A Guide for Parents of Football Players

Positions (Offense and Defense) Basic Rules & Referee Calls Topics Field & Markers Positions (Offense and Defense) Basic Rules & Referee Calls

The Field 100 Yards Long 53 & 1/3 Yards Wide (160 feet) End Zones – 10 Yards Goal Posts – Back of End Zone 10 Feet High 23 ft 4 inches wide

The Field Yard Lines Every 5 Hash Marks Every 1 Hash Marks are 17.7 yds apart If the ball is downed outside the hash marks, it is brought back to the nearest hash mark If the ball is downed between the hash marks, it is spotted where it is downed

Positions There are 11 players from each team on the field at any one time. Offense Running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and quarterbacks are eligible ball carriers. Interior linemen (centers, guards and tackles) are not eligible ball carriers. Defense Any player may intercept a pass, recover a fumble or otherwise touch the ball

Positions Offense (Key word: Formation) Two Tight End (JUMBO) W/R TE T G C QB RB

Positions Offense Single Wing W/R SB TE T G C QB RB

Positions Common Offensive Formations W/R SB T G C QB RB Spread Split Backs W/R TE RB T G C QB

Positions Common Offensive Formations TE RB T G C QB Full House I Backs W/R TE RB T G C QB

Positions Defense (Key Word: Alignment) 4-4 Stack T E C ILB OLB FS

Positions Defense 5-3 NT E T C ILB OLB FS

Positions Common Defense Alignments FS Goal Line 2 Deep (Tampa 2) SS FS W M S C E T

Basic Rules & Terminology Offense has 4 downs (attempts) to move the ball 10 yards (the line of gain) - This is what the chains and down marker show If the offense can do this in less tries, the downs reset. On 4th down, the offense can choose to run an offensive play to get back to 1st down or punt to the opposing team.

Basic Rules & Terminology Scoring Touchdown (6 points) A touchdown is scored when a team crosses the opposition's goal line with the ball, or catches or collects the ball in the end zone. Field goal (3 points) A team will usually attempt these on the fourth down - if the kicker is close enough to the end zone to kick the ball through between the upright posts. Extra point (1 or 2 points) An extra point is earned by kicking the ball through the uprights after a touchdown. Two points are earned by taking the ball into the end zone again, but since it is more difficult, most teams opt to take the 1pt. Safety (2 points) The defensive team can gain 2 pts if they tackle a member of the offensive team with the ball in their own end zone.

Basic Rules & Terminology Rules of Play The position of the football that defines the sides of the ball is called the "line of scrimmage". No player (offense of defense) can be in that area prior to a play occurring. This is referred to as the neutral zone. If any part of a player with the football touches the side lines or the back of the end zone it is considered Out of Bounds. Seven offensive players must be lined up on the line of scrimmage. The other four players must be lined up at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage. All of the offensive players must be set, or still, prior to the play beginning with the exception of one of the four backs which may be moving parallel or away from the line of scrimmage. The defensive players may take any position they want and can move about their side of the football prior to the play without restriction.

Basic Rules & Terminology Penalties False Start: When a football player on the offense moves just prior to the snap. This is a five yard penalty. Note that one back on the offense can legally be "in motion" at the time of the snap. Offside: If a player from the defense is on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap. Holding: When a player grabs a football player without the ball with the hands or hooks him or tackles him. Pass Interference: When a defender contacts a pass receiver after the ball is in the air to prevent him from catching the ball. This is up to the referee to determine. If the contact is before the ball is in the air it will be called defensive holding. Note that pass interference can also be called on the offense if the defender has position and is trying to catch the ball. Facemask: To protect the football players, it is illegal to grab another player's facemask. Roughing the Passer or Kicker: To protect kickers and quarterbacks, who are very vulnerable when they are passing or kicking the ball, players are not allowed to run into them after the ball has been thrown or kicked. Intentional Grounding: When the passer throws a pass nowhere near an eligible receiver strictly to avoid being sacked. This also causes a loss of down. Ineligible Receiver Downfield: When one of the offensive players that is not an eligible receiver is more than 5 yards downfield from the line of scrimmage during a forward pass.

Basic Rules & Terminology

Basic Rules & Terminology

Q&A

Book Club Recommendations Take Your Eye Off the Ball: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look – Pat Kirwan One Knee Equals Two Feet (and Everything Else You Need to Know About Football )– John Madden