Gridiron - definition of gridiron by The Free Dictionary Gridiron - definition of gridiron by The Free Dictionary a. The field of play. b. The game itself. 2. A metal structure high above the stage of a theater, from which ropes or cables are strung to scenery and lights. 3. a. A flat framework of parallel metal bars used for broiling meat or fish. b. An object resembling such a framework. [Middle English gridirne, lattice, grill, alteration (influenced by iren, irne, iron) of gridere, alteration of gridel; see griddle.] gridiron 1. (Cookery) a utensil of parallel metal bars, used to grill meat, fish, etc 2. any framework resembling this utensil 3. (Theatre) a framework above the stage in a theatre from which suspended scenery, lights, etc, are manipulated 4. (American Football) a. the field of play in American football b. an informal name for American football c. (as modifier): a gridiron hero. Often shortened to: grid [C13 gredire, perhaps variant (through influence of ire iron) of gredile griddle] grid•i•ron n.

1. a football field. 2. a utensil consisting of parallel metal bars on which to broil meat or other food. 3. any framework or network resembling a gridiron. 4. a structure above the stage of a theater, from which scenery and the like are manipulated. 6. to mark off into squares. [1250–1300; Middle English gridirne, gridir(e), gridere, alter. of gridel griddle ] gridiron The football field, marked with white lines. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: cooking utensil , cookware - a kitchen utensil made of material that does not melt easily; used for cooking 2. football field football stadium - a stadium where football games are held athletic field , playing area , playing field , field - a piece of land prepared for playing a game; "the home crowd cheered when Princeton took the field" Translations 2. (US) (Sport) → campo m de fútbol (americano) gridiron Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content .

Link to this page: View in context She watched the fish with as much tender care and minuteness of attention as if,--we know not how to express it otherwise,--as if her own heart were on the gridiron, and her immortal happiness were involved in its being done precisely to a turn! View in context Only I thought you had struck out a new idea, and invented a scheme that was going to revolutionize the timeworn and ineffectual methods of the--" He stopped, and turned to Blake, who was happy now that another had taken his place on the gridiron.

View in context Or even," said he, "if you was helped to knocking her up a new chain for the front door - or say a gross or two of shark-headed screws for general use - or some light fancy article, such as a toasting-fork when she took her muffins - or a gridiron when she took a sprat or such like--" Football For Dummies (USA Edition) Cheat Sheet - dummies Football For Dummies (USA Edition) Cheat Sheet Football For Dummies (USA Edition) Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet By Howie Long, John Czarnecki American football is about trying to make points by passing, carrying, or kicking an oblong ball (with two pointed ends) into your opponent’s end zone. Football is a rough-and-tumble game with its own jargon, including some terms that are just plain odd. For example, a strong safety is a defender, and a regular safety is a play that scores two points — go figure. But knowing the lingo and the players, not to mention common penalties, can take you a long way toward getting a handle on this popular American sport.

Player Positions in American Football When two opposing American football teams meet on the gridiron (playing field), the player positions depend on whether the football team is playing offense or defense. Football pits the offense, the team with the ball, against the defense, which tries to prevent the offense from scoring. Each side lines up facing the other with the football in the middle. The players on the offensive side of the ball include the Quarterback: The leader of the team. He calls the plays in the huddle, yells the signals at the line of scrimmage, and receives the ball from the center. Then he hands off the ball to a running back, throws it to a receiver, or runs with it. Center: The player who snaps the ball to the quarterback. He handles the ball on every play. Running back: A player who runs with the football. Running backs are also referred to as tailbacks, halfbacks, and rushers. Fullback: A player who’s responsible for blocking for the running back and also for pass-blocking to protect the quarterback. Fullbacks, who are generally bigger than running backs, are short-yardage runners. Wide receiver: A player who uses his speed and quickness to elude defenders and catch the football.

