Football is a sport in which two teams of 11 players try to move the ball into their opponent’s goal. The team that scores more goals wins the game.
The game starts with a coin toss and each team begins on their own 5-yard line. Each team has four “downs” (plays) to cross midfield and gain at least 10 yards towards their opposing team’s end zone. Each play ends in a new “down”. If the team fails to advance at least 10 yards within the four downs, they hand the ball over to the other team and begin a new set of plays.
A tackle occurs when a player gets the ball to the ground or their knees. When a tackle is made, the referee blows the whistle and the play is over.
Each team has three phases: offense, defense and special teams. The offense is in charge of scoring touchdowns and field goals, the defense ensures that the offense doesn’t score and special teams change field positions and make plays to help their team win.
The game consists of four 15-minute quarters. Each quarter is played against a different team.
During each quarter, players take turns running the ball down the field. The team that moves the most yards in the first quarter wins the game.
A player’s most important job is to run the ball. They may also pass the ball to other players for a score. A touchdown is scored when a player runs or passes the ball over the opponent’s goal line.