NationStates Jolt Archive

Firstly this is NOT intended as a thread to bash any sport whatsoever and anyone who is considering doing so, just don't bother.

Now with that out of the way, i'm aware that there is a new season about to start (or maybe it has already) and I intend to try and watch some games because i've heard people talking about it and it seems quite interesting. However, I only have very basic knowledge of it and I wonder if someone could explain the rules and various other aspects of play to me.

This should help:
http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules

Explain it? Wow. I've been a fan all my life and I wouldn't even know where to begin. All I can suggest is that you watch a lot of it--and if my experience with watching unfamiliar sports is any indication, that won't help much. I still don't understand cricket or Australian rules football.

Basicly one team tries to stop another team from getting a ball to the end by tackling, ramming, and crushing each other. To get a goal on team must either bring the ball to the end of the field aka touchdown, throw it or kick it into a net tied between two yellow poles. The ball cannot touch the ground unless someone is performing a touchdown or kick. Thats the basics

American football... hmmm....

Basically, there's this big field, and lots of guys with loads of padding pummel each other around on it. I think it somehow involves a ball that looks like a lemon too.

:D

Made for very easily amused people. Mix steroids, alot of men and even more homoerticy and BAM!! Football.

ive never really understood it myself either, but seeing as i have never had the opportunity to watch it that could have something to do with it

i do however understand both cricket and aussie rules (being an australian), and i have always wondered if american football or aussie rules is more violent

four words: Kick ass

I have always hated sports of all kinds, but I am forced to go to football games because foorball is life around here. It is very overrated.

ive never really understood it myself either, but seeing as i have never had the opportunity to watch it that could have something to do with it

i do however understand both cricket and aussie rules (being an australian), and i have always wondered if american football or aussie rules is more violent
A lot of people argue that because Aussie rules (and rugby) don't use pads, that they're inherently more violent or brutal. I tend to think the opposite--the pads offer enough protection so that the players are able to really tee off on the opposition. It's similar to the difference between boxing with gloves and bare-knuckled. With bare knuckles, you can't go for head shots with any real amount of violence or you'll break your hands, but with gloves--you can kill someone.

Firstly this is NOT intended as a thread to bash any sport whatsoever and anyone who is considering doing so, just don't bother.

Now with that out of the way, i'm aware that there is a new season about to start (or maybe it has already) and I intend to try and watch some games because i've heard people talking about it and it seems quite interesting. However, I only have very basic knowledge of it and I wonder if someone could explain the rules and various other aspects of play to me.

you and your team come up with ways to get a ball made from synthetic pigskin to the opposite end of the field without letting the other team stop you and take it away.

I am not a fan of spectator sports unless they are extreem sports.

A lot of people argue that because Aussie rules (and rugby) don't use pads, that they're inherently more violent or brutal. I tend to think the opposite--the pads offer enough protection so that the players are able to really tee off on the opposition. It's similar to the difference between boxing with gloves and bare-knuckled. With bare knuckles, you can't go for head shots with any real amount of violence or you'll break your hands, but with gloves--you can kill someone.

yes, that is why i am generally undecided, although i personally tend to think that aussie rules is slightly more violent, but there is always the other arguement

footballs boring unless your playing it. you wanna shoot yourself watching it because theres only a few seconds of action during plays. but boy do cheerleaders rule. stick to rugby paintball or soccer, non-stop action in those sports :)

american football
a bunch of 400 pound guys in 100+ pounds of pads try to kill each other to get a oddly shaped ball and run it to one end of the field or kick it through 2 upright posts

It can be very complicated to someone who doesn't know the rules (quite like rugby). I'll break down some basics.

The offense has 4 times(downs) to move the ball at least ten yards by running or throwing the ball. If they succeed then they get 4 more downs. If they don't make it in 3 downs they will often kick (punt) the ball away, to keep the other side further away from their end of the field.