Teams use as many as two to four wide receivers on every play. Tight end: A player who serves as a receiver and also as a blocker. This player lines up beside the offensive tackle to the right or the left of the quarterback. Left guard and right guard: The inner two members of the offensive line, whose jobs are to block for and protect the quarterback and ball carriers. Left tackle and right tackle: The outer two members of the offensive line. The players on the defensive side of the ball include the Defensive tackle: The inner two members of the defensive line, whose jobs are to maintain their positions in order to stop a running play or run through a gap in the offensive line to pressure the quarterback or disrupt the backfield formation. Defensive end: The outer two members of the defensive line. Generally, their jobs are to overcome offensive blocking and meet in the backfield, where they combine to tackle the quarterback or ball carrier. On running plays to the outside, they’re responsible for forcing the ball carrier either out of bounds or toward (into) the pursuit of their defensive teammates. Linebacker: These players line up behind the defensive linemen and generally are regarded as the team’s best tacklers.

Depending on the formation, most teams employ either three or four linebackers on every play. Linebackers often have the dual role of defending the run and the pass. Safety: The players who line up the deepest in the secondary — the last line of defense. There are free safeties and strong safeties, and they must defend the deep pass and the run. Cornerback: The players who line up on the wide parts of the field, generally opposite the offensive receivers. American Football Terms and Definitions To understand and enjoy American football, get familiar with key terms and what they mean. Until you grasp basic football lingo, listening to announcers call a football game can be like listening to monkey gibberish. The following list fills you in on the basic American football terms you need to know: Backfield: The group of offensive players — the running backs and quarterback — who line up behind the line of scrimmage. Down: A period of action that starts when the ball is put into play and ends when the ball is ruled dead (meaning the play is completed). The offense gets four downs to advance the ball 10 yards. If it fails to do so, it must surrender the ball to the opponent, usually by punting on the fourth down.

Drive: The series of plays when the offense has the football, until it punts or scores and the other team gets possession of the ball. End zone: A 10-yard-long area at each end of the field. You score a touchdown when you enter the end zone in control of the football. If you’re tackled in your own end zone while in possession of the football, the other team gets a safety. Extra point: A kick, worth one point, that’s typically attempted after every touchdown (it’s also known as the point after touchdown, or PAT). The ball is placed on either the 2-yard line (in the NFL) or the 3-yard line (in college and high school) and is generally kicked from inside the 10-yard line after being snapped to the holder. It must sail between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goalpost to be considered good. Fair catch: When the player returning a punt waves his extended arm from side to side over his head. After signaling for a fair catch, a player can’t run with the ball, and those attempting to tackle him can’t touch him.

Field goal: A kick, worth three points, that can be attempted from anywhere on the field but is usually attempted within 40 yards of the goalpost. Like an extra point, a kick must sail above the crossbar and between the uprights of the goalpost to be ruled good. Fumble: The act of losing possession of the ball while running with it or being tackled. Members of the offense and defense can recover a fumble. If the defense recovers the fumble, the fumble is called a turnover. Handoff: The act of giving the ball to another player. Handoffs usually occur between the quarterback and a running back. Hash marks: The lines on the center of the field that signify 1 yard on the field. Before every play, the ball is spotted between the hash marks or on the hash marks, depending on where the ball carrier was tackled on the preceding play. Huddle: When the 11 players on the field come together to discuss strategy between plays. On offense, the quarterback relays the plays in the huddle. Incompletion: A forward pass that falls to the ground because no receiver could catch it, or a pass that a receiver dropped or caught out of bounds.

Interception: A pass that’s caught by a defensive player, ending the offense’s possession of the ball. Kickoff: A free kick (meaning the receiving team can’t make an attempt to block it) that puts the ball into play. A kickoff is used at the start of the first and third quarters and after every touchdown and successful field goal. Line of scrimmage: An imaginary line that extends from where the football is placed at the end of a play to both sides of the field. Neither the offense nor the defense can cross the line until the football is put in play again. Offensive line: The human wall of five men who block for and protect the quarterback and ball carriers. Every line has a center (who snaps the ball), two guards, and two tackles. Punt: A kick made when a player drops the ball and kicks it while it falls toward his foot. A punt is usually made on a fourth down when the offense must surrender possession of the ball to the defense because it couldn’t advance 10 yards. Red zone: The unofficial area from the 20-yard line to the opponent’s goal line. Holding an opponent to a field goal in this area is considered a moral victory for the defense.

