Football is one of the world’s most popular sports, attracting millions of fans all over the globe. It is played on a rectangular field by two teams of 11 players, known as the offense and defense.
The object of the game is to score points by advancing the ball down the field and into the opponent’s end zone. Unlike basketball, which is a sport primarily focused on shooting the ball into the hoop, football is more about running and passing.
A typical adult football game consists of two halves of 45 minutes each. There are typically 15-minute breaks between halves, which are called “half-time.”
In each half the offense attempts to advance the ball down the field to the other team’s end zone by running with or passing the ball. The defense tries to stop the offense’s advance and regain possession of the ball.
The line of scrimmage is marked with numbers that denote 10-yard intervals from the 0 yards line (which is also the goal line) to the 50-yard line. The defense can gain yards by tackling an offensive player and stopping the ball.
Penalties can be awarded for a variety of reasons. For example, a player who is flagged for holding the ball may be given a 5-yard penalty instead of 1st and 10.
A referee can throw a yellow or red flag to signal that a penalty has been committed. A yellow card is a warning, and a red card means the player is sent off.