IntroductionPlayers protect themselves in football by wearing elaborate equipment such as:
· Padding covering the thighs, hips, shoulders, knees, and often the forearms and hands
· Plastic helmets with face guards to protect the face and head
· The playing uniform consists of a jersey and tight-fitting pants that end just below the knee
· Specialize shoes that have cleats connected to the bottom of the shoe. These help the player from slipping
The team that wins a coin toss before the game starts has its choice of kicking off or receiving the ball. At the start of the second half, the decision is reversed. During the kickoff, the ball is put on the kicking team's 30 yd. line. The receiving team must be at least 10 yards from the kickoff line, and any player on that team can advance the ball. If the ball is kicked all the way into the end zone, the receiving team instead of running it out can alternatively start play on the 20-yard line, by kneeling (a touchback).
The team on offense then usually gets into a huddle and the quarterback then quickly discusses the next play the team will use to try to advance the ball. The defense may also get into a huddle and discusses its next attempt to slow the offense. Play begins when the center snaps the ball to the quarterback. The team with the ball will get 4 chances to advance the ball past 10 yards. After every 10 or more yards, the team get another series of 4 chances. The quarterback may run with the ball or hand or pass it to a teammate, who will in turn run with it or pass it. The play ends when the ballcarrier is tackled, is forced out of bounds, or scores.The team will attempt to get the ball pass the goal line (end zone). This results in a touchdown (6 points). The team can go for an extra point by kicking the ball in between the goal post or they can go for 2 points by throwing/running the ball pass the goal line from the 2 yard line. The defensive team may score when the ballcarrier is downed in his own end zone or if his team is penalized for committing a foul in its end zone (a safety, worth two points), by interception and running the ball to their own end zone, or causing the offense to make a fumble and recovering the fumble, running the fumble to their own end zone.
If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, the ball game goes into sudden death. This means, the first team to score will win the game, no matter how much is scored. The first team to score in the time given, wins the football game.
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