Return: The act of receiving a kick or punt and running toward the opponent’s goal line with the intent of scoring or gaining significant yardage. Rushing: To advance the ball by running, not passing. A running back is sometimes called a rusher. Sack: When a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of yardage. Safety: A score, worth two points, that the defense earns by tackling an offensive player in possession of the ball in his own end zone. Secondary: The four defensive players who defend against the pass and line up behind the linebackers and wide on the corners of the field opposite the receivers. Snap: The action in which the ball is hiked (tossed between the legs) by the center to the quarterback, to the holder on a kick attempt, or to the punter. When the snap occurs, the ball is officially in play and action begins. Special teams: The 22 players who are on the field during kicks and punts. These units have special players who return punts and kicks, as well as players who are experts at covering kicks and punts.

Touchdown: A score, worth six points, that occurs when a player in possession of the ball crosses the plane of the opponent’s goal line, when a player catches the ball while in the opponent’s end zone, or when a defensive player recovers a loose ball in the opponent’s end zone. Common Penalties in American Football Making sense of the penalties in American football can be tough — unless you have a handy list of common penalties to refer to as you watch a football game. Here are some brief explanations of common penalties in American football: Encroachment: When a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and makes contact with an opponent before the ball is snapped. Encroachment is a 5-yard penalty. False start: When an interior lineman on the offensive team moves prior to the snap of the ball, or when any offensive player makes a quick, abrupt movement prior to the snap of the ball. This is a 5-yard penalty. Holding (defensive): When a defensive player tackles or holds an offensive player other than the ball carrier. The penalty is 5 yards and an automatic first down.

Holding (offensive): When an offensive player uses his hands, arms, or other parts of his body to prevent a defensive player from tackling the ball carrier. The penalty is 10 yards. Offside: When any part of a player’s body is beyond the line of scrimmage or free kick line when the ball is put into play. Offside is a 5-yard penalty. Pass interference: A judgment call made by an official who sees a defensive player make contact with the intended receiver before the ball arrives, thus restricting his opportunity to catch the forward pass. In the NFL, this penalty awards the offensive team the ball at the spot of the foul with an automatic first down. In college, pass interference is a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. Personal foul: An illegal, flagrant foul considered risky to the health of another player. A personal foul is a 15-yard penalty. Roughing the kicker: When a defensive player makes any contact with the punter, provided the defensive player hasn’t touched the kicked ball before contact. This is a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. Roughing the passer: When a defensive player makes direct contact with the quarterback after the quarterback has released the ball.

This is a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. history - Why is American football called football? - Sports Stack Exchange Why is American football called football? up vote 21 down vote favorite Why is American football called "football" even though the players play with their hands more than their feet? It seems to be very similar to rugby, and doesn't have the name "American Rugby". What might be the reason for it to be called "Football" even though it is more similar to Rugby? Found this on Wikipedia : > There are conflicting explanations of the origin of the word "football". It is widely assumed that the word "football" (or "foot ball") references the action of the foot kicking a ball. There is a alternative explanation, which is that football originally referred to a variety of games in medieval Europe, which were played on foot. There is no conclusive evidence for either explanation. – user252 Feb 25 '12 at 5:25 1 @edmastermind29 Just saw it. I did not understand how this is off topic. Yes I did read the scope defined by the community and in fact feel that , this comes under the scope.

Can you please tell me how it is off topic ? – kartshan Aug 23 '13 at 5:15 I'm not sure why. It was flagged, but the reason why is unclear. My apologies. Reopened. – ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴅ_ᴇᴅ♦ Aug 23 '13 at 13:23 1 No problem . :)Thanks anyways for reopening it. Hopefully it will get more answers . – kartshan Aug 24 '13 at 7:43 up vote 17 down vote American football is called football because of its origin. Its like soccer, can be traced back to rugby football where you use your feet to kick a ball at a goal or successfully carry a ball over a goal line. Over time, some rules were changed such as the concept of line of scrimmage and of four downs and a certain distance required to get more downs and, of course, the forward pass. In earlier times, football had virtually no rules. If you wish, you can trace its ancestry back to the 1600's. I hope the following link will give pretty descriptive answer for your question.

