Girl's Guide: Football Basics

Ok, so before you can truly get in the spirit of NFL football, your going to need to know whats going on.

Here are some tips for making sense of the clicks and grunts you hear coming from his 'man cave' every weekend. It takes some time and effort to learn all of the rules and nuances of football, but it's not terribly hard to understand the basics.

1. Understand the basic goal of the game is to move the ball into the opposing team's end zone, an action known as a "touchdown." A team can also score by kicking the ball between the goal posts in the end zone, an action known as a "field goal."
2. Learn the terminology of the "line or scrimmage," which is the starting point of each play.
3. 
   

   Learn the 11 positions on offense and the way in which they're grouped by function. The offensive line (two offensive guards, two offensive tackles and a center) protects the quarterback and blocks for the players in the backfield (the running back/tailback and fullback) who run the ball when the quarterback hands it to them. The receivers--typically two wide receivers and a tight end--catch the ball when thrown to them by the quarterback.
4. Learn the 11 positions on defense and the way in which they're grouped by function. The defensive line (for instance, two defensive tackles and two defensive ends) plays directly in front of the offensive line and is the first line of defense when trying to stop the ball. The linebackers (either three or four) fall behind the defensive line and typically cover tight ends and running backs when they come out of the backfield to catch a pass. The secondary (two cornerbacks and two safeties) is the last line of defense; they specialize in trying to prevent the wide receivers from catching the ball when the quarterback throws a pass to them.
   
   
   FYI: When learning the 22 positions, have your football fan quiz you, He will appreciate you putting the effort in!
5. 
   

   Learn the basics of moving the ball on offense. Every play starts with the center "hiking" the ball to the quarterback, who either hands it backwards (or tosses it backwards in a lateral) to a player in the backfield (usually the tailback, sometimes the fullback), who "rushes" forward, or he passes it forward to a receiver, usually a wide receiver, sometimes a tight end or even a tailback or fullback coming out of the backfield.
6. 
   

   Learn the concept of "downs." The offense has four chances, or "downs," to move the ball forward 10 yards before being tackled. If they succeed in gaining 10 yards within four downs, this is called a "first down," and the offense gets another four tries. If they fail to gain 10 yards within four downs, the ball goes to the other team, whose offense then comes onto the field to try to move the ball in the other direction. If, on the fourth down, the offensive team doesn't want to gamble giving the ball to the defensive team at that spot on the field, it can kick the ball away to the other team (punt) in order to place the opposing team further away from the end zone
7. 
   

   Learn the basics of stopping the movement of the ball on defense. The defense tries to stop the offense from gaining 10 yards within four downs on their way to the end zone by either tackling the ball carrier, causing incomplete passes or causing a "turnover."
8. 
   

   Learn the concept of the turnover. A turnover occurs when the offensive team inadvertently gives the ball to the defensive team. This happens by way of a "fumble" (when an offensive player has control of the ball and then drops it) or an "interception" (when a defensive player catches a forward pass). A defensive player can return a turnover towards the opponent's end zone in an attempt to get a touchdown until he is tackled. After a turnover, the defensive team goes on offense.
9. 
   

   Learn how to score. A touchdown is worth six points. After a touchdown, the scoring team has the choice of either kicking the ball between the goalposts from the two-yard line for an "extra point" or running or passing the ball into the end zone from the two-yard line for a "two-point conversion." A field goal is worth three points. If an offensive player is tackled in his own end zone, this is called a "safety," which is worth two points for the defensive team.
10. 
    

    Learn the basics of special teams. Special teams are the players who take part in the kicking game: field goals, extra points, punts and kickoffs. Kickoffs are a way of transferring possession of the ball at the start of each half of the game and after one team scores a touchdown or field goal.