How to Watch an NFL Football Game

Basic Rules to know:

The Field is 100 yards from end zone to end zone. The field is divided into two halves, meeting at the middle, the 50 yard line.

The game is played in 4, 15 minute quarters. If the game is tied at the end of the 4 quarters, the teams play one overtime period for a maximum of 15 minutes before the game is declared a tie. The first team to score in Overtime wins.

Every “Possession”- which is when one team has the ball and tries to score points offensively and can only lose the ball on a turnover (explained below in the Things to Cheer About Section) – begins with a kickoff from the defensive team to the offensive team. The offense has a chance, on the kickoff, to return the ball toward their opponent’s end zone. Wherever the offensive player, who accepts the kickoff, is tackled will be where the Possession will begin. (e.g. If they are tackled at the 20 yard line closer to their endzone they must travel 80 yards in order to score a touchdown).

The offense is given 4 chances (downs) to advance the ball 10 yards or more, before they are given a “First Down” and another 4 chances to get 10 yards or more and so on. The offense will try to advance as far toward the defensive team’s endzone, as possible, without being tackled. Where they are tackled will be where the next play begins (line of scrimmage). If it is more than the 10 yards necessary for a first down they will then have 4 more chances starting from where they were tackled. Otherwise the offense will have to advance the remainder of the yardage within their allotted number of downs (chances).

The two ways to advance the ball offensively is to “rush” the ball (usually the quarterback hands the ball to a running back who runs as far as he can) or to pass the ball (usually the quarterback will throw to a wide receiver, tight end or running back).

If the offense fails to gain 10 yards or more during their 4 chances the other team will get the ball wherever the offensive player was tackled on the 4th play. Often, teams will opt to punt the ball away on Fourth Down (so that the defense gets the ball further from the offensive team’s endzone) or try to kick a field goal. (A kick through the yellow uprights, worth fewer points than a touchdown, but points none the less).

A touchdown is worth 6 points and the offense is given a chance to either kick the ball through the uprights, for one “extra point” or attempt one play, from the two yard line, to get into the endzone for 2 extra points. A field goal is worth 3 points. The only other way to score is if the defense tackles the offense in the offense’s own endzone, a safety worth 2 points. After every score the team that scored kicks the ball to the other team beginning the other team’s offensive possession. In the case of a safety the team that scored the 2 points gets the ball back.

Things to Cheer! About:

• Your team scores! Either with a touchdown or a field goal. Touchdowns are more exciting and sometimes it makes sense to show frustration over a field goal if the offense was very close to the endzone.

• Your team forces a turnover while on defense. If the defense causes the other team to drop the ball before the offensive player is tackled and the defense gets the ball (fumble) or if the quarterback throws the ball and it is caught by the defense (interception or INT) these are turnovers. Very exciting!

• A big offensive play. If your team is on offense and they get a first down or get advance the ball really far down the field on one play (feel free to make your own judgment about what’s far).

• A big defensive play. If your team is on defense and they stop the offense for no gain (no advancement from the line of scrimmage) on a play, or better yet, a loss (if they tackle the player with the ball further back from where the play started). If a pass is attempted and the ball hits the ground before the receiver controls the ball, the play is considered no gain for the offense and the next play begins from the same spot.

Things to “Boo” About:

• When the other team does something from the To Cheer! About section.

• When the referee makes a bad call. Any penalty that the ref calls against your team, even if one your team’s players breaks the rules, you boo and say, “That’s BS!” or “Come on ref!” Try to pick up on cues from those around you, or the home team at the game, to see if a referee call is really bad. When in doubt just play along.

Terms to know:

First and ten – This indicates that the upcoming play is the first of four chances to get ten yards. Other downs would be something like second and seven or third and nine or any amount of yardage that a team must advance to get the first down or score a touchdown. Test: If it is 2nd and 10 what does that mean? What about 4th and 3?