1 And then there is Canadian football with a different sized field and 3 downs. – geoffc Feb 20 '12 at 13:43 @Vijin Thanks for the answer.So the reason why the name football is shared is because it has evolved from football. Its actual name is "Gridiron".Even though the Link has the information saying that rugby is "Rugby Football", if you check the international rugby board website, the name "football" seems to have been dropped considering how the game has evolved to its present form. Is there any reason for American Football association not to remove "football" and keep it just "griridion". – kartshan Feb 20 '12 at 17:51 Great answer, will just add a minor correction. Association football (soccer) is the oldest form of football to have its own written down rules, so it cannot be traced down to Rugby. Rugby football code was drafted later. All forms of football (Am, soccer, Rugby, aussie rules) originated from the football games that used to be played in boarding schools. Each school had its own rules.

Often, when two schools played a game, rules for the specific game were agreed beforehead.Sometimes,rules of school A were used for half the game, and of school B for the other. Thats the origin of halt time. – deckoff Aug 17 '16 at 9:53 How to Play American Football: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow How to Play American Football Three Parts: Understanding Rules and Terminology Mastering Gameplay Basics Positions Community Q&A If you've ever wondered about the basics of how to play (or at least follow) American-style football, you're not alone. American football can seem like a bunch of guys repeatedly crashing into each other until you understand some of the basics and start to see the strategy involved. Steps Understanding Rules and Terminology 1 Know the main point of the game. The goal of American football is to score points by carrying the ball from a starting point on a 100-yard long by 52-yard wide field into a specially marked ten-yard-deep area at either end of the field called an end zone. Each team uses the end zone in front of them to score while trying to prevent the opposing team from reaching the end zone behind them.

Each end zone has a Y-shaped structure called the field goal which is positioned on the end line. The field goals are used to score points with special kicks. The end zone that a team is defending is usually referred to as “their” end zone. Thus, a team with 70 yards (64.0 m) to go before it can score a touchdown is 30 yards (27.4 m) from its end zone. Teams trade possession of the ball according to strict rules. Whichever team is in possession of the ball is known as the “offense;” the other team is called the “defense.” 2 Learn the time divisions. Football is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each, with a break between the second and third periods called “halftime” that is normally 12 minutes long. While the clock is active, the game is divided into even shorter segments called “plays" or "downs." A play begins when the ball is moved from the ground into the hands of the players, and ends when either the ball hits the ground, or the person holding the ball is tackled and his knee or elbow touches the ground.

When a play is over, an official called a referee, places the ball on the yard marker which corresponds to his or her judgment of the place where the forward progress of the player with the ball was stopped. Each team has 4 downs and within those downs, they have to make ten yards from the line of scrimmage (the starting point). If the team fails to do so within the 4 downs, the offensive team has to hand over the ball to the opposing team. If the offense succeeds in taking the ball 10yards in the 4 downs they get another 4 downs to move the ball 10 yards. The teams have 30 seconds to get into formation and begin the next play. Play time can stop for a few different reasons: If a player runs out of bounds, a penalty is called, a flag is thrown, or a pass is thrown but not caught by anybody (an incomplete pass), the clock will stop while referees sort everything out. Penalties are indicated by referees, who throw yellow flags onto the field when they see a violation. This lets everyone on the field know that a penalty has been called. Penalties normally result in the offending team losing between 5 - 15 yards of field position.

There are many penalties, but some of the most common are “offside” (someone was on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped), “holding” (a player grabbed another player with his hands, and either player doesn't have the ball, instead of blocking him properly), "false start" (When a player moves before the ball is snapped), "Unsportsmanlike conduct" (When a player does something that doesn't show good sportsmanship, and “clipping” (someone contacted an opposing player other than the ball carrier from behind and below the waist). 3 Learn the flow of the game. American football is made up of two basic structural elements that guide play. These are the kickoff and the downs system. The opening kickoff - At the very beginning of the game, the head referee flips a coin and the home team captain calls out which side of the coin will be face up. If correct, that captain may choose to kick off or to receive the opening kickoff or allow the visiting team captain to make that choice. Once the kicking and receiving teams are decided, the team captain who lost the coin toss gets to decide which goal his or her team will defend during the first half.

