Football 101 For Women, "Scoring" by Kim Rogers

Ladies, do you try to watch football but find you have no clue what is going on?  You’ve heard of touchdowns and field goals, but do you know how they are made and how many points they each bring?  Help is here as this column was designed to give you a better understanding.
Touchdown
To score a touchdown, one team must take the football into the opposite end zone. This can be done by having a player run the football forward into the end zone. It can also be done when a receiver catches a pass in the end zone or catches the ball prior to the end zone and runs it in.  This would still be considered a "passing" touchdown as opposed to a "rushing" touchdown.
A touchdown is worth six points. The scoring team is also awarded the opportunity for an extra point or a two-point conversion.  Afterwards, the team scoring the touchdown kicks off to the opposing team.
Touchdowns are usually scored by the offense. However, the defense can also score a touchdown if they have recovered a fumble or an interception and return it to the opposing end zone. Special teams can score a touchdown on a kickoff or punt return, or on a return after a missed or blocked field goal attempt or blocked punt.
Extra point
This is played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking or two points by touchdown.  An extra point is also referred to as a conversion, point after touchdown (sometimes abbreviated as PAT), or point after.  If the kick goes through the uprights, the team gets an additional one point for their touchdown, bringing their total for that score from six points to seven.
Two-point conversion
In a two-point conversion attempt, the team that just scored must run a play from close to the opponent's goal line and advance the ball across the goal line in the same manner as if they were scoring a touchdown. If the team succeeds, it earns two additional points on top of the six points for the touchdown. If the team fails, no additional points are scored. In either case, the team proceeds to a kickoff.  The ability to score a two-point conversion was added to NCAA football in 1958 and the NFL in 1994.
Field goal
A field goal must pass "through the uprights," a 10 feet crossbar with upright posts that are 18 feet 6 inches apart.  A missed field goal is said to be "no good."  If it misses to the kicker's left it is referred to as "wide left" and conversely "wide right" if it misses to the kicker's right. It may also be described as being "short" if it does not have the distance to go through the uprights.
Safety 
A safety is a type of score worth two points where a team not in possession of the football can score points. A safety may occur in a variety of ways, most commonly when an opponent in possession of the football is tackled in his own end zone.  An official signals a safety by holding his hands above his head, palms touching.
A safety is by far the least common type of score.  No NFL team has ever recorded more than four in one season. Safeties usually occur when the offense starts a play close to its own end zone. In such cases, offenses tend to run very conservative, low-risk plays to avoid a safety.
Free kick
After a safety, the team that gave up the points kicks off to the other team from its own 20-yard line.  The kicking team has the option of employing a punt or a drop kick, and a punt is the most commonly chosen option.  Unlike the kickoff, a kicking tee may not be used.

Now that you have a better understanding how touchdowns and field goals are scored, watching football will be so much more fun – trust me!
Source: Wikipedia

Article reprinted from g3girls.com

http://www.g3girls.com/sports/100-football-101-uniform-numbers.html

Football 101 for Women: Offense and Defense, By Kim Rogers

Ladies, I am dedicating this column to helping you better understand the greatness of football by explaining the different positions that make up the team.
Each team has 11 players on the field at one time.  One team is playing offense while the other is playing defense, except on fourth down when the special teams unit for each team plays.
Offensive Positions  The offensive team begins a play from scrimmage in possession of the ball. The goal of offensive team is to score points.   Below are the positions that make up the offense:

• QuarterbackThe player who receives the ball from the center at the start of each play before either handing it to the running back, throwing it to a receiver or running with it himself.  The quarterback is usually the player in charge of running the offense on the field. He is also the guy that usually informs the offense of the play while in the huddle.
• Running back
  He lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. While a running back's primary role is to run with the football, he is also used as a receiver at times.  Also referred to as a halfback.  
• Fullback
  He lines up in the offensive backfield and generally is responsible for run-blocking for the running back and pass-blocking for the quarterback. Fullbacks are usually bigger than halfbacks, and also serve as short-yardage runners.
• Wide Receiver
  This player lines up on or near the line of scrimmage, but split to the outside. His primary job is to catch passes from the quarterback.
• Tight End
  This player serves as a receiver and also a blocker. The tight end lines up beside the offensive tackle either to the right or to the left of the quarterback.
• Offensive Tackle
  Making up the offensive line, there are two tackles on every play and they line up on the outside of the offensive guards.  Their function is to block on both running and passing plays.  
• Offensive Guard
  Another part of the offensive line, two guards line up on either side of the offensive center.  They also block on both running and passing plays.
• Center
  The offensive lineman who hikes (or snaps) the ball to the quarterback at the start of each play. The center lines up in the middle of the offensive line, between the offensive guards. 

