Edinburgh Predators
Rookie Symposium
Coach Chivers
Agenda
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The American Football Field
Basic Rules
Down and Distance
Scoring
Changes of possession
The Players
– Offense
– Defense
• Predators Cadence
• Common Offensive and Defensive penalties
• Website/Forum/Facebook
American Football Field
Basic Rules
• 60 minutes long, divided into four 15 minute quarters
• Clock continues to run after a running play (when tackled inbounds)
or complete pass (when tackled inbounds)
• Clock stops after an incomplete pass, a turnover, a complete pass
(when the receiver runs out of bounds still in possession) at the end
of the quarters, by the coach calling a time out, the two minute
warning or a penalty.
• Object of the game is to move the ball by running or throwing it,
into the opposition’s end zone, and then keep the opposition out of
your end zone.
Down and Distance
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All progress in a football game is measured in yards.
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The offensive team tries to get as much "yardage" as it can to try and move closer to the
opponent's end zone.
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Each time the offense gets the ball, it has four downs, or chances, in which to gain 10 yards.
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If the offensive team successfully moves the ball 10 or more yards, it earns a first down, and
another set of four downs.
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If the offense fails to gain 10 yards in the four attempts, it loses possession of the ball.
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The defense tries to prevent the offense not only from scoring, but also from gaining the 10 yards
needed for a first down.
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If the offense reaches fourth down, it usually punts the ball (kicks it away). This forces the other
team to begin its drive further down the field.
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“First and Ten”
Scoring
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TOUCHDOWN = 6 POINTS A touchdown is the biggest single score in a football game. It is worth six
points, and it allows the scoring team an opportunity to attempt to get an extra point. To score a
touchdown, the ball must be carried across the goal line into the end zone, caught in the end zone,
or a fumble recovered in the end zone, or an untouched kickoff recovered in the end zone by the
kicking team.
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EXTRA POINT and the TWO-POINT CONVERSION = 1 or 2 POINTS
Immediately following a touchdown, the ball is placed at the opponent's three-yard line, where the
offense has two options. If the offense successfully kicks the ball through the goal posts, it earns
one point. The offense can also score two points by running or throwing the ball into the end zone
in the same manner as you would score a touchdown
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FIELD GOAL = 3 POINTS If the offense cannot score a touchdown, it may try to kick a field goal.
Field goals are worth three points. They can be attempted from anywhere on the field on any
down, but generally are kicked from inside the defense's 30-yard line on fourth down. For a field
goal to be "good", the placekicker (or field goal kicker) must kick the ball through the goal-post
uprights and over the crossbar. The defense tries to block the kick and stop the ball from reaching
the goal post.
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SAFETY = 2 POINTS The safety is worth two points. A safety occurs when the offensive ball carrier is
tackled behind his own goal line.
Changes of possession
• THE FUMBLE When the ball carrier or passer drops the ball, that's a
fumble. Any player on the field can recover the ball by diving on it
or he can run with it. The team that recovers a fumble either getsor retains-possession of the ball.
• THE INTERCEPTION An aggressive defense can regain possession of
the ball by catching (intercepting) passes meant for players on the
other team. Both fumble recoveries and interceptions can be run
back into the end zone for touchdowns.
• FAILING TO MAKE 10 YARDS If the offense fail to advance the ball
to the first down marker on the fourth attempt.
• MISSED FIELDGOAL If the offense misses a field goal on fourth
down.
The Players
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THE OFFENSE
The quarterback passes or hands off the ball.
The center snaps the ball to the QB and blocks the defense.
2 guards and 2 tackles keep the defense at bay.
2/4 wide receivers catch the ball thrown by the QB.
1 or 2 running backs take the ball and run with it.
1 or 2 tight ends block the defense and can also catches passes.
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THE DEFENSE
Linebackers defend against the pass, and push forward to stop the run or tackle the QB.
The defensive line (ends and tackles) battles head-to-head against the offensive line.
Cornerbacks and safeties defend against the pass from the QB to the wide receiver and help to stop
the run.
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SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick off
Kick return
Punt
Punt return
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All players MUST wear a mouth guard (Gum Shield) whenever on the field.
