Refs: Each football game is overseen by seven officials who are strategically placed in certain areas of the field. The general rule of thumb is simple: whenever the refs make a call in favor of the opposing team they are deemed blind degenerates of nature who should be dragged out into the street and shot. If the opposing team wins, it is always, always the ref’s fault.
Time: One game of football is divided into four 15-minute quarters and a 12-minute half time break. Because the clock stops with every incomplete pass, when a player goes out of bounds, when a penalty is committed, or when a team takes a time out, time in football is not real time. Women must keep in mind that a reversal of the ideology that enables men to describe a two-minute romp in the sack as a “full night of love making” applies to football and each quarter will always last longer than fifteen minutes. A good rule of thumb is to multiply the amount of minutes on the game clock by three. If there are ten minutes left in the game, assume that those ten minutes will take a half hour.
Scoring: There are five ways a team can generate points in a football game. They can score a touchdown, get an extra point, score a two-point conversion, kick a field goal, or get a safety.
Touchdown: A touchdown is worth six points and is awarded on offense when the ball is carried across the goal line into the end zone, or caught in the end zone by an offensive player. The defense can also score a touchdown by running an intercepted ball or a fumble recovered ball into their own end zone.
Point after Touchdown: Following a touchdown, the coaches can opt to go for an extra point. An extra point, or Point After Touchdown (PAT), involves placing the ball on the 2 -yard line and having the kicker kick the ball through the uprights. A PAT, because of its simplicity, is usually thought of as a sure thing and is worth one point.
Two Point Conversion: After a touchdown, the coaches can go for a two-point conversion instead of a PAT. Two-point conversions are more difficult than an extra point and thus, they are typically only used when a team is trying to tie a game, when a team is desperate, or when a team is trying to cushion their lead by a certain amount of points. Like an extra point, a two-point conversion involves lining up on the two-yard line. Instead of bringing in a kicker, however, the quarterback and the offense remain in the game. Upon snapping the ball, the offense has one down to get the ball in the end zone. If they are successful, two points are awarded. If they are unsuccessful, the coaches yell and the kicker, knowing he would have surely made the extra point, secretly gloats.
Article comments
1 - Dr Dreadful
Well, I'm not a girl, but kudos anyway, Ms Jordan, for one of the funniest and easiest to understand guides to football (American football to me) I've ever read. I almost didn't click on the link because I'd rather read about proper football (soccer, to you) ;-) , but I'm glad I did.
For me, this just goes to show that football is way more fun to talk about than to watch. I find the stop-start nature of the game excruciatingly frustrating. Just when the action seems to finally be moving, some player crashes into some other player and everything comes to a grinding halt and I groan, "What did they stop for this time?"
On a practical note, just how does one flirt with the referee under one's helmet and all that padding?
Thanks again for an immensely entertaining read!
2 - The wife who didn't understand
Thanks for this very funny and informative article. I did a google search on "football for girls" because I was becoming desperate to understand the "black hole" of tv (aka a football game) I loose my husband too every Sunday, Monday and occasional Thursday....
Thanks for the insight (and humor!!)
3 - The girl who does play football
I thought this was quite funny. Although i being a female who came from the game of football already know everything about it basically. Watch out some ladies might be offened because your saying the females no nothing about football.
I loved this articale, some might not or whatever.
Thanks for the laugh.
4 - DIXIE GREENWELL
I LIKE TO PLAY FOOTBALL WITH THE GUYS BECAUSE IT IS FUN COULD I PLAY FOOTBALL WHEN I AM IN HIGH SCOOL
5 - newvy
wow this really helped me. my boyfried just got the runner back position in the varsity football team of my high school and i knew a little bit about football because of the other games i've been too, but when he sits with me and starts talkin about football stuff i always get really lost. this was really helpful thankyou!
6 - STM
Football for girls ...
We're not talking soccer here are we??
7 - USA Lacrosse
I love football! Way to go girls!
8 - becky from 'bama
Can I just say, THANKS!!!!! I've only been watching football for about 5 years now. I only became interested when my youngest son started playing. I've picked up some pointers along the way, mostly from my son, my husband gets the "why don't you know that by now" attitude, so I'd rather learn from my 12 year old, who thinks it's cool to teach his mom something. Your tutorial is awesome and humorous and very enjoyable, even to us girls who know more than the average girl. Now if you could do one for Player Positions, I would be eternally gratefull!!!!!!!
9 - Finally I Get It
I'm 14, and a Freshman and my boyfriend who is the perfect 6 ft 3 inch tall, broad, ripped, and extremely smart and sweet jock has tried many times to explain to me how to play football. We have dated for a year and three months and you have helped me SO much more than he has. Lol
10 - I'll show those naysayers NOW!
Very simple to read! Easy to understand! You really made it seem so possible for me to learn! Not only did I end up already knowing more than I realized, but what I didn't know is not nearly as difficult as I'd previously perceived it to be!
11 - 20011
I WISH THAT OURKIND CAN PLAY WITH CUTE AND ATTRACTIVE BOYS WHEN WE'RE OLDER
12 - Still Confused
Could you do more on two point conversation and field goal you kind of got confused.
13 - Nina Mosley
"It is a sport aimed at men; thus, it can’t be that hard to understand." Best.Line.Ever!