Can Anyone Help Me Understand Football?

Question

Ok i recently meet this kid who looovvesss football.
His favorite team is the dallas cowboys which i can learn about. But what i need to do is undertsand the whole meaing of football. I dont understand the game. I dont get the whole positions thing so when hes telling me oh so and so is at this position hes a line backer or somethin im like uh huh???????? No clue what hes talking about. I need someone to tell me all the positions in football and make me understand the whole concept.

HELP!!

Answer 1

Well there are 22 players on the field at any given time (11 offense, 11 defense). But each team has many players, not just 11. So the offense is the team with the ball, and they try to score. The team on defense is trying to stop them from scoring. There are different ways to score. A touchdown is worth 6 points, a field goal is worth 3 points, and a safety is worth 2 points. To score a touchdown you must go to the other team's "end zone". A field goal is a kick between two goal posts. A safety can only be made on defense. You need to "sack" the player with the ball, in their own end zone. If you get a safety, not only do you get two points, but you get the ball again (they kick the ball to you, but in all other scores, the team that scored kicks to the other team). A sack is just when the defense tackles the player with the ball, but he tackles them closer to their own end zone, which is a loss of yards (this is bad for the team that loses yards because they have longer to go for a touchdown). After the touchdown, the team that scored has two options: to go for the extra point (this is done by kicking a field goal, but from the opposing team's 10 yard line), or you could go for the two-point-conversion. The two-point-conversion is just a normal play from the opposing team's two yard line, and if you get into their end zone, you get two points. But although the two-point-conversion sounds like a smarter play, it's much harder than the extra point field goal (people jokingly call the extra point "the automatic point".

Now you also wanted to know about positions. On offense here are some positions you will need to know:

Quarterback (QB) - The player who passer

Runningback (RB) - The quarterback will sometimes "hand it off" to the runningback (a hand off is just when the quarterback gives the ball to the RB, and he runs). A running back can also go out for a screen pass. A screen pass is when a player goes out for a pass, but does not go out very far.

Wide Receiver (WR) - The WRs are the players who catch most of the passes.

Fullback (FB) - A fullback is similiar to a runningback. The FB is bigger, and does not go out for screen passes very often. He usually runs for a short amount of yards (I'll get to yards and first downs later).

Center (C) - The Center is the guy who gives the ball to the QB, when the QB says "Hike". The center then goes out and blocks (I'll talk about blocking later).

Right Tackle and Left Tackle (T) - These are players who block.

Right Guard and Left Guard (G) - These are players who block.

Tight End (TE) - This player can go out for a pass (a Tight End usually wouldn't go as far as a Wide Receiver would go out for a pass, but not as short as a runningback would for a screen pass). He can also block.

Before we talk about defense, I'll tell you about blocking and then downs. Blocking is something Tight Ends can do, something Tackles (both right and left tackles) do, something Guards (both right and left guards) do, and something a center does. The point of blocking is to protect your Quarterback, and give him enough time to throw a complete pass, or hand it off. The people blocking are trying to stop the players on defense from sacking the quarterback.

On offense you have 4 chances to get 10 yards or more, and if you don't the other team gets the ball. There is first down, second down, third down, and fourth down. If you get 10 yards, you get first down again. You want a first down so you can get have more chances. On fourth down, if you're too far away from getting a first down (this could be because you got sacked, or you lost yards, or you just didn't get complete passes), than you would punt. Punting gives the other team the ball. I know it seems weird to give the other team the ball, but if you didn't punt, and you tried to get the first down and you missed, than it's the other team's ball from where you were. A few sentences ago, I said that you could have lost yards from being sacked. Well say it's first and 10 (first and 10 means it's first down, and 10 yards to go for a first down), and say the QB gets sacked, and he lost 5 yards (this is because he was tackled 5 yards from where he got the "snap", or where the Center gave him the ball, or when he said "hike"). Now it's second and 15. It's second down (because the last play was first down), and the 15 means he has 15 yards to go because he lost 15 yards on the sack.

Now here's defense:

Defensive End (DE) - He is a player that tries to sack the QB. I'll talk more about him later.

Defensive Tackle (DT) - Like the Defensive End. Sometimes called a Nose Tackle, or NT.

Outside Linebacker (OL or LB) - Outside Linebackers try to deflect passes or tackle players with the ball. They are in the second row of defensive players (what I mean by the second row is that they are in back of the Defensive Ends and Defensive Tackles), and they don't go out so far. If it's a running play, the LBs usually do the tackles.

Inside Linebacker (IL or LB) - Basically the same as Outside Linebackers. They are in between the Outside Linebackers, hence the names.

Cornerback (CB or DB, a DB stands for Defensive Back) - They are basically the opposite of Wide Receivers, or the defensive version of them. They guard them tightly and try to intercept passes.

Strong Safety (SS or DB) - Like a Cornerback.

Free Safety (FS or DB) - Like a Cornerback and like a Strong Safety.


The Defensive Ends and Defensive Tackles are usually the players trying to sack the QB. This is why there are Centers, Guards, Tight Ends, and Tackles. They prevent the Defensive Ends and Tackles from sacking the QB.

A fumble is when the player with the ball drops it, and anyone can get the ball.

Also, the Centers, Tackles, Tight Ends, and Guards are called Offensive Lineman, while Defensive Ends and Defensive Tackles are called Defensive Lineman.

I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have any more questions you can e-mail me at [e-mail]. Trust me, I KNOW THIS STUFF, I AM OBSESSED WITH FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

There are just 2 kinds of players. Those trying to move the ball, (offense) and those trying to stop them from moving the ball (defense).

