| Football |
Field |
Goal posts |
The Ball |
Players |
In the American NFL, this competitive team sport is played in outdoor or dome stadiums. During the game there are usually 60000 to 105000 observers watching it. The renovation of the old stadiums and the construction of new ones are funded by public donations and governments subsidies. Over 18 NFL stadiums were renovated or built in the 90's. For example, the stadium of the Washington Redskins, Jack Kent Cooke in Raljon (Maryland) was completed in18 months and it may sit 80116 people.
Field
The NFL field has been the same for many years. It is a rectangular field of 120 yards in length and by 53-1/3 yards wide. Near each end of the field is a goal line; they are 100 yards apart. A scoring area called an end zone extends 10 yards beyond each goal line to each end line. The field is divided by several lines (the field is often referred to as the gridiron), called yard lines, which are very helpful to the players and viewers in determining the remaining distance to the end zone as well as how far the ball should be taken for the 1st down (which will be described later on). Yard lines cross the field every 10 yards. Two boundary lines are called sidelines. The central line is called the 50-yard line, or midfield. The important rule to remember is that if the quarterback has an incomplete pass, the game is resume from the very same spot the quarterback made a throw. A long pass by quarterback is considered complete only if the receiver was in the field after intercepting the ball (both of his feet have to be in the field).
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Goal posts
At the back of each end zone are two goal posts. The objective of a kicker is to kick the ball between the two posts, which is popularly known as splitting the uprights. The goal posts have a slingshot design. In some American stadiums it is still possible to find them H-shaped. The slingshot consists of a hand, which is 10 feet high, on which supports a crossbar (about18.6 feet). Two vertical posts extend up from either end of the crossbar. They are called uprights and are about 20 feet high each. The total height of the slingshot is 30 feet (10+20) and the width - 18.6 feet. Both posts are 3-4 inches around. The central post has a protective padding. Outside the field, near the goal posts, there are two additional white posts (look at the photo), which hold a net that is stretched before
a goal attempt and taken down immediately after. The posts are usually painted yellow or white. At the top of each upright is a flag (4X42 inch), which is used by referees for assessing kicks and by players for direction of wind.
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The Ball
One of the most important equipment in the game is of course the ball, which, in NFL, must be by WILSON. The ball should also be certified by the NFL Commissioner Paula Tagliabue. The ball's pressure should be around 12 1/2 do 13 1/2. It is made of rubber, which is covered inside, and leather on the outside. It has a pointed oval shape, and usually has a large set of stitches along one side, which help players to catch it. The QB places his three fingers between the stitches, which ensures a perfect grip. The ball measures 11-11.5 inches in length on its axis. The larger parameter is 28 - 28 ½ inch long, and the shorter one is about 20 ¾-21 1/4 inches. The ball weighs 14-15 ounces. In any NFL game, the host of an outdoor field should have 36 balls in reserve, while 24 in the dome. The greater number of balls in the outdoor stadiums is required due to varying weather conditions (rain, snow, etc). Each ball is tested by referees 90 minutes prior to a game.
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Players
During the play, there are 11 football players on each team, which means that each time there are 11 players in the offense and the equal number in the defense. Apart from that, there are reserve players who are used by the coach depending on the type of play call either on offense or defense. There is also a special team, which consists of players for special tasks like punter or kicker. For example, in the nickel back combination the coach will pick different player that for the two-pass-rushers. Also a snapper is sent to the field for long snapping (passing the ball to the back between his legs to the waiting punter) and for snapping the ball for a field goal or extra point after a touchdown, which will be described later. In NFL, each team may use 45 players per game, but only 11 of them can run the game in the field at once. A team usually includes three QB, punter, place-kicker, kick returner, 8 offensive linemen, 4 running backs, 5 receivers, 2 tight ends, 7 defense linemen, 7 linebackers, and 6 defensive backs.
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