Football

History and Rules

History• American football resulted from several major

divergences from rugby and soccer.• Walter Camp (1859-1925) made many changes in

the way the game of football was played, he is considered the "Father of American Football."

• Walter Camp played and taught at Yale University.

• He edited all American football rule books until his death in 1925.

History

• He helped move football away from soccer (with lots of contact) and rugby.

• Camp's most famous changes were establishing the line of scrimmage.

• Added the snap from center to quarterback, in 1880. It was originally a roll with the foot.

• He also added the down-and-distance rules. • Changed number of players from 15 to 11 (now ).• Created quaterback and center positions.• Standardized scoring• Forward Pass

History

• Football's increasing popularity is usually traced to the 1958 NFL Championship Game, a contest that has been dubbed the “Greatest Game Ever Played.”

• A rival league to the National Football League (NFL) created in 1894, was the American Football League (AFL), began play in 1960;

• The Superbowl is the most watched sport Worldwide. Sorry Soccer!

Sycamore Canyon Middle School Rules

• Each game will be played by two teams of 5 players each.• Each team is responsible for electing a captain. This captain

is the only player on a team who may interact about rules• The playing field should be at least 25 x 50 yards • Each player is required to wear a flag belt around their

waist. Each belt has three flags attached – one on each side and another in the center of the back. If a player does not have his belt legally attached prior to the snap, a 5-yard penalty will be enforced.

• Other illegal equipment includes: jewelry and untucked shirts

Penalties • Delay of Game – 5 yards from the previous spot• Illegal Procedure – 5 yards from the previous spot• Dead Ball Foul, Encroachment – 5 yards from the previous spot• Illegal Motion – 5 yards from the previous spot• Offensive Pass Interference – 10 yards from previous spot, loss of down• Defensive Pass Interference – 10 yards from previous spot, automatic first down• Roughing the Passer – 10 yards, automatic first down• Defensive Holding – 10 yards from the spot of the foul• Flag Guarding – 10 yards from the spot of the foul• Face Guarding – 10 yards, automatic first down• Stiff Arm – 10 yards from the spot of the foul• Helping the Runner – 5 yards from the spot of the foul• Illegal Blocking – 10 yards from the spot of the foul

Prior to the Snap

• A team has 6 downs to reach the endzone.• Once the snapper (C) has placed his hands on the

ball, no player may cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is snapped.

• When the snapper is in position, he may not adjust the ball or move until he actually snaps the ball.

• At the snap, the offense must have at least 3 players on their line of scrimmage.

• The player receiving the snap (Q) must be at least two yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Rules Cont. • 1. While a player may dive to catch a ball (or grab a flag), there is

no diving while running with the ball.• 2. When the flag belt has been removed from the ball carrier, the

ball is considered down. Players who remove a flag belt should drop the belt.

• 3. When a runner loses their flag belt during a play, but they were not de-flagged, play continues. The ball carrier will be considered downed as soon as thy are in possession of the ball

• 4. A defensive player may not hold the runner in an attempt to remove the flag belt.

• 5. A player is prohibited from pushing or pulling his ball-carrying teammate down the field.

Blocking

• Offensive players may block with their hands and arms at their side or behind their back.

• Teammates of a ball carrier may attempt to run interference for them, but they may not hold onto one another.

• Defensive players must go around an offensive blocker. They may not initiate contact.