How to Play American Football : Overview of the Rules of American Football

Basic football rules: playing football 101 - Learn how football works, with an introduction to the basic rules of American football in this free football beginner guide on video.

Expert: Geoff Kieffer
Bio: Residing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Geoff Kieffer, spends much of his free time doing football-related activities. For many years, he has coached little league football at local elementary schools.
Filmmaker: David Cornman

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• defense
• football
• goal
• game
• block
• punt
• tackle
• american
• offense
• touchdown

[tlv156]

basically, the offense gets a total of 4 chances to hike the football and progress the ball a total of 10 yards. each time the offense is tackled or pushed out of bounds, it is a down. if the ball advances beyond the 10 yards needed, it becomes a 1st down. for instance. it's 1st and 10. it means the offense has a fresh set of downs to work with (4 chances) and they have to move it 10 yards to get another set of downs. they run the ball 4 yards. now it's now 2nd and 6 (3 chances). get it?

[Chicago10281]

You want the NFL, Go to the NFL!

[jackhandy00]

@toujames In the NFL pass interferance occurs when the ball has been thrown and a defender grabs/pushes the reciever before the ball is touched. The ball would be placed at this point of contact and the offensive team is awarded a first down. In College its a 15 yard penalty on the defense and a first down. there is a 5 yard penalty for this in the NFL. Illegal contact..It involves the same grab/push of a receiver 5 yards or more from the line of scrim. while the ball has NOT yet been thrown

[ibrahim1zouaoui]

tlv156 yes I get it thank you I do not play football that much I play soccer and i going to play in middle school.

[65543irock]

@UkiKid555z well it doesnt work tht way in golf

[oJKBo]

@UkiKid555z lol

[SolonOO1]

@UkiKid555z please be aware this may not be true in golf :P

[iwashere118]

@toujames The penalty for shoving a reciever when the ball is in the air differs between pro's and college, in college it is a 15 yard automatic penalty or half the distance to the goal if you are within the 30 yrd line. In the pro's the ball is moved up to wherever the penalty was committed, if it is in the end zone then the ball is automatically placed at the 1 yard line. Also, you can touch and shove the reciever within 5 yrds of the line of scrimmage.

[AnotherYankee]

@toujames - They can't tackle or push the wide receiver on a pass. You can try to deflect the ball or catch it yourself.

[dunc288]

53.5 YARDS across, not 55 feet.

[beardown83]

@toujames i think its a ten or five yard penelty i dont remember. but the only place where you can touch the reciever is five yards to the line of scrimmage. but you can not hold him you can just shove him to not get him where he needs to go.