Getting to Know American Football
American football can be as confusing as it is exciting. While there’s a lot to learn, you’ll have a lot of fun along the way. To help you get started, here’s a football “cheat sheet” to check out!
What is American football?
College football has a particularly big following, with loyal students and alumni creating fierce rivalries with teams from other schools. College football games are typically played on Saturdays, while professional football games are usually on Sundays.
How does American football work?
What newcomers usually find confusing: There are a lot of player positions and rules, but watching a game or two with some football fans – and asking some questions – will help a lot.
The sport is played on a rectangular field 120 yards (110 meters) long and 53 yards (48 meters) wide. Two teams of 11 players alternate playing offense or defense. The team playing offense throws or runs the ball to advance down the field towards the other team’s end zone, while the defending team tries to stop them. If the team with the ball doesn’t get at least 10 yards every four “downs” (plays), then the other team takes over on offense.
There are several ways to score in football:
- Touchdown (6 points) – The team runs the ball into, or catches the ball while standing in, the other team’s end zone.
- Extra point after a touchdown (1 point) – The team kicks the ball between the uprights in the end zone.
- Two-point conversion after a touchdown (2 points) – The team runs or passes the ball into the end zone, for 2 points instead of just 1 from an extra point kick.
- Field goal (3 points) – The team kicks the ball between the uprights in the end zone.
- Safety (2 points) – The defending team tackles the offensive player with the ball while he’s in his own end zone, or recovers the loose football in the offensive team’s end zone.
Games have four quarters of 15-minutes each, with a halftime break after the second quarter. This is a great time to use the bathroom, get food or simply talk about the game so far and enjoy the halftime show with the marching band and cheerleaders!
Team you need to know
Photo via USA Today Sports
Your school team: University of South Carolina Gamecocks
Team colors: Garnet and Black
Conference: Southeastern Conference
Rivals: Clemson Tigers, University of Georgia, University of Florida
Noteworthy: The South Carolina Gamecocks finsihed as the No. 4 team in the country after the 2013-14 season, the highest postseason ranking in school history. With a history of success, two former-Gamecocks were selected as the first overall pick in the National Football League Draft in 2014 and 1981.
Get involved and have fun
For an authentic college experience, you definitely want to attend some Gamecock games. Don’t be shy – get excited because you won’t be the only one. Cheering on your team is a big part of the live football experience. If you’re unsure what to do, follow the lead of your fellow fans.
Part of the fun is getting to know and share in the live game traditions. Each school has a fight song, fan chant and other personal touches to stir up excitement with fans.
Before games, many fans like to tailgate, or cook food, and have fun in the stadium’s parking lot. There are often rallies and other events to encourage morale throughout the season. They’re a great opportunity to meet other fans and make new friends. If you’re watching a game on television, popular foods to enjoy during a football game are pizza, chicken wings and nachos (sorry, salad).
You can do more than watch the games, too. If you play a musical instrument, you can try out for the marching band. Or you can ask about ways to volunteer to help the team. And if you want to try your hand at playing, there are plenty of intramural sports to check out on campus. Whatever you do, give American football a chance and you just might find it scores a touchdown with you.