The game of football has been around for centuries, with some players dating back as far as the sixteenth century. The game was popular among the English upper class, but in the nineteenth century, it was banned by the Lord Mayor of London. He cited a decree from the King’s court, which read: “Football is a noisemaker, causing many evils, especially the hustling and yelling over large foot balls”.
In a typical adult football match, two teams comprise 11 to 18 players. Each team has a specific role to play, such as a defensive or offensive midfielder. In most cases, players aim to move a ball from one end of the field to the other’s goal by kicking, passing, and kicking it. The goal is to get the ball to the opponent’s goal or across a line between the goalposts and score a touchdown.
A meeting in Cambridge attempted to create proper rules for the game. However, it failed to reach a definitive solution. Three years later, in London, the first Football Association was formed. The first association’s rules banned the use of hands while playing football, and the size and weight of the ball were standardised. The game continued to develop for decades, with many changes. Despite the many changes, it remained open to different interpretations of its rules.
A touchdown is scored when the offensive team passes the ball 10 yards or more. A touchdown is also scored when the offensive player crosses the goal line or kicks the ball through the goalposts. A safety is scored when the opposing team travels backwards into its own end zone or steps out of bounds within the endzone. The team with the most points wins. If this doesn’t happen, the next team takes possession of the ball.