One of the most exciting things about watching a football game is the strategy that both coaches and players use. Each team has a playbook that contains dozens or even hundreds of possible plays. Each play should be strategically sound. Some plays are safe and don’t require much yardage, while others have the potential to produce long gains or a turnover.
In the 1870s, leading clubs started charging spectators for admission to games. They were able to pay illicit wages to attract skilled players. Many of these players came from Scotland. Increasingly, working-class players were seeking to break out of this structure, which deprived them of financial reward for their “broken time” and risks. While the British FA tried to control the use of agents, the practice continued. Many players were essentially “owned” by their agents.
When the ball crosses the opponent’s goal line, a team is awarded a touchdown. To score a touchdown, a player must either carry the ball or catch a pass in the end zone. A touchdown is worth six points, and the team scoring the touchdown will receive bonus points for making an extra-point conversion.
A game of football involves two teams of eleven players. Each team has a designated field that is 100 yards long. There are 10-yard end zones on each side. There are also five-yard lines called hash marks. A field can be 160 feet wide. The game can be stressful for the players.