This initial play is called the kickoff, and typically involves a long kick down field from one team to the other, with the team that kicked the ball rushing towards the team receiving the ball in order to prevent them from running the ball a long ways back towards the kicking team's end zone. After halftime, there is a second kickoff by whichever team did not perform the opening kickoff. Throughout the second half, the end zones each team defends is the one opposite the end zone that team defended in the first half. Downs - The word “down” is synonymous with the word “chance” or "plays" in American football. The offense is allowed four downs to move the ball at least 10 yards (9.1 m) towards the end zone. Each play ends in a new down. If the goal of 10 yards (9.1 m) from the first down is achieved before the fourth down is over, the count resets to the first down, commonly noted as “1st and 10” to indicate that the standard 10 yards (9.1 m) are once again required to reset to the first down. Otherwise, the downs count from one to four.

If four downs pass without resetting to the first down, control of the ball passes to the other team. This means that a team that moves the ball 10 or more yards on each play will never be on the second down. Every time the ball is moved 10 yards (9.1 m) or more in the proper direction, the next play is a first down with 10 yards (9.1 m) to go. The distance required to reset to the first down is cumulative, so running 4 yards (3.7 m) on the first down, 3 yards (2.7 m) on the second, and 3 yards (2.7 m) on the third is enough for the next play to be a first down again. If a play ends with the ball behind the line of scrimmage, the difference in yards is added to the total number of yards required for a first down.

For example, if the quarterback is tackled 7 yards (6.4 m) behind the line with the ball in his hands, the next play will be noted as “2nd and 17,” meaning that 17 yards (15.5 m) must be covered in the next three plays to reset to a first down. Instead of playing the fourth down, the offense can choose to punt the ball, which is a long kick that transfers control of the ball to the other team, but is likely to force them to start farther up the field than they would otherwise have been. 4 Learn about the composition of a team. Each team is allowed to have eleven players on the field at once. Different team members hold different positions and have different duties on the field. Most competitive teams are actually composed of three separate teams of players, each of which is rotated onto the field to perform one type of task. The offensive team includes the following players: The quarterback, who throws a pass to a running back, fullback, wide receiver, or tight end, or hands the ball to a runner.

The offensive line, composed of the center, two guards, and two tackles, who collectively defend the other players from the defense while the ball is being handed off or passed. The center is directly in front of the quarterback and "snaps" (tosses the ball backwards) the ball to him. The guards are on either of the center's shoulders, and the tackles line up on the guard's shoulders Wide receivers, who run over the line of scrimmage and catch the ball if a pass is being thrown. The running back, who takes the ball from the quarterback and runs it towards the end zone. Tight ends, who help defend the outside edges of the line and can also catch the ball in case of a pass. The defensive team comprises the following players: Linebackers, who defend against passing plays and also rush through the line and blitz the quarterback. The defensive line, who keep the pressure on the offensive line. They can also blitz the quarterback. Cornerbacks and safeties, who defend players trying to receive a pass or trying to run the ball down the field past the defensive line. They can also blitz the quarterback. The third team is the special team used any time the ball will be kicked.

Their job is to allow the person kicking the ball to make a clean kick without being harassed by the other team. 5 Keep track of your score. The goal of the game is to score more points than the opposing team. In the case of a tie, an additional 15 minute overtime period is usually played. Scoring is as follows: A touchdown is when the football is successfully carried into the proper end zone by a player (or caught by a player standing in the proper end zone), is worth 6 points. An extra point, wherein a player kicks the football between the goal posts after his team has scored a touchdown, is worth 1 point. When the touchdown play is followed by a passing or running play into the end zone instead of a kick, the play is called a two point conversion, and is worth 2 points. A field goal, is when or where a player kicks the football between the goal posts without having scored a touchdown on the previous play, is worth 3 points. Field goals are commonly seen as last-ditch tactics at the end of close games. A safety, wherein a player is so far down the field that he is in his own end zone and is subsequently tackled while holding the ball, is worth 2 points.

