Football 101

How many players are allowed on an NFL team?

Each team in the NFL is allowed to carry 53 players on their roster. Only 45, however, can be active and in uniform on any given game day. Each team starts 11 players on either side of the ball — 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and 11 on special teams.

BACK TO TOP

What is the difference between a running back and a fullback?

In general, a fullback is a much bigger player, physically, than a running back. The fullback's main responsibility is to block for the running back on running plays. Occasionally the fullback catches a pass, but rarely do they run with the ball. The running back is normally smaller and faster than the fullback. The running back's primary duty is to run with the ball. Running backs may also be referred to as tailbacks or halfbacks.

BACK TO TOP

How big is a football field?

The playing field is 100 yards long and just over 53 yards wide. The end zones, located at both ends of the field, are an additional 10 yards each.

BACK TO TOP

Does a team have a set amount of time to run a play?

The offensive team has 40 seconds from the end of one play until the time they must start the next play. If the offense fails to snap the ball in the allotted time, the team receives a 5-yard penalty and must repeat the down. The 40 seconds are counted down on the "play clock" that is located in each end zone, clearly visible to the quarterback.

BACK TO TOP

What are the roles of the different officials in a football game?

During an NFL game, seven officials are on the field at all times, each with a different responsibility. They include:

• Referee — This is the head official and has final say on all calls. He is the official that announces all penalties to the crowd. He typically stands behind the quarterback during a play and monitors any illegal activity in the offensive backfield. He is the only referee who wears a white hat instead of a black one.
  
• Umpire — This official stands on the defensive side of the ball near the line of scrimmage and is responsible for monitoring all contact between the offensive and defensive lines. As a result, he will be the official that calls most holding penalties. Also, when it is raining, the umpire wipes the wet ball dry prior to the snap.
  
• Head Linesman — This official stands at the point where the line of scrimmage and the sideline meet and watches for any line of scrimmage violations (offsides, encroachment, etc.). He is also the official who runs in after a play is over and places his foot on the field to show where the ball is to be spotted for the next play.
  
• Line Judge — The line judge stands on the opposite side of the field from the head linesman and assists the head linesman in making the line of scrimmage calls. He is also responsible for supervising the timing of the game.
  
• Field Judge — The field judge stands on the same side of the field as the line judge, but about 20 yards downfield. He is responsible for calling pass interference penalties on his side of the field and for determining whether or not a team has scored a touchdown. He also assists the back judge on determining whether or not field goal attempts are successful.
  
• Back Judge — The back judge has similar responsibilities to the field judge, but on the opposite side of the field. He also assists the field judge on determining whether or not field goal attempts are successful.
  
• Side Judge — The side judge is, in effect, a second back judge used to help on long pass plays in particular.

BACK TO TOP

What are the different ways a team can score points?

• Touchdown = 6 points. Scored when a player possessing the ball crosses the goal line and enters the end zone. Both offensive players, either by passing or running the ball, and defensive players, as a result of an interception or fumble recovery, can score touchdowns.
  
• Field Goal = 3 points. Scored when the kicker of the offensive team kicks the ball through the upright posts and over the crossbar of the goal post.
  
• Extra Point = 1 point. When a team scores a touchdown, they are awarded the opportunity for an extra point. The point is scored when a team's kicker kicks the football through the upright posts and over the crossbar of the goal post. The ball is set on the 2-yard line and, once snapped, is generally kicked from the 9- or 10-yard line.
  
• Two-Point Conversion = 2 points. See explanation below.
  
• Safety = 2 points. A safety is awarded when the defensive team tackles the ball carrier in his own end zone or the ball carrier steps out of bounds in his own end zone.
  
• Drop Kick = 3 points. Much the same as a field goal, the difference being that the ball is dropped to the ground and kicked on its bounce through the upright posts and over the crossbar of the goal post. This play is extremely rare.

BACK TO TOP

What is the "no-huddle" or "hurry-up offense"?

The offensive team finishes a play and begins another play without joining in a huddle beforehand. An offensive huddle normally takes between 20-25 seconds before the players separate and move to their spots on the field. At the end of either half of the game, a team may be pressed for time in their attempt to score, and those 20-25 seconds cannot be wasted in the huddle. The team, instead, rushes to the line of scrimmage after the completion of each play and snaps the ball as quickly as possible.

Another advantage of the no-huddle is that the defense does not have enough time to huddle either, creating confusion and exhaustion on the defensive side of the ball. Occasionally, an offense may run the no-huddle when time constraints are not a consideration, just to keep the defense disorganized and tired.

BACK TO TOP

What does the phrase "three-and-out" mean?

Typically, when an offensive team fails to gain 10 yards in three plays, they will punt the ball on their fourth play, or fourth down. If an offense comes out onto the field, runs three plays and punts, the process is referred to as a "three-and-out."

BACK TO TOP

What is the "West Coast offense"?

The creator of this offensive scheme was Bill Walsh who, at the time, was the head coach of the West Coast San Francisco 49ers. It is an offense predicated on ball control and reducing the amount of offensive turnovers in a game. Basically, the West Coast offense revolves around a solid running game and a short passing attack. Receivers are expected to catch short, low-risk passes and run with the ball afterwards. The West Coast offense is highly regarded by NFL coaches and is widely used by teams across the country.

BACK TO TOP

What is the difference between man-to-man and zone coverage?

Man-to-man coverage is a defensive scheme where each defensive player (linemen not included) picks one offensive player to cover during a play. The defensive player runs with that receiver throughout the entire play in an attempt to stop the offensive player from catching a pass. When a defense employs a zone coverage the linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks cover pre-designated areas on the field instead of covering a specific receiver. During a passing play, the players roam in their zone and cover any receiver that moves into that part of the field.

BACK TO TOP