FOOTBALL! 

What makes men stop everything they are doing on a sunday night and spend a good amount of their time in front of the TV? Football. Of course there are many females interested in football too it is known as the mans sport. Football though it seems very complicated its not and it is so much fun to watch and play.

Equipment:


Rules:

There are two teams on the field one on offensive one on defense. The offense tries to rush the ball down the field to get a touchdown in the other team's end zone and the defense tries to get the the offense to give up their possession.  Both teams have 11 players on the field at a time and the offense and defense usually switch out on the possession change. Football is played on an 100 yard field that is 53 yards wide. There is an additional 10 yards on each side known as the "end zone". The marking across the field are the markers so everyone knows where abouts on the field the ball is. The game is broken into quarters, with a two minute break between quarters and a 12 minute break at half time. The game starts with a kick off and after half time it begins the same way. If the game is tied in the end there will be an additional 15 minutes of play known as "overtime". The players can be divided into three sections. The offense, defense and special players who come in for punts, kicks or field goals.
The players line up as followed

All movement in a game is measured in yardage. The offence has four downs to get as much yardage as they can and try for a touchdown. If the offence can move the ball 10+ yards then they receive a first down and another four downs. When the offence reaches its fourth down it tires to get the ball as far down the field as possible so the defence has more yardage to cover.
The snap is when the centre snaps the ball to the quarterback who has yelled a number of codes to tell others what play is being run. The quarter back can then run with the ball, pass it off, or throw it down the field. The defence prevents the ball from being moved by tackling. The play is over when the player with the ball has both knees on the ground.

POINTS:
- Touchdown: ball must be carried into the end zone for a total of 6 points.
- Extra point of two point conversion: After a touchdown the offence can either kick the ball from the 2 yard lines through the goal post to get another point. Or throw or run the ball into the end zone for two points.
-Field goal: if a touchdown isn't scored the offence can kick a field goal to earn 3 points.
- Safety: if the offensive player is tackled behind the goal line 2 points are awarded.

There are two types of turnovers: a fumble and an interception. A fumble is by the own players doing, and interception is when the pass is caught by the defence.

There are two main leagues in North America, the CFL (Canadian Football League), and the NFL (National Football League). The CFL contains the BC lions, Winnipeg blue bombers etc. and the NFL the Denver Broncos, etc. The NFL holds a super bowl at the end of the season to determine the best team of that season where as the CFL holds the grey cup championship.