Part 2 Mastering Gameplay Basics 1 Fight your way forward with running plays. Generally the most common type of play seen in football is the running play. Running plays tend to yield less yardage per play than passing plays but are much less likely to accidentally transfer control of the ball to the other team. They have the added advantage of getting the football out of the quarterback's hands quickly before an aggressive defense can reach his position and cost the team extra yards. If the ball is dropped during a running play, it is called a fumble. A fumbled ball can be picked up by either the other team, or the team that fumbled it to gain or regain control of it. The quarterback normally hands the ball off to a teammate (typically a running back) to execute a running play, but he can also choose to run the ball himself. Being able to think quickly and assess the situation as it changes is a vital skill for a quarterback to help him decide when to run the ball on his own. Running plays have the benefit of being difficult to see in detail from behind the defensive line. Very often, the offense will try to trick the defense by seeming to hand the ball off to two or even three different runners.

When the ruse works, the one runner who actually has the ball can sometimes break past the defense before they know what has happened and run all the way down the field for an easy touchdown. 2 Pierce the defense with passing plays. Slightly less common than the running play, the passing play is a great way to make up lost yards quickly... if the pass is completed. Short passing plays are often used in combination with running plays as well, to keep the defense on its toes. The great advantage of a passing play is its ability to completely circumvent a tough ground defense. Incomplete passes (wherein nobody catches the ball after it is thrown) stop the clock and end the play. The quarterback usually needs more time to throw a pass than is required for a running play, so the offensive line must be exceptionally unyielding while the quarterback scans the field for an open receiver in order to prevent him from being sacked (tackled behind the line of scrimmage while still holding the ball). Once an opening is spotted, the quarterback has to estimate how far to throw the ball so that the receiver will be able to catch it while in motion. If a pass is caught by the defense, it is called an interception.

A fumble is when the ball comes loose from the offenses hands and the defense gains control of the ball (and becomes the offense). Just as importantly, the play is not over once the ball has been intercepted. The defending player who made the interception can (and often does) turn right around and run the ball back down the field for an exciting touchdown. 3 Combine passing and running plays. Your offensive team should plan to use a mixture of both running and passing plays in order to keep the defense guessing. Practice a few different formations with your team and get good at running them. The quarterback especially should practice throwing the ball accurately, as well as learning to make convincing fake handoffs to the running backs. As a rule of thumb, it's safer to start out with a couple of running plays until your team gets a feel for how the defense responds. A defensive team that's great at intercepting the ball might not have much going for it on the ground, or vice versa. Adjust your mix accordingly. If you're playing defense, watch player positions carefully and try to anticipate whether the play will be a running play, a short pass, or a long pass so that you can defend against it as effectively as possible.

And remember, nothing stops a play of any kind as quickly as sacking the quarterback, so if you see an opening, go for it. 4 Practice a lot. By far the best way to get better at playing football is to practice regularly. The game uses a special skill set that is not seen very many other places in life, so consistent work is required to improve the way you play. Practice with your team if at all possible. Practice holding the ball, catching the ball, and running with it; practice watching the other players so that you can change what you are doing based on what is happening elsewhere on the field. Strength and endurance training is very important, too. Don't forget to practice strategy and special plays, like field goals, together so that you can go out onto the field and work as an intelligent whole when game day arrives. 5 Study strategy. This guide only lists the most basic elements of play. Team formations and strategies go far beyond the information presented here. Read up on some of them and think about how your team can use them to gain an advantage on the field. Part 3 Positions 1 Quarterback. The offense's backbone. The quarterback is the player that receives the start of play snap.

The player often gets to chose whether he should hand it off to one of the running backs, run the play himself, or pass it to one of his teammates. 2 Running backs. The Running back is in charge of running the football or helping to block for the quarterback during a pass play . A running back must have quick feet and fast legs to be able to dodge any defenders. Community Q&A What are good things to work on when trying to become a football player? wikiHow Contributor Work on your agility, weight train, practice passes and catches, build your speed and endurance. Make sure you can take a hit or two as well. What does the quarterback yell all the time and what does it mean? wikiHow Contributor If he is calling out random words and numbers, he's using code to tell his teammates what the play is and where to go. If he yells "hut" or "hike" then the ball has been snapped (usually) and the play has begun. Can you explain the job of a kicker/punter? wikiHow Contributor The kicker and punter are members of the special team. Very generally, the kicker is the member of the special team tasked with kicking the ball in an extra point or field goal situation.

