High school football is one of the many events students can socialize with others outside of school. However, many students can be confused by the various rules and calls in football. Here are the main things needed to understand a typical game of football.
First down: The Offense is given four tries at getting the ball past 10 yards from where they originally started with the ball, these tries are called downs. They can advance the ball either by running or throwing the ball, starting on first down, then second down, then third down, then fourth down which is the last chance to get past the 10 yards. If the Offense gets past the line, they go back to first down, meaning they get more chances to advance down the field.
Punting: Either the Offense has just scored a touchdown, or the Offense is on fourth down and doesn’t believe they can make the proper amount of yards to gain a first down. The punter will kick the ball down the field to the other team to switch from Offense to Defense and vice versa.
Touchdown: The Offense carries the ball into the endzone, either by running it in or by catching it in the endzone, scoring 6 points for the Offense. This is usually how most of the points are scored in a game. After a touchdown and extra point or 2-point conversion is made, the other team will get the ball.
Extra point: After scoring a touchdown, the Offense can kick the football from the 10-yard line. If it goes between the yellow goalposts, it scores 1 point for the Offense. The Offense can choose to kick for an extra point or try for a 2-point conversion, typically the Offense will choose to kick the ball instead of a 2-point conversion as it has a higher success rate.
2-point conversion: The Offense can choose to get the ball at the 2-yard line and try to score in the endzone. If completed the Offense scores 2 points.
Field goal: The Offense can choose to kick the ball from anywhere on the field except inside the endzones, however the further from the goalposts, the harder it is to successfully kick it in. If the ball is kicked through the goalposts, it scores the Offense 3 points. These are usually attempted on a fourth down when relatively close to the endzone.
Pick six: The Defense Intercepts the ball and carries it all the way to the opposite endzone to score a touchdown. Interceptions are also called “picks” and the Defense scores 6 points from this, thus being called a “pick six.”
False start/offsides: A False Start is when an Offensive player moves significantly before the play has started, this would result in the Offense moving back 5 yards. An Offsides call is when a defensive player enters the zone between the two teams before a play, also called the neutral zone; this would result in Offense moving forward 5 yards.
Interception: When the Offense throws the ball and a player from the defense catches it. This switches possession of the ball, Defense goes to Offense and the Offense goes to Defense.
Fumble: After a player of the Offense has held possession of the ball, the ball is knocked out onto the field and either the Defense or Offense will grab it to gain possession of the football.
Flag: If a yellow flag is thrown by a referee onto the field, it means some sort of foul has happened on the field, whether it be false start, offsides, pass interference, or any other sort of foul.
Hail Mary: A Hail Mary is the phrase used to describe when the Offense needs to gain a large amount of yards for a first down or touchdown, so the Offense throws the football as far as they can in hopes a receiver will catch it near or in the endzone.
