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How American Football Works: A Beginner's Guide

Updated November 9, 2026. Rules are based on the 2026 NFL rulebook.

Football can look like chaos, with 22 people colliding and a whistle every few seconds. Underneath, nearly every play answers one simple question: can the team with the ball move it ten yards in four tries? Once that clicks, the rest of the game falls into place.

The goal

Two teams try to carry or throw the ball into the other team's end zone. The team with more points when time runs out wins. A touchdown is the big prize at six points, and a field goal, kicked through the tall posts, is worth three. Our scoring guide covers every way to put points on the board.

The field

An NFL field is 100 yards from goal line to goal line, with a 10-yard end zone at each end. It is 160 feet wide, or 53 and one-third yards. The yard numbers count up from each goal line to the 50 and then back down, so the same number appears on both halves. That is why announcers say a team is on "its own 30" or "the opponent's 30."

Three units on each team

Each side has 11 players on the field at a time. Teams swap in different groups depending on the situation:

The positions guide explains what each role does.

Downs: the heart of the game

The offense gets four attempts, called downs, to gain ten yards. If it gets there, it earns a fresh set of four downs and keeps going. This is called a first down.

You will constantly hear phrases such as "second and seven." The first part is which attempt the offense is on, and the second is how many yards it still needs. So "second and seven" means it is the second try, with seven yards to go.

If the offense reaches fourth down without gaining the ten yards, the coach has three choices:

How a play starts and ends

Each play begins at the line of scrimmage, the imaginary line across the field where the ball sits. The center snaps the ball back through the legs, usually to the quarterback, who hands it off, runs, or throws. The play ends when the ball carrier is tackled or goes out of bounds, when a forward pass falls incomplete, or when someone scores.

The clock

A game is 60 minutes, split into four 15-minute quarters with a halftime after the second. Those 60 minutes usually take around three hours in real life, because the clock stops often. It stops for incomplete passes, scores, timeouts and penalties, and for players going out of bounds late in each half.

If a game is tied after four quarters, it goes to overtime.

Kicks

A kickoff starts each half and follows every score. Under current NFL rules, the kicking team kicks from its own 35-yard line, while most players on both teams line up much closer together, which is why modern kickoffs look unusual if you remember the old days. If a kickoff reaches the end zone in the air and the returner kneels there, the receiving team starts at its own 35. If the ball first lands short of the goal line and then ends up in the end zone for a touchback, the team starts at its own 20.

Turnovers

The ball changes hands suddenly in three ways, and these moments often decide games:

What to watch in your first game

  1. The down and distance. It sits on the scoreboard graphic all game. Third and long is usually a passing situation, and third and short often means a run.
  2. The yellow line on TV. It marks the yards needed for a first down. It is added by the broadcast, so it is not on the actual field.
  3. Field position. A team starting at its own 10 has a much harder job than one starting at midfield.
  4. Yellow flags. An official has seen a foul. Our penalties guide explains the common ones.

Unfamiliar word? Keep the glossary open while you watch.

Keep reading

NFL ScoringTouchdowns, field goals, two-point tries and the rare safety.NFL PositionsWhat each of the 22 people on the field is actually doing.Overtime RulesWho gets the ball, when it ends, and how ties happen.