American Football

When it comes to the professional football only men play. However, the idea of women’s professional football is gaining in popularity. The National Football League (NFL) is the biggest professional league in the United States. Thirty two teams compete during football season, and the goal is to reach the finals, called the Super Bowl. On the day of the NFL final, known as Super Bowl Sunday, millions of Americans get together to watch.

Each team has 11 players on the field at a time. However, teams may substitute for any or all of their players during a break between plays. Teams are divided into three separate units: offense, defense and special teams. American football is played on a field 360 feet (109.7 m) long by 160 feet (48.8 m) wide. Near each end of the field is a goal line. A scoring area called an end zone extends 10 yards (9.1 m) beyond each goal line to the end line. Yard lines cross the field every 5 yards (4.6 m), and are numbered from each goal line to the 50-yard line, or midfield. Two rows of lines, known as inbounds lines, parallel the sidelines near the middle of the field. All plays start with the ball on or between the hash marks. At the back of each end zone are two goalposts that are 18.5 feet (5.6 m) tall. The posts are connected by a crossbar 10 feet (305 cm) from the ground.

A standard football game consists of four 15-minute quarters, with a half-time break after the second quarter. The clock stops after certain plays, therefore, a game can last considerably longer than an hour. If an NFL game is tied after four quarters, the teams play an additional period lasting up to 15 minutes. In an NFL extra time game, the first team that scores wins, even if the other team does not get possession of the ball; also called sudden death. In a regular-season NFL game, if neither team scores in overtime, the game is a tie.

Advancing the ball in American Football is simple. The team that takes possession of the ball has four attempts to advance the ball 10 yards (9.1 m) towards their opponent’s end zone. When the offense gains 10 yards, it gets a first down, which means the team has another set of four downs to gain yet another 10 yards or score. If the offense fails to get a first down after four attempts, the other team takes possession of the ball for their first down at the spot where the other team last had it.

There are a few ways to score in American Football. Touchdowns are worth 6 points. It is scored when a player carries the ball into or catches a pass in his opponent’s end zone.

After a touchdown, the scoring team attempts a conversion. The ball is placed at the other team’s 3-yard (2.7 m) line. The team can attempt to kick it over the crossbar and through the goal posts in the manner of a field goal for 1 point or run or pass it into the end zone in the manner of a touchdown for 2 points. There are also field goals worth 3 points, and a safety worth 2 points. A safety can be scored by the defense, yet they are relatively rare.

Although it is very hard to compete with soccer, American football is gaining in popularity in Poland. In 2004 the Polish Union of American Football was created by the initiative of two football teams: the Warsaw Eagles and 1. KFA Wielkopolska.

To learn more visit: http://www.pzfa.pl/.

Łukasz Poniatowicz