Section 2 Basics of American Football Part A

Section 2. Basics of American Football • Part A. Brief Introduction to American Football What is Football/American Football? ‘…the meaning of the word "football" is not the same to all Brits and Americans. The game that the British and most other people around the world call "football" is known as "soccer" in America and is played with a round ball on a field that can vary in size within certain limits (length 90 -120 meters, width 45 -90 meters). The game Americans call "football" is played with an oval ball on a field measured in yards (length 100 yards, width 53 1/3 yards). To make a distinction between the two games, the British call the latter ”American football” and the official association for it in Britain is called The British American Football Association. • Source: http: //www. uta. fi/~miia. thorstrom/football. html

Photo 3: Photo 1: Photo 2: soccer American football rugby (*a set of stitches along one side) Exercise 3: Which one of them is soccer, rugby, and American football? Photo 4 Source: http: //en. wikipedia. org Photo 5 Photo 6

Exercise 3 Answer Key • Photo 1. soccer • Photo 2. American football • Photo 3. rugby

• Part B. Important American Football Terms The stadium A large enclosed area with rows of seats around the sides which is used for football games. The field The area used for playing football (and other sports). e. g. football field, baseball field, soccer field. Note: golf course Photo 7 End zone On each end of the football field is an end zone. A team scores by entering their opponents’ end zone with the ball. Photo 8 Source: www. wikipedia. org

The Teams • Each game features two teams playing against each other. • Each team is allowed 11 men on the field at a time. Any more than 11 could result in a penalty. • Each team is comprised of an offense (offensive team), defense (defensive team), and special teams. Kickoff The action of starting a game or restarting the game after each goal. . Touchdown To carry the ball into, or catch the ball in, the opponent’s end zone. After scoring a touchdown, a team can kick a field goal for an extra point or attempt to run or pass the ball into the end zone for a two-point conversion. NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association The organization that maintains athletics programs of colleges and universities in the U. S. NFL National Football League The major professional football league in the U. S. The National Football League (NFL) is the largest and most popular professional American football league in the US.

Championships: For NCAA: The national championship is rotated among the four bowl games: Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Orange Bowl. For NFL: The championship for NFL is called the ‘Super Bowl’.

Part C. Watch a football footage 1. Please click on ‘video clip’(影音) to watch the football footage. 2. When you are done watching it, go to Slide No. 8 and click on ‘ Before the Game’ to continue today’s lesson.

Part D. What do football fans do during football seasons? l Before the Games Parade A large number of people marching, walking, or riding in vehicles, all moving in the same direction, usually in a formal way as part of a public celebration. Road game -- a game played away from home. Home game - a game played in a team’s own stadium Home coming game -- a special game where alumni come back to school to watch the game. There will be special activities, such as parades, before or during the game.

Part D. What do football fans do during football seasons? l During the Games Marching band A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement – usually some type of marching – with their musical performance. In addition to traditional parade performances, many bands also perform field shows at sporting events or at marching band competitions. Fight song It is a mainly North American sports term. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team. Fight songs are especially popular for American football, both at the college and professional levels. Tailgate Tailgating is a kind of activity held in the parking lot of the football stadium during football games. Throw a football party Some football fans who do not have tickets throw a football party to enjoy the football games at home.

Part D. Football Games Related Activities Football Party Supplies Tailgators at a Stadium Parting Lot Marching Band Tailgators Having a Barbecue at the Parking Lot

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