The most important ideas are field direction, possession, downs, yardage, scoring values, and safe play. A team has 4 downs to gain 10 yards, and the line of scrimmage marks where each play begins. Touchdowns, field goals, extra points, and safeties are the main ways to score.
Penalties move the ball forward or backward and help keep the game fair and safe.
Key Facts
- A standard football field is 100 yards long between goal lines, with two 10-yard end zones for a total length of 120 yards.
- Each team normally has 11 players on the field during a play.
- The offense gets 4 downs to gain 10 yards, and earning 10 or more yards gives the team a new first down.
- The line of scrimmage is the imaginary line across the field where the ball is placed before the snap.
- A touchdown is worth 6 points, an extra-point kick is worth 1 point, and a two-point conversion is worth 2 points.
- A field goal is worth 3 points when the ball is kicked through the uprights.
- A safety is worth 2 points and happens when the offense is downed or commits certain fouls in its own end zone.
- Common penalties include offside, holding, pass interference, false start, and unnecessary roughness.
Vocabulary
- Down
- A down is one attempt by the offense to move the ball forward before the play ends.
- Line of Scrimmage
- The line of scrimmage is the imaginary line across the field where the ball is placed before each play.
- First Down
- A first down is awarded when the offense gains the required 10 yards and receives a new set of 4 downs.
- End Zone
- The end zone is the scoring area at each end of the field where a player can score a touchdown.
- Turnover
- A turnover happens when the defense gains possession of the ball through an interception, fumble recovery, or failed fourth-down attempt.
- Penalty
- A penalty is a rule violation that usually results in a loss or gain of yardage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing yards to go with yards gained is wrong because the offense needs 10 total yards from the starting spot, not 10 yards on every play.
- Crossing the line of scrimmage before the snap is wrong because offside and false start penalties happen before the play legally begins.
- Thinking a touchdown is worth 7 points is wrong because the touchdown is worth 6 points, and the extra point must be earned afterward.
- Ignoring field position is wrong because the same down and distance can require different choices depending on how close the team is to its own end zone or the opponent’s end zone.
- Using unsafe contact is wrong because football rules require controlled blocking, tackling, and sportsmanship to protect all players.
Practice Questions
- 1 A team starts at its own 30-yard line and gains 4 yards on first down, then 3 yards on second down. How many yards does it need for a first down?
- 2 A team scores 2 touchdowns, makes 1 extra-point kick, and makes 1 two-point conversion. How many total points does the team have?
- 3 The offense has the ball on 4th down with 2 yards to go at midfield. List two possible choices the team could make.
- 4 Why is it important for players to know the line of scrimmage and the down before each play?