Transcript Football 101 - Truro Minor Football

FOOTBALL
101
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE
SPORT OF FOOTBALL
Offence and Defence
 Offence - When a team possesses the football it is
called the offence. The objective is to move the ball
down the length of the field into the other teams
“End Zone”.
 Defence - The team defending the ball is called
the defence. The objective is to keep the offence
out of their “End Zone.”
Essentials
 Time: A football game is usually
1 hour long. It is divided into 4,
15 minute, quarters.
 The game pauses after 2 quarters
(Half-Time) for teams to make
adjustments and give the players
a rest.
Field Dimensions
A Canadian Rules football field is:
 110 yards long.
 65 yards wide.
 Mid-Field is at the 55 yard line. Sometimes
it is marked with a “C”. (Centre line)
 End Zones are the scoring areas and are 20
yards deep.
Field Dimensions
Down and Distance
 In Canadian Football, the offence
has 3 opportunities (or downs) to
travel 10 yards downfield. If they
are successful they get another 3
downs.
For example, if a team gains 5 yards on
their first down, the new down and
distance would be 2nd down and 5 yards to
go for another “first down”.
If an offense fails to cover the 10 yards to gain a
first down, the team usually PUNTS the ball to
the other team, who then gets their chance to
go 10 yards on 3 downs. A Punt is a free kick
from the kickers hand and not a tee.
Down and Distance
 A team can choose to “go for it” on 3rd down if it thinks it
has a good chance to make the rest of the yards needed to
gain a 1st down. If they are successful, they are awarded
another 1st down and get to continue the drive.
 If the team fails to “convert”, (gain enough yards to make
the first down) the defence gets possession of the ball and
they become the offence. They then get 3 downs to go 10
yards.
 “Going for it” on third down is risky. If the offence is not
past the 55 yard line, it is rarely done because the defence
takes over closer to your goal line and has a better chance to
score.
Following the Game
 Don’t worry about keeping track of Down and
Distance. The Field Team will do that for you.
Just sit back and enjoy the game!
 On the sidelines you will find a set of 3, typically
orange markers. The two outside sticks are for
first downs. They measure exactly 10 yards. The
middle stick is used to mark the down. It marks
the ball’s position on the field between the 10-yard
sticks.
Terms You Should Learn
 Line of Scrimmage - The starting point on
every play is called the line of scrimmage.
 Penalty – If a red flag is thrown on the field. It
usually means there is a penalty and will cost a
team 5-15 yards. (If it is against the offence, the
ball will be moved 5-15 yards away back from the
line of scrimmage. Against the defence, the ball
will be moved 5-15 yards toward the first down
marker.) The amount of yards penalized is
determined by the severity of the penalty.
Scoring
 Field Goal - On any down, a team can try to kick
the ball through the uprights in the end zone. If
they are successful it scores 3 points.
 Touchdown - When the offence puts the ball
across the plane of the defensive goal line it is
called a touchdown. It is worth 6 points. This can
be done by running or throwing a complete pass
over the line.
Scoring
 Point After Touchdown (P.A.T.) or 2-Point
Conversion: The offence has two options to add
points after a touchdown.
1. They can try to run/throw it into the end zone for
two additional points.
2. It can try to kick it through the uprights for one
additional point.
In the Mite, Atom and Pee Wee divisions the kick is worth TWO and the
Run/Pass is worth ONE.
Rouge - On any kick attempt, the ball must be advanced
outside the end zone or the kicking team gets one point.
This mostly happens on a field goal attempt when the kick
misses the target.
•
Scoring
 Safety:
A safety is scored when the defence tackles the offence in
their own end zone, or the offense fumbles the ball out of
bounds while in possessing in their own end zone. This
results in TWO POINTS for the defence. The Offence
must then “free kick” the ball to the defence, who then takes
over. This usually works to the advantage of the team
scoring the safety because they get great field position and
can immediately try to score again.
