American football rules for beginners: what you need to know
American football looks complicated at first, but the basics are simple. Two teams of eleven players each try to get the ball into the opponent’s end zone. Here is what you need to know to follow a Nordians Teplice game with confidence.
Offence, defence and special teams
There is always one team on offence and the other on defence. The offence has the ball and tries to move forward, the defence wants to stop it. Special teams come on for kicks. That’s why every team has more players than are on the field at once, and everyone has their own role. You can read about the positions in our position guide.
Four tries to gain ten yards
The game is made up of short plays. The offence has four tries, called downs, to advance at least ten yards. If it succeeds, it gets a new set of four tries (a first down). If not, the ball goes to the opponent. That’s why the offence usually kicks on fourth down: either a punt to send the ball deep to the opponent, or a field goal attempt.
The offence moves forward by running with the ball or by throwing a forward pass, which is allowed only once per play. A play ends when a defender brings the ball carrier to the ground, when the ball carrier runs out of bounds, or when a pass is not caught.
How to score
- Touchdown (6 points): a player runs the ball into the end zone or catches a pass in it.
- Conversion after a touchdown (1 or 2 points): a kick through the posts for 1 point, or another play into the end zone for 2 points.
- Field goal (3 points): a kick through the posts during regular play.
- Safety (2 points): the defence brings down the ball carrier in his own end zone.
What the yellow flag means
When an official throws a yellow flag onto the field, someone has broken the rules. Typical examples are moving early before the play starts, holding an opponent or illegal contact. The penalty is measured in yards, so the offending team loses ground.
And what about flag football?
In flag football the ball carrier isn’t stopped by being tackled, but by having a flag pulled from their belt. It’s played without contact and without gear, usually five on five. That makes it a great way for anyone to try the game.
The best way to understand the rules is to see them live. Come and watch a game, or join us straight away at practice. We’ll explain everything.
