Football Quiz

defensive team

the team not in possession of the ball

down

attempt or try to move the ball ten yards; offense gets four of these to move the ball ten yards; if they don't advance it that far, they lose possession of the ball

end line

the boundary line that runs the width of the field along each end

fumble

when a ball carrier loses possession by dropping the ball or having it knocked away before a play ends

goal line

a line drawn across the width of the field, 10 yards inside each end line, which a team must cross with the ball to score a touchdown

interception

a pass caught in the air (picked off) by a defender whose team immediately gains possession of the ball and becomes the offense

line of scrimmage

an imaginary line which no player may cross before the snap; each team has its own one of these, separated by a neutral zone which is the length of the football as it lies on the ground

offensive team

the team in possession of the ball

offside

when any part of a player's body is beyond his line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped; this is a foul punishable by a 5 yard penalty

penalty

when a team commits one of these, the referee will throw a yellow flag as an indicator of this; a team can choose to accept it and redo the down or decline it and move on to the next down

spiral

a ball or kick with a spin which propels it further with more accuracy; the ball points the same direction throughout its flight

tackle

the act of a defensive player taking an offensive player to the ground

touchback

when a player who gains possession of a ball in his own end zone kneels to the ground and automatically starts the next play at his own 20-yard line; also awarded if his opponent kicks the ball across the end line

forward pass

throwing the ball forwards; legal only once per play; must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage and caught only by an eligible receiver

kickoff

the way that play is begun to start both halves and after every score

long snap

a method of centering the ball to the quarterback or a holder for a place kick or punter; the typical distance between the center and player receiving the ball is 7 yards for quarterback and holder for place kick and 13 yards for punter

place kick

one player places the ball on the ground, end first, and holds it lightly with the hand or fingers; his teammate tries to kick it between the uprights of the goal post

punt

a type of kick where the kicker drops the ball through the air and kicks it before it hits the ground; this will usually occur on a fourth down when the offensive team is not in position to score or chooses not to go for a first down

receiving

catching the ball either as an offensive receiver, defender or a special team player on kick return or punt return

120 yards

field length from end line to end line

100 yards

field length from goal line to goal line

53 1/3 yards

width of the field

5 yards

distance between yard lines parallel to the goal line

23' 4"

length of the goal post crossbar

10'

height of the goal post crossbar

3" to 4"

diameter of the uprights on the goal post crossbar

20'

length of the uprights on the goal post crossbar

11

number of players on each team on the field at a time

touchdown

made when any player carries the ball across their opponent's goal line or receives a pass in the end zone

field goal

made when an offensive player makes a place kick that passes entirely between the goal post

safety

made when the team with the football loses it out of its own end zone or is tackled in possession of the ball while in the end zone

6

number of points a touchdown is worth

3

number of points a field goal is worth

2

number of points a safety is worth

2 point conversion

an offensive play that can occur from the 3 yard line after a touchdown; if the ball is run or thrown complete into the end zone, 2 points are earned

extra point

a point that can be earned when a successful kick occurs from the 3 yard line between the uprights after a touchdown

anywhere behind their scrimmage line

Where can defensive players line up?

any player

Which players can run with the ball?

the two ends and the backs

Which players are eligible receivers and are permitted to catch the ball?

unlimited

Is the number of substitutions permitted for each team limited or unlimited?

when the ball is dead

When can players enter and exit the field and substitutions occur?

their own team's side between the end lines

To where must players leaving the field exit?

before the next play begins

When must players leaving the field exit?

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