The objective is to get the ball in the other guy's "endzone" after which you score 6 points. If you do this you can kick the ball through the goalpost for 1 more point, or try to get it in the endzone again for 2 points. If the team is close to the endzone and don't make their ten yards on the third down they have the option of trying a "field goal" where instead of punting they can kick the ball through the goal post for 3 points.

I will explain the rest by explaining what some of the penalties are that are most often called:
False Start: The offense has moved prior to the ball being moved, they must stay still. Only one man may move and only laterally.

Off sides: A defensive player crossed the line of scrimmage before the ball was snapped.

Holding: Improper use of hands- either the offense or defense has grabbed hold of someone. The only person you can really grab hold of is the guy with the ball.

Interference: After a receiver from the offense has moved more than five yards downfield, the defense may not interfere with his running route by bumping or grabbing on. There are exceptions to this, as the defensive player is allowed to try and catch the ball too.

Roughing the quarterback/kicker: After the qb gets rid of the ball, you are supposed to NOT hit him. Of course this is within reason, often the play is too close, but if you take a couple steps to get to him and level him, you WILL get nailed on this one.

That is about it. Oh, one more RARE scoring opportunity. If you have the offense backed way up so that they are operating in their own endzone, and you tackle the ballcarrier in their endzone, you get two points AND the ball back.

Turnovers are a very important part of the game, and should be mentioned. If the defense catches a pass, the get the ball. Also if anyone loses control of the ball before being tackled (knee or ball touching the ground from contact with the defense) that ball is LIVE, and anyone can grab it. If the defense grabs it, they get the ball. Turnovers often can determine the outcome of a game.

Lots of other rules etc., but those will get you going. It is a great game once you understand it, enjoy!!!!! And GO PATS!

he is going down...with a season ending Injury....

http://images.ea.com/sports/games/2005/madden/wallpaper/mad05_800x600_2.jpg

American Football is a direct descendant of rugby. Same number of players and a lot of similarities, like the line of scrimmage/advantage line, extra point/conversion, same size field, the playmaker in the quarterback/first five eighth, the running games look similar, and both are a spectacle when played well.

Meh, football sucks. Though my feelings toward it could be tainted by leftover high school angst :p

ive never really understood it myself either, but seeing as i have never had the opportunity to watch it that could have something to do with it

i do however understand both cricket and aussie rules (being an australian), and i have always wondered if american football or aussie rules is more violent


In American football , you have three hundred plus pound huge men running at each other full speed and smashing into each other with near murderous intent.
The object is to score points obviously, but the players themselves, also sek to want to destroy the opposition.

People get really really hurt playing american football...

Dont be fooled by the pads and helmets.....
Those are to keep people from being killed.

Most of the time......it works.

i do however understand both cricket and aussie rules (being an australian), and i have always wondered if american football or aussie rules is more violent

I understand cricket (being a "pom" as you aussies call us, where the hell does that come from anyway) but I don't have a clue about Aussie rules, I don't honestly think there's much between them in terms of violence

Anyway, thanks to everyone who's tried to explain but one more question, in the linked site there was a brief mention of a drop kick, can that be used to score? (like in rugby)

Cheese, when people say Aussie rules, they are referring to Australian rules football, not a different type of cricket.

I like cricket. My neighborhood has a large Indian population and every Saturday they play cricket at the neighborhood baseball field. Used to be just them playing but now half the neighborhood comes out to watch and cheer.

Oh, and a drop kick is called a punt in football. A punt occurs when you've used your available downs and were not able to gain sufficient yardage to earn a new set of downs. When you punt the ball, you are relinquishing the ball to the opposing team. Long ago, a drop kick was used to score points but I believe that's been taken out of the rule book. American football instead has the field goal, in which a holder holds the ball for the kicker to hit through the uprights, or goal posts.

It can be very complicated to someone who doesn't know the rules (quite like rugby). I'll break down some basics.