Both sides have "line players". Ususally big big guys. The oofensive line players are called "linemen" or blockers. Individual players have different names but they're not that important. Their job is to knock the dfensive ine players back to make room to advance the ball.

Defensive linemen are called that or sometimes "tackles". Their job is to disrupt the offensive line players and get to the ball carrier and hit him very hard.

Whoever wins this battle usually has the advantage to win the game.

Behind the offensive line are a Quarterback, other "backs" and receivers. The QB is the "brain" of the team, and coordinates every play. All three of these positions job is to get past the defensive line while either carrying the ball or to catch the ball if thrown.
Some may "block" defenders to help the ball carrier or receiver.

Behind the defensive line are a set of players called "linebackers" and "defensive backs". Again, more specialized than I am describing, but not vital to know all the names just to start. Their job is to stop the advance of the ball if the line players fail to do it. They can tackle the carrier, knock down or steal a thrown ball or push a player off the field.

The offensive team gets 4 chances to advance the ball 10 yards. If they succeed, they get another 4 chances at another 10 yards. If they haven't moved 10 yards by the 4th try, the other team takes over, offensive and defensive teams swap out and they go the other way. The object is to advance to an "end zone". If you cross that line you earn 6 points and a chance at a 7th .

If you get close to the goal, but can't score, you can try to kick the ball through a set of upright poles for 3 points.

The team with the highest score is the winner.

There are lots of special rules, like that the offensive players can't move until the ball is moved. Defensive players can't just knock players over if they don't already have the ball, etc.

You'll learn more just by watching.

Answer 3

Offense: Quarterback is the guy who gets the ball first and throws it. Running back (aka halfback) is the guy who runs with it. Guards, Tackles and Center are the guys who block the defense from getting to their quarterback. Wide Receivers are the guys who run down and try to catch it. Tigh Ends are part blocker, part wide receiver...it depends on the play.

Defense: Defensive ends/linemen try to stop the quarterback from throwing or the running back from running...they are up in front. Line-backers are the next line of defense, they stop anything that gets past the linemen. Safeties are the last line of defense. They act as a "safety" in case the guy with the ball gets past everyone else. Cornerbacks/Defensive Backs are the guys who guard the wide receivers when they run down to try to catch the ball.

Game play: you get 4 tries to go 10 yards. If you get 10+ yards, you get 4 more tries. So "second and 5" means that this is your second try (of four) and you have 5 yards to get. Catch or run the ball endzone and it is worth 6 points. Then you kick the ball through the uprights on the next play for 1 more point. If you can't get to 10 yards in the four plays, you can punt...or kick...to the other team as far as you can and then they try to go in the opposite direction. If you think you could kick it through the upright instead of punting, try it...if you make it you get 3 points.

If the quarterback throws and it hist the ground, the play ends. If a runner drops it, the ball is loose ("fumble") and either team can recover it. If the defense catches a throw, it is a turnover and their team gets to be on offense.

Answer 4

Offensive Positions:
QB (quarter back)- throws the ball
RB(running back)- runs the ball(QB pitches the ball to him)
FB(full back)- similar to running back but normally blocks
*all these positions are behind the lind of scrimage (line where the ball is)
C(center)-snaps the ball: oin other words gives it to QB
Defensive line- protects QB by blocking other teams defense
WR(wide recivers) normally 2 on the field at a time, these people catch the ball (TO is a dallas wide reciver)
TE(tight end)- similar to a wide reciver, normally goes for shorter passes

Defensive positions
Defensive line- tries to sac the QB(tackle befor he passes or hands off) and prevents RB from running
LB (line backers)- try to prevent wide recivers from catching the ball
Safteys- prevent offensive from penatrationg deep in the field

Answer 5

Read up on it, alot - watch alot of games on TV, ask ALOT of questions even if you think they are stupid - also Sportscenter does help, and other ESPN shows.

Once you learn about the game, you'll realize what a great game it is - and this is coming from a woman who loves football more than any other sport, and my advice is to watch as many games as you can. You might end up loving it too. Its a great game. My advice is also to pick a team, and just become a fan - it will help the game along! Good luck.

Answer 6

Are you serious Red Sock Rock???You actually spent an HOUR writing all of that. Jeez, someone needs a life. Dude, just give him the best answer just for that. Thats crazy!!

Football is tough to learn with people telling it through Yahoo! Answers. You need to watch every Sunday with a couple of your buddies so they can point out stuff to you. Thats the best way. Try and wach football videos on the Internet and try to learn. It's very difficult to learn. It will take at least one football season to learn and understand the game.

Answer 7

Football will take month to learn, since it is so complicated. If I were to write all the aspects of football, I would be writing for days and days. Probably the best way to learn is the watch football by someone who acutally knows the game and have them explain. It will take you a while to learn though.

Answer 8

Sit down and watch a few games with someone who knows the game and ask lots of questions, that is how I learned, and once you know the game it is very enjoyable to watch, there is too much to explain on here.

Answer 9

Don't worry about knowing everythingabout football. Learn the basics postions, Quater back, running back, tight end, wide recivers
I bet if you ask your boy (friend) I bet he would love to explain it. Most people who love something love to tell others about it.

Answer 10

I agree with danzka, watch a game with someone who knows the sport, guy or girl, and they will explain it all to ya! When you are watching it, pay attention to everything, penalty calls, replays,commentary,etc!!! Once you learn it , you will love it!!! Here's to Football!!!!