Football is a sport that is played between two teams of 11 players, who must kick the ball in order to score a goal. It is played on a large, rectangular field containing two goals.
The game is controlled by referees who blow a whistle when a player is tackled, or they may throw a yellow flag on the ground in the case of a foul. Penalties are awarded to the defense or offense for rule violations such as tripping, rushing, holding, passing and running in the wrong direction, pushing, or hitting an opponent with the ball.
Rules are governed by the Football Association (FA), which was formed in 1863. The game is divided into four quarters, with each team attempting to score by kicking or running the ball into the opposing team’s goal.
Offense: The offensive team tries to gain yardage through running, passing and handing the ball to other players on the field. They use a combination of players, including running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.
Defense: The defensive team tries to prevent the offense from scoring by tackling or fumbling the ball and intercepting passes. They also use special teams to change the playing field positions.
The game is played under a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game. Each of these is based on the principles of fair play and refereeing.
Penalties are awarded for fouls and violations of the laws, which are listed in Law 12. Tripping, rushing and running in the wrong direction, holding, pushing, and passing in the wrong direction are examples of fouls.