Football is a team sport played by two teams, 11 to 18 players per team, who attempt to score by passing the ball to one another. The game is controlled by a referee and two assistants.
The game is played on a field that is at least 110 yards in length. The goal measures 8 feet in height and has a frame with a net. The area around the goal is called the penalty area. It is a rectangular space in front of the goal, approximately 44 yards wide.
The game is divided into halves. The halftime interval lasts 15 minutes. The referee may add an extra minute to the half if a player is injured. In addition, the teams may change ends.
The team that scores the first goal is awarded a point. After touchdown, the team can try to get an extra point with a two-point conversion. The ball must be caught in the end zone.
In the early 20th century, the game spread across Europe. The most significant amendment to the game’s rules came in 1925. The rule for offside was rewritten to promote more goals.
The offside rule changed in 1925 to require two intervening players to prevent an attacking player from entering the opponent’s goal area. The new rule encouraged more aggressive play, as well as more goals.
By the mid-1870s, clubs had begun charging admission to spectators. A year later, the FA sanctioned the payment of players. This helped northern clubs attract better players.