Beginner American Football Guides

A simple introduction to the goal of American football, how teams move the ball, how possession works, and what happens during a typical game.

Learn common football words and phrases that make games, broadcasts, and other football guides easier to understand.

Learn about helmets, shoulder pads, cleats, mouthguards, footballs, and other equipment commonly used in the sport.

Before an American football play begins, the players do not simply stand wherever they want. Each team arranges its players in a particular pattern called a formation. Understanding formations can make football much easier to follow. You can begin to recognize where the quarterback is

Learn how kickoffs begin or restart play, how returns work, and what happens when the result is a touchback.

Understand when the game clock runs, when it stops, and how time affects what happens during a football game.

Understand what happens when a defender catches a forward pass and how an interception changes possession.

Learn what happens when a player loses control of the football and how either team may recover possession.

Learn when teams attempt field goals, how they are scored, and why field position and distance matter.

Understand what counts as a touchdown, how many points it is worth, and what happens after one is scored.