Defensive Positions
The defensive team is not in possession of the ball and their goal is to prevent the other team from scoring. Below are the positions that make up the defense:

• Defensive EndThis player lines up at the end of the defensive line. His job is to contain the running back on running plays to the outside, and rush the quarterback on passing plays.
• Defensive Tackle
  This player lines up on the interior of the defensive line. His duties include stopping the running back on running plays, getting pressure up the middle on passing plays and occupying blockers so the linebackers can roam free.
• Nose Tackle
  This guy lines up directly across from the center. Also known as the nose guard, his primary responsibilities are to stop the run and occupy the offensive lineman to keep them from blocking the linebackers.
• Linebacker
  This guy lines up behind the defensive linemen and in front of the defensive backfield, performing various duties including rushing the passer, covering receivers and defending against the run.
• Cornerback
  This guy lines up on the outside of the formation and is usually assigned to cover a wide receiver, preventing them from catching the ball by swatting it away or catching the pass themselves. In rushing situations, their job is to contain the rusher.
• Safety
  The safeties are the last line of defense (farthest from the line of scrimmage) and usually help the cornerbacks with deep-pass coverage.

Special teams
Special teams are units that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, field goal and extra point attempts. Most special teams players are second- and third-string players from other positions.  Special teams are unique in that they can serve as offensive or defensive units and that they are only seen sporadically throughout a game.

• Placekicker
  Placekicker or kicker is the player who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points, and often kickoffs.
• Punter
  On a fourth down, a punter receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts (kicks) the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. Punters can also ‘fake punt’ in those same situations, by throwing or running the football instead of punting to achieve a first down. 
• Kickoff Specialist
  A kickoff specialist kicks the ball in the kickoff. Due to roster restrictions, most NFL teams do not have a Kickoff Specialist, and instead use their punters or kickers on kickoffs. 
• Long Snapper
  This is a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible.
• Holder
  Positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage, this player receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts.
• Punt Returner
  This guy catches the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position (or a touchdown if possible) by returning it. 
• Kickoff Returner
  This guy is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction.

Now that you better understand the positions that make up a football team, I hope this will help you enjoy watching games!

Article reprinted from g3girls.com

Football 101 for women: "Uniform Numbers", By Kim Rogers

Ladies, all players wear uniforms [jerseys] with numbers, so learning the numbering system will make it much easier to follow what’s happening on the field, therefore taking another step in fully understanding the great game of football.
The NFL adopted a jersey-numbering system in 1973 where each position corresponds to a range of numbers.
Covering the full range 1 to 99, the numbers are displayed on both the front and back of the jersey, on both shoulders, and often on the helmet. The numbers worn on the sleeve or shoulder are known as "TV numbers" so the TV analyst can quickly identify the player for the broadcast.
Below is the numbering system the NFL has used since 1973:
1 - 19 are worn by quarterbacks, kickers, and punters. Since 2004, wide receivers are also allowed to wear numbers between 10 and 19 if they choose, even if a number from 80 through 89 is available.
20 - 49 are worn by running backs, tight ends (40-49, when an 80-89 number is unavailable), cornerbacks and safeties.
50 - 59 are worn by linebackers, defensive linemen and offensive linemen.
60 - 79 are worn by members of both the offensive line (the tackles, guards and centers) and defensive line (the defensive ends, defensive tackles or nose guard).
80 - 89 are worn by wide receivers and tight ends.
90 - 99 are worn by linebackers and defensive linemen.
0 - 00 are no longer used, though they were issued in the NFL before the number standardization in 1973.
The NFL numbering system is based on a player's primary position. If a player changes primary positions during his career, he does not usually have to change his number unless he changes from an eligible receiver to ineligible or vice versa.
In preseason games, when teams have expanded rosters, players may wear numbers that are outside of the above rules. When the final 53-player roster is established, they are reissued numbers within the guidelines.
Players have often asked the NFL for an exception to the numbering system rule. In 2006, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush requested to keep the number 5 he wore in college. His request was declined, and he was assigned number 25 by the team. Former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth wore number #44 in college for the University of Oklahoma and wore that number during the 1987 preseason with the Seahawks. He took the NFL to court for the right to wear #44, but he lost and had to switch to #55.
So now I hope you have a better understanding of the NFL numbering system for uniform jerseys.
Source: Wikipedia

Article reprinted from g3girls.com