Girls' guide to football

Jan 13, 2010 10:52 PM by Suzi Milovanovic

Posted in Food & Recipes / Entertaining

Gridiron Girls

Fans across the country and worldwide celebrate the biggest football game of the year -- the Super Bowl. You've seen it before: All the guys staring intently at the TV, turning their heads only for an occasional high-five or to grab another beer. There is usually a lot of talk about what the next play is going to be and some expletives regarding the official's decision. Even though you know nothing about the logistics of the game, you suck it up and keep watching and pretending you know what's going on.

Woman football fans

You too can become passionate about the game of football, once you understand it. Here are some basics of the game, as well as some tips to impress any armchair quarterback.

History

The first Super Bowl was held on January 15, 1967, at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in that first game in a whopping 35 to 10 victory.

Playing field

The game is played on a 120-yard field: 100 yards of playing field and 10 yards for each end zone. If you really want to impress a crowd, tell them the field is 53-1/3 yards (160 feet) wide.

And they're off!

After the coin toss, the football is placed on a tee for the kicker -- in the NFL, at the 30-yard line; in college, at the 35-yard line; and in High School, at the 40-yard line. One team kicks the ball to the other team (receiving team).

Score!

The offense has four chances (aka "downs") to travel 10 yards with the ball. Once they get close enough to the end zone, they might attempt a field goal (kicking it between the tall posts), which would score them three points. If they're not close enough, they will have to punt -- that's when the kicker is hiked the ball, which the receiving team then catches.

The ultimate goal is to run with the ball or to catch the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and earn six points. Following every touchdown, the scoring team gets the opportunity to score an extra point by kicking a field goal, or go for a 2-point conversion.

Key players

The quarterback directs the plays, which are usually selected by the coaches. The area around the quarterback is called the "pocket." Famous QBs include Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Dan Marino. More recent QB stars include Eli and Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner and Brett Favre.

The ball is put into play with a snap to the quarterback by the center. The center is also the center of the offensive line. There is a guard on either side of the center, and a tackle flanks each guard. Some plays use a tight end on one end of the offensive line; others use two tight ends on opposite ends of the offensive line.

The wide receivers flank the quarterback. Their job is to move down the field toward the end zone and make themselves open to receive a pass. Name drop alert: Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, DeSean Jackson, Plaxico Buress.

For each offensive team member, there is a defensive team member. Tackles and ends cover the offensive line, linebackers defend the pass and the run, cornerbacks cover the wide receivers, the strong safety covers the tight end and the free safety stops anyone who might get past him. In a zone-coverage defense, each defensive team member is assigned a zone and (theoretically) stops anyone who enters it.

Did you get all that?