The punter is tasked with placing the ball as far into the opposing endzone as possible via "punting" it, punters usually come into action when the offensive team reaches 4th down and doesn't risk trying to get a first down. What do I call the beginning of a football play? wikiHow Contributor What is the job of a fullback on an American football team? wikiHow Contributor The job of a fullback is to block, run, or catch the ball, typically on short yardage situations. What is the player that just tackles and nothing else called? wikiHow Contributor Really anyone on the defense, but you might be thinking of the defensive linemen, who rarely do anything besides go at the quarterback. Are girls good enough to play football? wikiHow Contributor Yes. You can try out for and hopefully be the first girl player in the NFL. Or try out for NWFA (National Women's Football Association); both are great, but the NFL is more well-known and watched. What does a running back do? wikiHow Contributor The running back, an offensive player, is in charge of running the football or helping to block for the quarterback during a pass play.

A running back must have quick feet and fast legs to be able to dodge any defenders. Who do I throw the ball to? wikiHow Contributor The quarterback may throw the ball to a wide receiver, tight end or any member of the backfield. He usually may not throw the ball to the center, the guards or the tackles. If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Tips Catch the ball away from your body, with your hands, then draw it close. This helps prevent the ball from bouncing off your body as you try to catch it. To keep the ball secure when running, place the palm of one hand the tip of one side of the ball, and put the other tip in the fold of the inside of your arm where your elbow is. Then draw that arm in so the ball is against your body tightly. When you're about to get hit by another person, place your free hand on top of the ball and hold on tight. It's better to lose yards and keep the ball than to gain yards and end up fumbling. As football is a rough sport, don't hesitate to ask for help if you feel like you have been hit too hard and hurt yourself.

Warnings Football is a rough sport, so get ready to be hit. If you would prefer not to play full-contact football, consider tap football, where you tap them, or flag football, in which players are considered “tackled” when an opposing player pulls a ribbon or flag of cloth off of them. It is normal to get bruised up and worn out while playing football, but if you experience any severe or persistent pain, stop playing and get it checked out by a doctor first. Football in Australia | australia.gov.au Football in Australia Tennis – 'the golden age' of the 1960s–70s and beyond Football in Australia Andrew Johns holding the Trans Tasman Trophy at Aussie Stadium, Sydney, on July 24 2003. Image courtesy of NSWRL. Australians love their 'footy'. Each weekend during the colder months, thousands of Australians descend on football stadiums around the country to support their teams. A serious ritual, this process involves proudly wearing team colours, barracking for favourite players, and engaging in enthusiastic cheering at every opportunity.

The country has four major football codes, each represented by a professional league at an elite level: Australian Football League (AFL) National Rugby League (NRL) Football Federation Australia (FFA) Football codes in Australia have traditionally been male sports, but starting in the late twentieth century women began playing from a grassroots level to the highest levels of the game. In each Australian state and territory the word 'football' has a different meaning. For those living in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, football usually refers to Australian Rules Football. In the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland, it could mean rugby league or rugby union. The word 'soccer' equates to the game played by the Football Federation Australia for all of Australia. The football code an Australian plays or follows is often dictated by where they live, their cultural heritage, or by the code they were taught at school. But for the players and supporters of all the football codes across Australia, the end of summer is welcomed since it signals the start of the 'footy' season. The season usually stretches from March to September, when fans crowd stadiums in their team colours to cheer and soak up the atmosphere of the game.

Australian Football League When it comes to professional football codes some of the most loyal and dedicated fans are those devoted to AFL. Often referred to as 'Aussie Rules', the game originated in Melbourne, devised as a way of keeping cricketers fit in their off season. AFL is now taught in schools and clubs across the country and the code is a significant national sport. The first Australian Rules competition was in 1866. The Victorian Football League (VFL) was established in 1896 and by 1925 there were 12 clubs involved. The line-up remained unchanged until 1987 when Brisbane and West Coast joined what had by then become known as the AFL. By 1997 the competition comprised 16 teams with two each from South Australian and Western Australia, and one each from New South Wales and Queensland. The remaining teams were from Melbourne in Victoria. The AFL is Australia's premier spectator sport attracting millions of people each year. In 2012 over 6.7 million people attended AFL games compared to over 3.6 million for NRL and 1.8 for FFA.

