Football is a fast-paced game played by two teams on a rectangular field. It involves body contact and a variety of rules. The objective is to get the ball into the opposing team’s end of the field, cross the goal line, or kick it between the goalposts. Teams are divided into different positions: offense, defense, and special teams. Offense aims to get the ball to the opponent’s end of the field while defense tries to keep the opposing team from scoring.
There are a variety of theories about the origin of the sport. Football may have originated in antiquity, but its modern code was likely developed in England and western Europe. In fact, football has its roots in the French version of soccer. The game has also been traced to the American version of rugby. In the late 19th century, there were as many as 30,000 spectators watching the big games as in the UK. Football also spread to South America and India.
A touchdown is scored when an offensive player crosses the goal line in four plays. The opposing team may also score a touchdown by kicking the ball between the crossbar and the goalpost. A safety is scored when an opposing team travels backwards into its own endzone or is tackled in the endzone. This is worth two points. The winning team will be the one with the most points at the end of the game. In the NFL, teams have four quarters.