For example: The line of scrimmage is at the offensive two yard line. The
QB fades back to pass and is tackled in his end zone. The Defence has
scored two points!
Turnovers
1.
2.
Fumble – A fumble occurs when the ball is dropped by a
player and is lying on the field. At this point, it is
considered to be a “live” ball. This can happen any time the
ball is being carried and either team can try to recover the
ball. If the defence is successful their offence takes over. If
the offence recovers they keep the ball unless it happens on
3rd down.
Turnover on Downs – This occurs when a team “goes for
it” on 3rd down and fails to “convert” the down and distance
back to 1st and 10. The defence takes over where the last
play ended, usually resulting in great field position
Turnovers
3.
Interception – An interception occurs when the QB throws
a pass and the defence catches it. They can advance the ball
until the offence tackles them.
4.
A Blocked Kick - Any time a team punts or tries to add
points by kicking a field goal, if the defence blocks the kick –
the ball is live and is considered a fumble. The offence
cannot advance the fumble but if the defence catches it they
can try to score.
Positions on Offence
 QB = Quarterback: The leader of the team. He calls the
plays in the huddle, yells the signals at the line of
scrimmage, and then receives the ball from the Center.
Then he hands off the ball to a running back, throws it to a
receiver, or runs with it.
 C = Center: The player who snaps the ball to the
quarterback. He handles the ball on every play.
 RB = Running back: A player who runs with the
football. Running backs also are referred to as tailbacks,
halfbacks, and wingbacks.
Quarterback/Running Back/Centre
TE
Positions on Offence
 FB = Fullback: A player who’s responsible for
blocking for the running back and also for pass-blocking
to protect the quarterback. Fullbacks, who are generally
bigger than running backs, are short-yardage runners.
 WR = Wide Receiver: A player who uses his speed
and quickness to elude defenders and catch the football.
Teams use as many as two to four wide receivers on
every play.
 TE = Tight End: A player who serves as a receiver and
also as a blocker. This player lines up beside the
offensive tackle to the right or the left of the quarterback
(“tight” to the “end” of the offensive line).
In Canadian football there are 12 men allowed on the field.
This allows for two TE’s.
Tight Ends/Wide Receivers/Fullback
TE
Positions on Offence
 LG and RG = Left and Right Guard: The inner
two members of the offensive line, whose jobs are
to block for and protect the quarterback and ball
carriers.
 LT and RT = Left and Right Tackle: The outer
two members of the offensive line. They protect
against defenders that attempt to tackle the QB or
the RB from the outside edges.
Offensive Linemen
TE
Positions on Defence
 DT = Defensive Tackle: The inner two members of
the defensive line, whose jobs are to maintain their
positions in order to stop a running play or to run
through a gap in the offensive line to pressure the
quarterback or disrupt the play in the “backfield”.
 DE = Defensive End: The outer two members of the
defensive line. Generally, their jobs are to overcome
offensive blocking and to meet in the backfield, where
they combine to tackle the quarterback or ball carrier.
On running plays to the outside, they’re responsible for
forcing the ball carrier either out of bounds or toward
(into) the pursuit of their defensive team-mates.
Defensive Linemen
Positions on Defence
 LB = Linebacker: These
players line up behind
the defensive linemen and generally are regarded
as the team’s best tacklers. Depending on the
formation, most teams employ either three or
four linebackers on every play. Linebackers often
have the dual role of defending the run and the
pass.
 S = Safety: The players who line up the deepest
in the secondary — The last line of defence. There
are free safeties and strong safeties, and they
must defend the deep pass and also the run.
Middle Linebackers/Safeties
LB
Positions on Defence
 CB = Cornerback: The players who line up on
the wide parts of the field, generally opposite the
offensive receivers. Their job is to “cover” the
Wide Receivers for the offensive team.
Cornerbacks
LB
Penalty Signals by a Referee
What do I do now?
 Get to know the Parents around you.
 Get involved through Canteen and Field
teams
 Learn the game by asking questions.
 Enjoy the atmosphere on Game day.