Some of the great AFL players have been Ron Barassi, Roy Cazaly, Alex Jesaulenko, and Tony Lockett. Australian Rugby Union The Australian Rugby Football Team of 1907 (The Wallabies). Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia. According to legend, rugby began in 1823 during a game of football at Rugby School, England. William Webb Ellis, having caught the ball, ran with it rather than kicking it as he was required to do. (An ancient game called harpastum, similar to rugby, was introduced to Britain by the Romans in around 400 AD.) From 1840 to 1860 many varieties of football were played, in some cases mixing soccer and rugby. Australia's first rugby club, the Sydney University Football Club, was founded in 1863, and the Southern Rugby Football Union (later called the Australian Rugby Football Union) was founded in 1875. Today's schools remain a major breeding ground for young rugby players, with many moving on to club rugby and some graduating to professional levels.

Australian state rugby union teams participate in an annual provincial competition between teams drawn from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, known as Super Rugby. Internationally Australia's rugby union team is known as The Wallabies. Since the late 1990s, The Wallabies have won two World Cup titles (1991 and 1999) and five consecutive Bledisloe Cup titles (1998 to 2002). In October 2003 Australia hosted the Rugby World Cup. This was the first time a host nation defended the World Cup on their home turf, and the first time a Rugby World Cup final was played in Australia. The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fourth largest sporting event in the world behind the Olympics, Soccer World Cup and the World Athletics Championships. A traditional rugby team has 15 players. In a modernised version of the game – Rugby 7s' – teams field seven players. It is contested at the Commonwealth Games and internationally at the World Sevens Tournament.

Australia's international rugby success is notable considering there were only 37,000 senior male players in Australia at the time of the 2003 World Cup, compared to England's 174,000, South Africa's 120,000, and Japan's 100,000. Despite its professional status, the majority of Australia's rugby playing fraternity are amateur players who continue to support and grow the game. At the end of the 2001 season, there were 130,000 registered players in Australia of which only 120 were professional. Australia has a women's club rugby competition and a national women's rugby team, the Wallaroos. The Wallaroos competed in their first Women's World Cup in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1998, where Australia claimed victory in the Plate Final. Some of the great Australian rugby players have been David Campese, John Eales and Nick Farr-Jones. National Rugby League Rugby League originated in England in the 1890s.

Disputes in the early days of the Rugby Football Union over professional and amateur status led to a split and the creation of Rugby League in 1895. A similar separation occurred in Australia in 1907. The rules of Rugby League are different to Rugby Union, the most obvious being 13 players per side rather than 15. Rugby League was first played in Australia in 1907, and has grown to be one of Australia's most popular sports. It is taught in schools and played at club and professional levels. The Australian national competition, known as the National Rugby League, includes 15 teams representing the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria in Australia, and Auckland in New Zealand. The NRL has a strong team membership and support base. Rugby League is also contested internationally. Australia's team is called the Kangaroos. The first Kangaroo Tour, in 1908, was to Britain. The 2013 Rugby League World Cup held in Britain was won by Australia after defeating New Zealand in front of the largest rugby league international attendance in history.

Some of the great players in rugby league have been Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Wally Lewis, and Mal Meninga. Football Federation Australia (formerly Soccer Australia) The results of a worldwide survey, conducted by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and published in the spring of 2001, determined that more than 240 million people worldwide regularly play football (soccer). Soccer is now formally known as 'football' in Australia, in line with international usage. Football, men's quarter final, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, 23 September 2000. Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia. Football (soccer) is taught in schools across Australia, and has an active club and national league. Football (soccer) is recognised by many to be the first sport in Australia to establish a truly national competition. The national A-League showcases the best of Australia's talent in the sport, while many of the country's top football (soccer) stars play in the international leagues such as the English Premier League.

Australia's national football (soccer) team, the Socceroos, is becoming better known on the international scene, contesting World Cup qualifying and other international matches. The Australian women's football (soccer) team is called the Matildas. The Matildas compete at the FIFA Women's World Cup and at Olympic Games level. They finished seventh at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and are considered by the international football (soccer) community to be one of the most improved teams in the sport. Useful links

Question: The field of play for which sport is often called a grid-iron?
Answer: American Football