American football
American Football (called just football in the USA) is a team sport played by two teams of people with 11 players on each side. It is played with a ball that is pointed at both ends. Points are scored by one team getting the ball into the end zone of the other team.
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[change] Gameplay
The main leagues that play American football (usually just referred to as "football" in America) are the professional National Football League, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which plays college football (In the National Football League, players are paid millions. In the National Collegiate Athletic Association, players simply play for the pride of their school.)There is also a closely related sport called Canadian Football.
A football game is played with a ball called a football. The sport is played on a grass field, about 120 yards long and about 53 yards wide. The players wear protective equipment, including a helmet with facemask, shoulder pads, thigh pads, and often a mouth guard. At both ends of the field there are end zones. A team has four chances to advance the ball 10 yards while the opposing team tries to stop it. Certain players advance the ball by carrying or throwing it. Teams can score by advancing the ball to the other team's end zone or by kicking the ball through a goalpost. American football is carefully regulated by time and rules, which are enforced by officials, who also determine when a team scores.
A football game is 60 minutes long, and is divided into 15 minute quarters. After the first two quarters, the teams rest for a few minutes during halftime.
In NFL football, if the game is tied after the four quarters, the two teams compete in one more 15 minute period called overtime. During overtime the first team to score points is the winner. If neither team scores during overtime, the game ends in a tie. In NCAA football overtime, the teams take turns attempting to score. The game ends when one team scores, and the other team fails to score as many points during its chance.
[change] Field
American football is played on a field 120 yards long by 53 yards wide.Most of the game is played on 100 yards in the middle. It is divided on 20 lines drawing every 5 yards. At the ends of the field there the scoring areas called the end zones.
There are also two yellow poles on the end of each field called uprights. Sometimes, if the team can not score a touchdown they might want to kick it though the uprights for three points. The uprights are also used for scoring one point after a team scored a touchdown.
[change] Players
There are many types of players on a football team. For the offensive part of the team, a quarterback throws the football to wide receivers while offensive linemen block to protect him from defensive players. The offensive linemen also block when a running back runs to advance the football. Defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs attempt to tackle the offensive player who carries the football.
[change] American Professional Seasons
[change] Exhibition season
Exhibition season (better known as Pre-Season) is in August. In the exhibition season, the teams get ready for the regular season by having training. Teams have practices to help the team get better and see who will make the team. All of the teams play 4 games before the regular season starts, and the games do not change what team gets to the post season. Because of it, teams do not use their best players much, and use the games as more practice.
[change] Regular season
The 32 NFL teams are divided into two conferences: the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). Each of them is divided in four divisions: North, South, West and East. Each division includes four teams. The season lasts 17 weeks. Each team plays 16 games and has one week off. This week of rest is called a "bye week".
[change] NFL playoffs
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At the end of the regular season, the best 6 NFC teams and the best 6 AFC teams play in a tournament. NFC's champion and AFC's champion play the NFL's final game, the Super Bowl which is the great American event. The event is often treated as a National holiday as many stores close for the event. The day of the event is commonly known nation wide as Super Bowl Sunday.
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