How to Play Football

Most people learn how to play football by joining a team as a child or young adult. The team's coach will give them football instruction as they practice and play against other inexperienced players. Others learn how to play football by watching the game and then imitating the strategies and moves they see. The best way to learn how to play football is to learn by doing. If you are serious about learning the game, get some foot ball instruction, and then join a league to get hands-on experience.

How to Play Football: Basics of the Game

The fist step as you learn how to play football is understanding the basics of the game. The field is 100 yards long, with two end zones that are 10 yards long. The end zones have goal posts, or uprights. The field is marked with yard markers. Each team is given 11 players on the field for most leagues, although as you learn how to play football you may find yourself on a team that allows for fewer players. The game is divided into two halves, and each half has two quarters, which are typically 15 minutes in NCAA and NFL games and 12 minutes in high school games.

Most football instructions begin with the kickoff, which is the official start of the game. The defending team will kickoff at its own 30-yard line to the offensive team. The offense then has the chance to run towards the defensive team's goal line. If the player who received the ball is stopped or scores, play stops.

Football instructions also must talk about downs. As you learn how to play football, understand that the goal of each play is to move the ball at least ten yards. The team gets four snaps to do this. If they do, it is called a "down," and they get another four tries to do the same thing. The end goal is to score at the end zone, but as long as the team can continue to make downs and the ball is not intercepted by the defensive team, they maintain control of the ball.

How to Play Football: Choose a Position

Now that you know the basic way the game is played, the next step as you learn how to play football is choosing a position. In many leagues, your coach will look at your build and skills and place you in a position on the team. He will then give you instructions on how to play football in that position. Large, bulky players will usually be given linebacker positions when they learn how to play football, as they make a great line of defense against an advancing offensive player. Fast players who are trying to learn how to play football may be given offensive positions that require quick bursts of speed. A player with natural leadership abilities and good throwing arm may be given instructions on how to play football in the quarterback position. The best way to learn how to play football is to start by figuring out the position you are best suited for, and then training hard as you learn how to play football in that particular position.

Learn to Play Football: Types of Football

The final thing to consider as you learn how to play football is which type of football would be best for you to learn with. Children often start out playing touch or flag football. In these games, tackling is not allowed, but other instructions on how to play football apply. Players are considered stopped when they are touched or when a flag they wear on a bet is pulled. This is a great way for kids to learn how to play football without the threat of serious injury. If you are going to learn how to play football by playing tackle football, make sure you have the proper safety gear and are playing on a soft surface.

How to Play Fantasy Football

If athletics is not your thing, you might be interested in learning how to play fantasy football. Fantasy football is a game in which players are arranged into a fantasy league. The players draft or purchase fantasy players that are based on actual players in the current season of football. Then, they score points based on the way those players actually perform in the season. Learning how to play fantasy football is not difficult if you know who the good players are likely to be.

As you learn how to play fantasy football, you will need to choose whether you wish to play in an NFL league or an NCAA league. You can win based on the total points your fantasy team has made, or you can play weekly by pitting your team against another team in the fantasy league. You may even learn how to play football a little by spending so much time watching the game as you groom your fantasy team.