...s attended by more than 60,000 fans and atched by more than 130 million television vieers in the United States.IIFIELDAmerican Football FieldThe football field, sometimes called the gridiron, measures 120 yd 110 m in length and 160 ft about 49 m in idth. The 100-yd-long main body of the playing field is divided horizontally in 5-yd intervals ith hash marks delineating individual yards. Areas used for scoring, called end zones, are located at each end of the field. Footballcanbeplayed on a variety of surfaces, including grass, dirt, and artificial turf. An NFL-regulation playing field measures 120 yd 110 m long and 53 yd 1 ft 48.8 m ide. At both ends of the 100-yd main body of the playing field, hite lines called goal lines mark off the entrances to the end zones, hich are 10 yd 9 m deep. Each team defends one end zone. To score, a team must carry, pass, or kick the ball into the opponents end zone. Lines parallel to the end zones cross the main body of the field at 5-yd 4.5-m intervals. These lines give the field a resemblance to a large gridiron. Sets of lines called the sidelines run along both sides of the field. In addition, to sets of short lines, called hash marks, run don the field at 1 yd .9 m intervals. The hash marks are 53 ft 4 in 16.3 m from each sideline in college and high school football, and 70 ft 9 in 21.6 m from each sideline in the NFL. After each play, the officials place the ball either beteen the hash marks or on the hash mark closest to the end of the previous play. The next play begins from that spot. Situatedinthemiddle of the rear line of each end zone are goalposts, consisting of a 10-ft 3-m vertical pole topped by a horizontal crossbar. To vertical posts extend up from the crossbar, 18 ft 6 in 5.6 m apart. Kickers score extra points orth one point and field goals orth three points by kicking the ball above the crossbar and beteen the posts. IIIPLAYERS Footballisplayedby to opposing teams, each fielding 11 players. Each team tries to move the ball don the field to score in the end zone defended by its opponents. During a football game the teams are designated as the offensive team the team in possession of the ball and the defensive team the team defending a goal line against the offensive team. Another group of players, called special teams, enter the game hen possession of the ball changes, or hen a field goal or extra point is attempted. At the professional level, players usually specialize at one position. At colleges and high schools, players sometimes play both offense and defense, or play on special teams in addition to their regular position.AOffense The11playersofthe offensive team ork together to move the ball donfield toard their opponents end zone. They are divided into to groups seven linemen, ho play on the line of scrimmage an imaginary line designating the position of the ball and a backfield of four players, called backs, ho stand in various positions behind the linemen. The lineman ho is positioned in the middle of the line is called the center. On his left is the left guard and on his right is the right guard. On the left of the left guard is the left tackle, and on the right of the right guard is the right tackle. On the ends of the line are the tight end and the split end. Thecenterbeginseach play by hiking the ball, or passing it beteen his legs from a crouched position to the player standing directly behind him. This action is also referred to as the snap. After the ball is hiked on a running play, the center, guards, and tackles block defenders to create an open path for the ball carrier. On passing plays the linemen protect the quarterback and give him time to thro. Tight ends and split ends can block opponents, but they may also catch the ball during a passing play. Thebackhousuallystands directly behind the center and receives the snap is knon as the quarterback. The quarterback directs the play of the offensive team by calling out each play. The quarterback may hand off the ball, pass it, or run ith it donfield. Inabalancedbackfield formation, or T-formation, the fullback stands behind the quarterback, and the left and right halfbacks stand to either side of the fullback. hen the quarterback hands the ball off to one of these backs, that player rushes, or runs ith the ball. Backs also block hen the quarterback thros a pass. Many passes go to ide receivers, players ho replace backs or ends and line up on the line of scrimmage but ide of the rest of the formation. They run don the field in planned pass routes to catch balls thron by the quarterback. BDefense Thedefensiveplayers ork together to prevent the offense from scoring. A ro of linemen called the defensive line position themselves at the line of scrimmage a ro of linebackers position themselves about 5 yd 4.6 m behind the defensive line and a collection of defensive backs, called the secondary, stand on the end of the defensive line and behind the linebackers. Thedefensivelinecan use any number of players, but most teams use three or four linemen. Defensive linemen principally are responsible for stopping the oppositions rushing attack and, in passing situations, putting pressure on the quarterback. Depending on the situation, linebackers stop runners, pressure the quarterback, or cover the oppositions receivers. Teams usually employ three or four linebackers. The secondary is composed of cornerbacks and safeties. These players cover receivers, tackle rushers ho break don the field, and pressure the quarterback. The secondary commonly consists of to cornerbacks ho defend the ide receivers and to safeties ho guard the area behind the linebackers.CSpecial Teams Eachteamhasplayers ho enter the game during special plays such as kickoffs, field goals, punts, and returns. The kicker kicks off at the beginning of a game or half, and after his team has scored. The kicker also scores points for the offensive team by kicking the ball through the goalpost uprights these scores are called field goals. hen the offensive team must surrender the ball to the opponents, a punter comes in to kick the ball donfield as far as possible toard the opponents end zone. One player on the return team catches the kickoff or punt and runs upfield hile the other return team players block for him. The return team tries to give the offense good starting field position. IVOFFICIALS .Football Hand SignalsFootball hand signals are often symbolic of the decision being given for example, to signal a holding penalty, an official holds one rist firmly ith the other hand. Although the referee usually gives the signals, they can be given by any of the game officials. Ateamofofficialssupervises play in a regulation game. Professional and major college football programs use seven officials a referee, an umpire, a linesman, a field judge, a back judge, a line judge, and a side judge. The officials carry histles and yello penalty flags. They blo the histl...
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