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→Players
===Players===
===Players===
Each team may have exactly 11 players on the field at any given time, meaning a total of 22 players will be present on the football field during a play. Players are required to wear certain grades of helmets, shoulder pads, thigh/hip pads, and knee pads while playing on the field.
Each team may have exactly 11 players on the field at any given time, meaning a total of 22 players will be present on the football field during a play. Players are required to wear certain grades of helmets, shoulder pads, thigh/hip pads, and knee pads while playing on the field.
===Advancing the Ball===
The team with possession of the ball (the ''offense'') is given four attempts (called ''[[Down (football)|downs]]'') to advance the ball 10 yards down the field. If the ball is moved at least ten yards during these four attempts, the offense is given a ''first down'', meaning that they have another four chances to move the ball 10 yards (the downs are cumulative; for example, if the offense moves the ball three yards on the first down and five yards on the second down, they only have to move it two yards over the next two downs to gain a first down) If the offense fails to move at least 10 yards over four plays, the opposing team is given possession of the ball.
The yard line on the field where the ball is located is known as the ''line of scrimmage''. The offensive players must line up on the line of scrimmage facing the opponents end zone, while the defense must be behind the line of scrimmage with their backs to their own end zone.
Every play begins with the teams facing each other on the line of scrimmage, and the players may move once the ball is ''snapped'' (removed from the ground) by the [[center (football)|center]]. The center usually snaps the ball between his legs to the [[quarterback]], who may take one of several courses of action;
*The quarterback may hand the ball off to a rusher (usually a [[fullback]], [[halfback]], or [[runningback]]), who will attempt to run the ball down the field as far as they can before being stopped by the defense.
*The quarterback may opt to throw the ball to a receiver (usually a [[wide receiver]] or [[tight end]]) who is already several yards down the field. Once the receiver catches the ball, he may continue to run until brought down by a defensive player. If the receiver does not catch the ball, it is called an ''incomplete pass''.
*The quarterback may spike the ball at the ground to stop the game clock, at the expense of a loss of yardage.
*The quarterback may run the ball down the field himself; this option is usually unwise, as an injury to the quarterback can be destructive to an entire team for the whole season.
The play ends when the referee's whistle is blown. The whistle can be blown for several reasons;
*The ball carrier is tackled (his knee touches the ground) by members of the opposing team. The location of the ball when the carrier touches the ground is used to determine the amount of yards gained by the offense.
*A forward pass hits the ground or flies out of bounds before being touched. This is an ''incomplete pass''.
*The ball carrier steps ''out of bounds''.
*The offense carries the ball into the endzone, or kicks a field goal.
==External Links==
==External Links==