The offense has 4 times(downs) to move the ball at least ten yards by running or throwing the ball. If they succeed then they get 4 more downs. If they don't make it in 3 downs they will often kick (punt) the ball away, to keep the other side further away from their end of the field.

The objective is to get the ball in the other guy's "endzone" after which you score 6 points. If you do this you can kick the ball through the goalpost for 1 more point, or try to get it in the endzone again for 2 points. If the team is close to the endzone and don't make their ten yards on the third down they have the option of trying a "field goal" where instead of punting they can kick the ball through the goal post for 3 points.

I will explain the rest by explaining what some of the penalties are that are most often called:
False Start: The offense has moved prior to the ball being moved, they must stay still. Only one man may move and only laterally.

Off sides: A defensive player crossed the line of scrimmage before the ball was snapped.

Holding: Improper use of hands- either the offense or defense has grabbed hold of someone. The only person you can really grab hold of is the guy with the ball.

Interference: After a receiver from the offense has moved more than five yards downfield, the defense may not interfere with his running route by bumping or grabbing on. There are exceptions to this, as the defensive player is allowed to try and catch the ball too.

Roughing the quarterback/kicker: After the qb gets rid of the ball, you are supposed to NOT hit him. Of course this is within reason, often the play is too close, but if you take a couple steps to get to him and level him, you WILL get nailed on this one.

That is about it. Oh, one more RARE scoring opportunity. If you have the offense backed way up so that they are operating in their own endzone, and you tackle the ballcarrier in their endzone, you get two points AND the ball back.

Turnovers are a very important part of the game, and should be mentioned. If the defense catches a pass, the get the ball. Also if anyone loses control of the ball before being tackled (knee or ball touching the ground from contact with the defense) that ball is LIVE, and anyone can grab it. If the defense grabs it, they get the ball. Turnovers often can determine the outcome of a game.

Lots of other rules etc., but those will get you going. It is a great game once you understand it, enjoy!!!!! And GO PATS!


I should point out, however, that the first pro american-style football league was formed in Canada. Up here, we only provide three tries to make each ten-yard marker, our field is ten yards longer to make you work harder to get there, and our field is wider too to make it more dificult to stop running plays.

Our southern neighbours just needed to make it a bit easier on themselves... and put in wimpy-assed rules like the "don't hit me please" fair catch rule.

;)

That being said..... I WILL have to agree with the "Go Pats" sentiment. They are the NFL team I have followed since the early days of Doug Flutie.


In conclusion though I should remind everyone that football - like all sports - would be a hell of a lot faster and more interesting if it were played on skates and allowed the odd fistfight ....

American Football is a direct descendant of rugby. Same number of players and a lot of similarities, like the line of scrimmage/advantage line, extra point/conversion, same size field, the playmaker in the quarterback/first five eighth, the running games look similar, and both are a spectacle when played well.
And the preznit used to play rugby too:
http://www.bobharris.com/images/bushsuckerpunch.gif
That's from the Yale yearbook--I especially like the caption. Pretty much sums the guy up, I think.

Cheese, when people say Aussie rules, they are referring to Australian rules football, not a different type of cricket.

I know what Aussie rules is, sorry if my post wasn't clear.

I don't think a drop kick is the same as a punt, for a drop kick the ball has to bounce on the ground before its kicked.

the playmaker in the quarterback/first five eighth, the running games look similar, and both are a spectacle when played well.

I've never quite got this alternative player naming system in rugby, when you say first five eighth do you mean the flyhalf.

I understand cricket (being a "pom" as you aussies call us, where the hell does that come from anyway) but I don't have a clue about Aussie rules, I don't honestly think there's much between them in terms of violence

Anyway, thanks to everyone who's tried to explain but one more question, in the linked site there was a brief mention of a drop kick, can that be used to score? (like in rugby)

Drop kick? WOW, I haven't seen one of those in ages. If memory serves me right, you can score three points if it goes through the uprights, but I am not sure. I haven't seen a drop kick in the NFL is EONS.