A Beginner's Guide to American Football (NFL); rules, regulations, divisions & more

It's that time of year again where the NFL comes to London.

The National Football League will have three games on between October 1st and October 15th.

One at the iconic Wembley stadium, which has already taken place, as the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Atlanta Falcons on October 1st.

And two at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, which is quickly becoming the home of NFL in the UK.

Firstly the Jags will be in action again, this time against the Buffalo Bills on October 8th.

Then a week later the Baltimore Ravens take on the Tennessee Titans on October 15th.

If you've never been to an NFL game before and are considering watching - either in the stadium or at home - there are a few key things you'll need to know.

But never fear, we've got you covered with our beginner's guide to the NFL...

Let's start with the basics; the NFL comprises of 32 teams split into two divisions - The AFC and the NFC.

Each division is split into four groups of four teams based on their geographical location.

Each team plays the teams in their division twice, plus nine other games against teams across the NFL. for a total of 17 games.

The top performing teams then enter the play offs and the divisional championship rounds - with the winners from both divisions facing each other in the Super Bowl - the biggest game in American Football.

Now to the in-game action; the field 120 yards from end to end.

And 100 yards from End Zone to End Zone.

The end zone is the area at either end of the pitch that teams need to make it into to score a touchdown.

Unlike rugby, players simply need to have two feet on the ground in the end zone to score, they don't need to touch the ball to the floor.

Each NFL game has an hour on the time clock, split into four 15 minute quarters.

However, games last longer than that hour as the play clock is stopped at various points of the game.

This means matches usually last around three hours and sometimes even longer, depending on how quick the play is.

Like football on these shores, each team has 11 players on the pitch at any one time.

But unlike football an NFL squad is much, much bigger.

That's because 11 players make up the offence - who come on the field when the team are aiming to score a touchdown.

11 players make up the defence, who come on to stop the opposing team scoring a touchdown.

And the 'special teams' who come on during changing phases of play, like kick off or conversion kicks.

When on the offence, each team has four opportunities to make it ten yards up the field but either running the ball or making a long pass.

This process is repeated until either a touchdown is scored or the attacking team is out of attempts to make the ten yard drive - at which point they can either choose to kick a conversion or punt the ball back to their opponents, who then go on the offence.

A play ends when a player runs out of play, dives to the floor or is tackled to the ground - or if the quarterback throws an incomplete pass or a touchdown is scored.

The scoring system is relatively simple; a touchdown is worth six points, the team then gets a chance to kick a conversion for an extra point.

If they're far enough behind a team can relinquish their extra point conversion in favour of a two-point conversion - this is set up like a regular play rather than a kick, with the team needing to make it into the end zone.

If a team chooses to go for a conversion instead of a touchdown that is worth three points.

A team can also score two points for a safety; When the defense tackles the offense in their end zone.

Each team also gets three time outs per half that can be used to stop the play clock in order to talk tactics.

The final thing to consider are penalties - these can result in loss of yardage for either team.

These can be given for illegal blocking, holding having too many men on the field or delaying the game.

And that's just the basics - of course there's lots more to get into but if this is your first time at an NFL game that's the simple stuff that will help you enjoy the game.

#NFL #london #americanfootball

--

Whether you're here for Premier League player interviews or looking for features with the best of British boxing. We’ve got the hottest sport videos, under The Sun!

► Subscribe to never miss an upload:

[andrewbull]

Not coming this year, sorry. Ario is busy.

[alabamacrimsontide]

College football and NFL have slightly different rules

but the NFL is much more stricter with rules than college

e.g. someone on the defense commits a pass interference, in the NFL the ball is placed at the spot of the foul but in College football a pass interference is a 15 yard penalty

[bryanpayton]

This was extremely basic, it's pretty complicated...