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American Football is a very popular sport, not only in America, but, around the world. American Football is simply called football in the US and Canada, and is not exactly the same as football everywhere else, although American Football actually derived itself from abroad. Another term used by those referring to American Football is Gridiron Football. Gridiron (the more common usage of the term) is distinguished from other forms of football by the playing field it is done on that resembles a gridiron with its series of parallel lines and number markings, and by the heavy protective equipment that is used, as well as by the forward pass, line of scrimmage, positions, formations and system of downs. In North America the use of the term gridiron will usually refer to the playing field while in other countries the term gridiron will be referring to the game.
To see game plays, techniques and moves actually being demonstrated, visit the VideoJug website and watch their many (free) films on American Football. But for now, let me describe some to you in detail.
American Football is the most common form of gridiron the world over. It is played with eleven men on each of two teams with four downs on a one hundred yard field. Downs are when the player possessing or holding the ball has been tackled and may not advance the ball further, for one meaning of the term as used according to football.
Another time the player is considered down is when he has extended his play out of bounds, at which an official declares it down. These downs are counted as the game progresses. Each period of possession of the ball is begun with a first down, this is the point from which is measured down field 10 more yards and is called "first and 10". The goal is to carry the ball without stepping out of bounds or being tackled down by the other team, as far as possible toward the other end of the field which is where the goal is, to score a touchdown. If the holder of the ball carries the ball beyond the first and 10 mark they have made a new first down.
Another point is that the play is called "first and goal" if there are less than ten yards to the goal line. If the offensive team (the one with the ball) fails to make a new first down after four attempts while in possession of the ball, they have to turn the ball over to the other team. Now the ball is in possession of the other team and play reverses itself on the field toward the opposite side where there is another goal. This play starts at the position of the last downed ball.
The line of scrimmage, when playing American Football, should be avoided by all other players of either team, except the center of the team that holds the ball. The center is the offensive player who snaps (hands, throws or rolls) the ball back to an eligible receiver behind him. The scrimmage line is where the ball was last downed and all the way across the field to either edge with an imagined line parallel to the goal line, and if there are any penalties due the team they are dealt out in subtracting yardage from the scrimmage line. Penalties happen when a team is called on for delay of play. They have forty seconds to begin play after the previous play ends or twenty-five seconds after a referee has marked the ball ready to avoid a penalty.
Football games are timed in four sections of fifteen minutes each, but with time outs (three are allowed) and referees stopping the clock for various calls, making games last up to three hours.
