Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you are going to learn about
American football.
You can enjoy this game more if you understand the basic rules and
vocabulary.
Hey
if you cannot understand something on this page,
then use the Fun Easy English
dictionary
(opens in a new window)
Hi. In the classroom today you will learn a few facts about American
football.
Basics
American football is known in the United States and Canada as
football.
It is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with
physical play.
The game is played on a football field.
A football field is 100 yards long from goal line to goal line and
160 feet wide.
Each end of the football field contains an area called the end zone
which extends 10 yards past both goal lines.
At the back of each end zone are goalposts.
The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball
into the opposing team's end zone.
The ball can be advanced by carrying it, a running play or by
throwing it to a teammate, a passing play.
Players
At any time during a football game, there are 22 players on the
field.
This includes 11 offensive players, and 11 defensive players.
The offensive players work together to try and advance the football
into the opposing team's end zone.
The offense includes a quarterback, who coordinates the players and
either hands the football, or throws the football, to a teammate in
order to advance the ball.
The quarterback can also run with the ball.
The offense also includes running backs who can either run with, or
catch the football.
The offense also includes wide receivers who usually catch the
football.
The defensive players work together to keep the offense of the other
team from scoring or advancing the football into their end zone.
The defense includes players in various positions on the field.
Playing
The team who is on offense gets four chances, or plays, to advance
the ball forward at least 10 yards.
Each chance is called a down.
If the offensive successfully moves the ball forward 10 yards, they
get four more chances.
This continues until the offense advances the ball into the opposing
team's end zone or they give up possession of the football.
The offense gives up possession of the football in any of the
following ways.
The offense scores points.
The offense is unable to advance the ball forward 10 yards in four
chances.
The offense is unable to advance the ball forward 10 yards in three
chances and decides to punt, or kick the ball to the opposing team.
The offense fumbles the football which means an offensive player
running with the ball loses control of the ball and a player on the
other team obtains possession of the football.
The offense gets intercepted which means the opposing team catches a
pass from the quarterback intended for one of the offensive players.
The offense misses a field goal attempt.
An offense can gain or lose yards depending on the success of each
play.
An offense or a defense can lose yards from a penalty, which is a
punishment for violating a rule on the field.
A penalty results in the loss of 5, 10, or 15 yards for the
offending team.
Points
Points can be scored in a variety of ways.
You can carry the ball over the opponent's goal line for a touchdown
which is worth six points.
You can catch a pass beyond the opponent's goal line for a touchdown
which is worth six points.
You can kick the ball through the goal posts at the opponent's end
zone after a touchdown for an extra point which is worth one point.
You can carry, or pass the ball over the opponent's goal line after
a touchdown for a two point conversion which is worth two points.
You can kick the ball through the goal posts at the opponent's end
zone for a field goal which is worth three points.
You can tackle an opposing ball carrier within his end zone for a
safety which is worth two points.
The winner is the team with the most points when the game time
expires.
Time
A football game begins with a coin toss to determine which team will
control the football.
The football is then kicked to the receiving team to officially
begin the game.
A football game typically has four quarters with each quarter
lasting 15 minutes for a total actual playing time of one hour.
The football game is over if, after one hour of play, one team has
outscored the other team.
In the event of a tie, another 15 minute quarter is added, called
overtime, to determine the winner.
The first team to score any points in overtime is the winner.
National Football League
The top teams in the National Football League compete in the
playoffs and then finally in the Super Bowl.
In the Super Bowl, the top team from the American Football
Conference competes against the top team from the National Football
Conference.
The Super Bowl is usually played at the end of January or the
beginning of February.
It is one of the most watched television events of the year.
The television Advertisements are almost as popular
as the football game.
Until next time.
Vocabulary:
NFL Super Bowl Advertisements
The Super Bowl is not only for people who like football.
Every year people across America watch the Super Bowl
because of the advertisements. American companies
spend millions of dollars for only a 30 second
advertisement. These advertisements (ads) are loaded
with slang and idioms making them extremely good English
practice for English language students. Below are a few
favorites.
