, a player can

touch the ground with any part of his body and not be down, as long as a playerfrom the other team has not caused or touched him while he is touching the

ground. The exception to this, is if the a player intentionally touches theground, via taking a knee or sliding thats called giving yourself up). A

player can also be down if any part of his body goes out of bounds. The sideline

itself, the white line surrounding the field, is out of bounds - meaning if a

player touches it, he is out of bounds. A player also can be considered down

during another scenario as well - If the ball carrier's forward progress is

stopped or halted with no chance of gaining anymore ground this makes him

down, even if no part of his body has touched the ground. If the ball carrieris driven back, after he considered down, then ball is spotted where his

forward progress stopped.

Defensive Stuff to Remember

Did you know?That the term Nickle defense was coined because it meant substituting a fifth

defensive back into the game for a linebacker Or that term Dime Package came fromsubbing in another defensive back (as in, Two nickels make a!!!)


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A coin is tossed before the game. The team that correctly calls the coin flip has four options to start thefirst half of the game: kick the ball to the other team, make the other team kick the ball to them, choose todefend a specific END ZONE (North or South), or wait until the start of the second half to decide what theywant to do (thats called deferring). Whichever team loses the coin toss has first choice of whateveroptions werent taken (as well as first choice of options to start the second half!).

If were KICKING OFF, our KICK OFF team would line up behind our 40 yard line and kick the ball to

the other team (who has its first line of players standing at the 50 remember, they have to be 10

yards away from the ball!). All of the players on our KICK OFF team run downfield and tackle the ball

carrier!

If were getting the ball kicked to us on a KICK OFF, our KICK OFF RETURN team lines up beginning

at the 50 yard line back towards our own endzone. We want to catch the ball when its kicked to us

and return it as far back up the field as we can up the field!

Once we have the ball on OFFENSE, we try to move it up the field. For the most part, a team will only

use 3 of its 4 downs to attempt to gain at least 10 yards. If unsuccessful, it will then "punt" (kick) the

ball on 4th down. Why? Because if a team runs or passes on the 4th down and doesn't gain the yards it

needs to earn a first down and maintain possession, the other team gets the ball from wherever theoffense last had it! So, if the offensive team does not believe that it will successfully gain those

yards, and punts the ball on 4th down, chances are that the punt will travel twenty or more yards.

This means that the opposing team is now about twenty yards further away from where they would

have been had the offensive team run and passed for less than 10 yards in 4 downs.

When a punt is attempted, both teams send players onto the field whose skills are best suited to the

situation. When one team punts the ball, the other team attempts to catch it, and runs as far as

possible back towards the opposing end zone. From that point, the receiving team becomes the

offensive team and starts their own new series of downs.

A field goal is scored by kicking the football within a certain area of the goal posts. This area begins

ust over the 10 foot high horizontal bar and extends between the two vertical ones, a span of 23 feetand 4 inches in NFHS play (18 feet 6 inches at the NCAA and NFL levels).

Special teams also appear after a team has scored any points. The team that just scored those points

kicks the ball off to the other team (just like at the start of the game - or after halftime!).

REALLY SPECIAL SPECIAL TEAMS

A SAFETY is scored when a team is tackled in its own endzone with the ball the other team gets

two points AND the ball!! The team that got tackled in the endzone has to kickoff from its own 20

yardline (the other teams return team lines up beginning at the 30 yard line)

Football Basics: Special TeamsSPECIAL TEAMStake the field whenever we have to KICK the ball to the other team,whenever we SCORE a TOUCHDOWN, try a FIELD GOAL, or PUNT - and whenever theother team has to kick the ball to us! Some of our SPECIAL TEAMS include:

Kick Off Team Kick Off Return Team Punt Team Punt Return Team Placekick Team (PAT or Field Goal) Placekick Defense (PAT or Field Goal)

coach lukk's football 101 - football basics

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