SPORTS 101 // Guide to American Football

The American football guide is here! A beginner's guide on how the sport known as football works! In Sports 101, Guide to American Football, I explain the essentials to equip you with the proper knowledge to understand the basics to this popular sport in America.

*CORRECTION* - The Delay of Game penalty also applies to the defense, NOT just the offense. While it is rarely called, the Defense can incur a Delay of Game penalty if they impede the Offense's ability to line up or fail to return the ball promptly for the next play. When this occurs, the Down is replayed, and the Offense is awarded a 5-yard gain.

--- BREAKDOWN ---
00:00 - Football Intro
00:43 - Game Structure
01:50 - Scoring
02:52 - Player Positions
03:15 - Offense Roles
03:51 - Defense Roles
04:31 - Penalties
07:44 - Challenges
08:22 - NFL vs. NCAA
09:36 - Close

#footballbasics #americanfootball #americanfootballrules

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PLAYER DESCRIPTIONS (not explained in video)

Offense
C = Center - Offensive linemen (OL) who lines up in the middle and snaps the ball to the QB.
RG/LG = Right/Left Guard - OL who line up on opposite sides of the Center, blocks and creates gaps for RB.
RT/LT = Right/Left Tackle - OL who line up on the edges and are in charge of outside protection.
TE = Tight End - Hybrid of an OL and WR who blocks but also catches passes.
FB = Fullback - Also considered an RB but is used for power running in short distances and catching (usually larger than the RB)

Defense
DE = Defensive End - Defensive Linemen (DL) who lines up on the outer sides.
DT = Defensive Tackle - DL who lines up in the interior of the line.
OLB/ILB = Outside/Inside Linebacker - Same position and duties but where they are placed on the field during a formation is different.
FS = Free Safety - Placed on the weak side of the defensive backfield to watch the ball as the play unfolds.
SS = Strong Safety - Placed on the strong side of the defensive backfield to play closer to the line in stopping the run or covering the Tight End.

Special Teams
LS = Long Snapper - sole job is to snap the ball to the Punter.
PR/KR = Punt/Kick Returner - Return punts/kick offs; sometimes is the same person or split between two players.

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PLAYLIST SUGGESTION
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Lurks Lessons is a channel that educates people new to sports by learning the basics in being a fan of a collegiate or pro team, along with understanding the fundamentals of the sport themselves.
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Lurks Lessons sells custom sports themed party invitations!
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[LurksLessons]

American Football can be a tough sport to learn. After understanding the basics from the video, is there a specific aspect of the game you'd like to learn more about?

[taylorm]

As a female who grew up without a dad, and had a mom who was more into art than sports, this is very helpful… especially now that I married into a football family.

[faintfalcon]

Wow football is one of the hardest sports to explain the rules and you made it look so easy. Amazing job 👏 please please explain other popular sports also

[ryantremblay]

Offense Positions
QB= Quarterback
RB= Running Back
HB= Halfback
FB= Fullback
WR= Wide Receiver
SLT= Slot Receiver
TE= Tight End
C= Center
LG= Left Guard
RG= Right Guard
LT= Left Tackle
RT= Right Tackle

Defensive Positions
DE= Defensive End
DT= Defensive Tackle
LB= Linebacker
MLB= Middle Linebacker
LILB= Left Inside Linebacker
RILB= Right Inside Linebacker
LOLB= Left Outside Linebacker
ROLB= Right Outside Linebacker
CB= Cornerback
S= Safety
FS= Free Safety
SS= Strong Safety

Special Teams Positions
K= Kicker
P= Punter
KR= Kick Returner
PR= Punt Returner
H= Holder
LS= Long Snapper

[jncrook]

As someone who has been apart of high school and collegiate level marching band for 6 years and has watch countless football games I still did not know how to play football until I watched this video! The main reason I chose now than anytime prior to learn is that my college marching band is performing at the Cleveland Browns halftime this Sunday and I feel like since I'm going to an NFL game I may as well learn the rules! Thank you!

[whogavehimafork]

This video really deserves to be the top recommendation on YouTube. Concise, easy to understand, and really efficiently summarizes the information.

I didn't get into football until I was already like 21, so I didn't grow up learning about it in detail. I love the sport but man it can be a confusing mess

[helloimtim]

I'm teaching my boys about Football and Wow, this is the best video I've seen. And I've watched ones with millions of views, most are terrible. As an animator myself, I can tell you put a ton of work into this, keep it up! I Liked, subscribed, and am dropping a comment to encourage the algorithm to promote your content. Thanks and God bless!

[chinope]

Im probably the only Italian Who follows football...
I learned the rules by watching the games, but this video explains them very well.
Greetings from an Italian who loves not only football but all other American sports, basketball, baseball, etc

[JriS]

I'm french and I've always wondered if football was similar to rugby as it's also a sport with a lot of contacts, and god I was wrong. It truly is a very different game with complex rules but you explained everything very clearly so thank you very much !

[Alan.Endicott]

I have many European friends and acquaintances and I've had some success comparing American football to chess. Two lines of players with assigned roles. Match strengths to weaknesses. Make a play. Reassess and repeat. Not sure it's a perfect analogy but they seemed to get it.

[thesaint]

this video helped me out tremendously. My son is obsessed with football, and I want to help him, but I have always been involved in individual sports (skateboarding, Kickboxing). My son has zero interest in what I know, so now it's time to learn his sport. Nothing is worse than having to ask your wife what is happening during a game 😒😒

[Kyla]

british rugby player here, watched an american football game the other day expecting it to be similar to rugby and id be able to follow but it is NOT the same 😂, this was really helpful maybe i can evern watch the next super bowl and understand

[Ellie.Barrett]

I learned the rules through playing the game during my childhood. Now I have a son who is 5 years old who wanted to know the rules of the game his father gets all worked up about. I never realized how complicated it is to explain the rules of this game until I had to try explaining it to him. You made it look easy. Bravo!

[gsott]

I am Greek and I really enjoy football. I started watching football a year ago and still learning. Very helpful video

[TheKaratejesus]

Thanks for this. I've never been interested in football but my brother is SUPER into it. I'm trying to learn more about it so I can connect with him better. This is super helpful!

[halfdangarder]

My football looks very different. This is the introduction I have needed for so long 😀

[SodiumWage]

I've been watching football since I was about 7 years old in 1980. Ive watched literally thousands of games and I like to think I know the rules pretty well. But I never really thought about just how complicated the game is until I watched this video. This is a 10 minute video and while it covers the most important stuff, there's SO much more to it. Honestly I'm shocked that American football has been gaining in popularity around the world - it's such an insane game to learn. I have friends who think hockey is hard to understand (it isn't) so I can't imagine what people from other countries think of this sport and yet still become fans of it. Maybe they like it because it's so insanely complicated?

[bamba_boy]

As an Indian I started watching NFL during Lockdowns and for some reasons started supporting 49ers just because I liked how they ran with the ball and they wear red jerseys like my favourite football team Arsenal without knowing most of the rules.... This is a great video man helped me understand how the game is played. I just don't understand why most people are always beffing about football and American football all the time... I kinda like both 😅

[houdinivr]

Hey so I’m going into eighth grade a was told to try football being a fairly large kid and I don’t know anything about football because I’ve only ever played hockey but this cleared up so many things and the visuals make for an overall outstanding learning experience thank you and I will be subbing!

[paigee_solos]

For a while, I've been planning on writing a story that has to do with football, but I've been discouraged because I just could never understand it. Your video is so easy to understand, though, and I don't feel so worried about writing a story on football now. Thanks man!