Video:
Super Bowl Advertisement #1
Bud Light Immigrants, in the Classroom. Comedian Carlos Mencia is teaching his English
students the correct way to ask someone for a Bud Light (beer) in
the classroom. He then tells the students that if someone asks any
of them for a Bud Light, they should say “No Speak English” so they
can keep the Bud Light for themselves. Try to understand as much of
the video as possible. Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Video:
Super Bowl Advertisement #2
Bud Light Immigrants, in the Bar. Comedian Carlos Mencia takes his students out to
a bar to teach them the correct way to pick up (ask out for a date)
women. He says that American chicks (women) love men with foreign
accents. Try to understand as much of the video as possible. Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Video:
Super Bowl Advertisement #3
Improving Office
Productivity. The C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer) of Felcher
& Sons hires a professional football player (Terry Tate) to help
improve office productivity. Try to understand as much of the video
as possible. Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Video:
Super Bowl Advertisement #4
Getting The
Baseball Back. Some kids are playing baseball in their
backyard. The ball gets hit over the fence and into the neighbor’s
yard. The problem is the neighbor never returns anything that goes
into his yard. The kids send over a bag of potato chips to try and
entice the neighbor into returning the baseball. The neighbor likes
the potato chips so much, he returns everything he collected over
the years, including M.C. Hammer, a famous singer. The kids keep
everything but do not want M.C. Hammer and decide to throw him back
into the neighbor’s yard. Try to understand as much of the video as
possible. Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Video:
A League of Their Own Movie Trailer
A League of Their Own. A 1992
comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the
real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).
This is not a football movie but might help some of you answer the question below,
Should
women be allowed to play football?
From
YOUR Teacher:I Love
Football
I began watching football when I was very young.
American kids usually like a certain team and idolize
certain players. My favorite team was, of course, my
hometown team the
Buffalo Bills. Many years ago they went to the Super
Bowl four seasons in a row. Although they were not able
to win the Super Bowl, it was still quite an
achievement.
Survey:
Should
women be allowed to play football?
American football is a very tough and difficult game to
play. Decide if women should be allowed to play football
on the survey below.
Additional Lessons
About
These Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for students
who want additional conversation, listening, and reading
practice.
Conversation Lesson -
Beginner Level. Let's
Learn English conversation lesson
with a conversation video, a video script, audio
listening practice, video speaking practice, video
pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
Conversation Lesson
26 - This Game Is Fun!
(Beginner -
Conversation, Listening, Reading)
In this lesson Anna plays the game "Catch Americana" and
learns more about U.S. Presidents. She also learns to
watch where she walks!
Lesson Video
Watch the video and then do the activities on this page.
Video Script
Anna: This is the Roosevelt Memorial. Where is the symbol?
Anna remembers that Dan said: You have to find things that aren't really there.
... When you find an American symbol, you win points and a Fun Fact about a U.S.
President.
Anna: Yay! I found Uncle Sam and I won another 40 points! What is the Fun Fact?
Voice: Franklin Roosevelt was the first to fly in a plane as president!
Anna: I didn't know that. This is a really beautiful memorial.
Anna: This is the Lincoln Memorial! Where is the symbol?
Anna: I found it! The Statue of Liberty! Please give me my Fun Fact.
Voice: Abraham Lincoln was a great wrestler!
Anna: I didn't know that. Lincoln wanted freedom for all people. So, the Statue
of Liberty works well.
Anna: And I won 20 points! Time to find the next symbol.
Dan: Hey! Look out!
Anna: Sorry. Hey, it's you! Now, I should be more careful.
Dan: That’s okay.
Anna: This game is a lot of fun. Hey, what’s your name?
Dan: Dan. What’s yours?
Anna: Anna.
Dan: Like Americana!
Anna: Yeah, I guess so.
Dan: Did you find any symbols?
Anna: Yes, I found three and won 120 points!
Dan: Me too. But, did you find the bald eagle?
Anna: No. Did you?
Dan: No.
Anna: First one to find it wins?
Dan: Anna, look out for that tree!
Anna: I learned a lot about presidents with this game. But I ought to be more
careful. Until next time …!
Listening
Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
Speaking
Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson. Find out more about the U.S.
Presidents and the symbols in the game Anna and Dan play in the video. You can
also learn another way to warn someone of danger.
Pronunciation
Use this video to learn about how people say "ought to" in fast speech.
New Words
(air)plane -
n. a vehicle that has wings and an engine and
can carry people or things in the air
fly -
v. to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft
freedom -
n. the power to do what you want to do or the
ability to move or act freely
Look out -
phrasal verb. used to tell someone to be aware
of something dangerous
wrestler -
n. someone who competes in the sport of
wrestling
yay -
interjection. used to express joy, approval, or
excitement
Activity
Are there any memorials to famous leaders in your town
or in your country? Tell us about them. Do you admire
the leader? Write about it in the Facebook Comments
section below. Then practice talking about sports with a
friend.
Click
lesson activity to get the printable PDF version. The
page opens to a new window.
Study all 52 English conversation lessons. Let's Learn
English conversation lessons each with a conversation
video, a video script, audio listening practice, video
speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
These
lessons are for beginners.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
Hey Students,
Use this dictionary and reference to look up any words you do not
understand in Fun Easy English.
