How to Know the Rules of Football

Whether coaching, playing or just watching the game, knowledge of the rules of football can enhance the experience. Of course, there's a big difference between the casual knowledge a fan has and what has to be packed into a coach's brain. Follow the tips below for knowing the rules of football.

Instructions

Know the Basics

1. Know the difference between offsides, encroachment and illegal motion. Offisides is when the defense crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is hiked. Encroachment is when a member of the offense crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is hiked. Illegal motion is when there's illegal movement in the backfield of the offense.

2. Know how points are scored. A touchdown is worth 6 points.; an extra point is 1 point or 2 points depending on whether the ball is kicked over the goalpost or scored in the end zone; a field goal is 3 points; and a safety is 2 points.

3. Know your options on fourth down and how many yards it takes to gain a first down. Your fourth down options are to either try another play or to punt the ball to the other team. You need to gain 10 yards in 4 plays for a first down.

4. Know your basic plays. Every play in football is basically a variation on only three basic plays: throwing the ball, running the ball or kicking the ball.

Get the Facts

1. Attend a coaching clinic or workshop approved by your league. You can get a list of these workshops from the league office or from a league official. Some require actual attendance and others can be viewed online. This will give you the basic knowledge you need to get your team down the field.

2. Read the rule book. Become familiar with the dos and don'ts of the game by making it your bible and carrying it with you.

3. Meet with other coaches regularly to discuss rules and rule changes that may affect your league or your team. Also consult with league officials on rule changes. A good source for rules that don't make much sense is listed below.

4. Join online forums or read blogs that relate to the rules of the game. This will give you some insight as to how coaches from other leagues are handling different situations.

5. Meet with parents on a regular basis to discuss rule changes and how they may affect play. This could avert parental confrontations at a later date.

Resources

• Coaching Football Online has all the resources you need to become a good football coach.
• John Tree contains tons of articles on how to get your team on the field.