Offense – Our Base
1 – Center
2 – Right Guard
3 – Left Guard
4 – Right Tackle
5 – Left Tackle
6 – Quarterback
7 – Halfback/Running back
8 – Slot receiver
9 – Slot receiver
10 – Wide receiver
11 – Wide receiver
Defense
1 – Defensive tackle
2 – Defensive tackle
3 – Defensive end
4 – Defensive end
5 – Outside Linebacker
6 – Middle Linebacker
7 – Outside Linebacker
8 - Cornerback
9 - Cornerback
10 – Safety
11 – Safety
Predators Cadence
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Down
Set
(Colour)
(Number)
(Colour)
(Number)
Hut
e.g. Down, Set, Pink 69, Pink 69, Hut
Important to listen to the snap count in the huddle as we can
go on any part of the cadence.
(“On One” means “On Hut”)
Common Offensive Penalties
- False start
An infraction in which an offensive player moves before the ball is snapped. A false
start results in a five-yard penalty against the offending team
- Holding
An offensive player (except the runner) shall not use his hands, arms or legs to
hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle or hold in an effort to restrain an opponent. The
penalty is 10 yards from the spot of the foul except for fouls behind the neutral
zone which are enforced from the previous spot of the ball.
- Facemask
Pulling, twisting, or turning an opponents face mask is a personal foul with a 15yard penalty.
- Block in the back
A block in the back is contact against an opponent occurring when the force of the
initial contact is from behind and above the waist. However (on defence) you can
take down the runner or receiver from behind. 10 yard penalty.
Common Offensive Penalties
(2)
- Ineligible downfield
An ineligible receiver is past the line of scrimmage prior to a forward pass.
Ineligible receivers must wait until the pass is thrown beyond the line of
scrimmage is touched before moving past the line of scrimmage. This is a 5 yard
penalty.
- Offensive pass interference
An offensive player intentionally contacts a defensive player beyond the line of
scrimmage on a pass that goes beyond the line of scrimmage. This restriction for
the offense begins at the snap and continues until the ball is touched. This is to
prevent receivers from blocking defenders away from a passed ball. 15 yard
penalty from the previous spot.
- Chop block – "high low"
Occurs when an offense player tries to cut block (tackle a player below the waist) a
defensive player that is already being blocked by another offensive player.
- Illegal formation
Fewer than 7 players line up on the line of scrimmage. Penalty 5 yards from the
previous spot.
Common Defensive Penalties
- Defensive holding
A player grasps a player on offense while attempting to ward off a block or cover a receiver.
- Illegal contact
A player makes significant contact with a receiver after the receiver has advanced five
beyond the line of scrimmage.
yards
- Personal Fouls. If the officials decide that the action was particularly flagrant, the player in question
can be ejected from the game.
- Roughing the Passer (15 yards and an automatic first down) - a defender continues an effort to
tackle or "hit" a passer after the passer has already thrown a pass.
- Roughing the Kicker (15 yards and an automatic first down) - a defender, having missed an
attempt to block a kick, tackles the kicker or otherwise runs into the kicker in a way
that
might injure the kicker
or his vulnerable extended kicking leg. This protection is
also extended
to the holder of a place kick.
- Roughing the Snapper (15 yards and an automatic first down) - on a punt or field goal attempt,
the center is allowed to regain his balance and assume a protective position before he is
contacted by the defense.
- Intentionally grasping the face mask - contact on an opponent's face mask which includes
grasping or twisting the mask, and including using the mask to tackle an opponent.
Common Defensive
Penalties (2)
- Encroachment
A defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and makes contact with a player, or
has an unabated path to the quarterback, before the snap. Unlike the offside foul, this
foul immediately halts play: the referees blow the whistle, the clock stops, and
the
offense doesn't run a play. Penalty is 5 yards.
- Neutral Zone Infraction
Before the snap, a defensive player (most often a lineman), jumps into the
neutral
zone and "startles" an offensive player causing him to false start. Penalty is 5 yards.
- Defensive pass interference
A defensive player physically hinders an offensive player from catching a catchable
forward pass that has not been touched by any other player. Penalty is 15 yards or the
spot of the foul, whichever is closer to the previous line of scrimmage.
Full copy of the rulebook
• A full copy of the British American Football
Association rulebook can be found at:
http://www.bafra.org/rulesctee/rulebook/2009/all.zip
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